Historic%20Yorkshire

158
EUGENE ARAM.
sharply, which had the effect of causinghim to inculpate
himself and Aram, and in accordance with the usage of
the criminal courts, he was permitted to turn " Queen's
evidence."
Inhis evidencehe gave a full description of the murder
of Clarke by Eugene Aram. He stated that on the day
of the foul deed they had all three passed frequently to
and fro between their respective residences for the disposal
of the goods they had obtained, when Aram
proposed to the other two that they should walkinto the
country. They left the town for the fields near St.
Robert's Cave. When they had arrived there Clarke and
Aram proceeded over the hedge towards the cave, when
Houseman " saw Aram strike Clarke several times over
the breast and head, and saw him fall as if he weredead,
upon which he came away and left them." He added
subsequentlythat the body was buried in the cave.
Aram, on being found at Lynn, had deniedeverbeing
at Knaresborough,as wellas all knowledge of the name
of Daniel Clarke, buton being identifiedbyJohn Barker,
a constable of Knaresborough,he was conveyed to York,
and triedas stated. Upon the evidenceof Houseman at
the trial beingconcluded, Aram put several questions to
him which point out the acute mind of the man. For
instance,he asked — Howcould Houseman sweartoseeing
blows struck on a dark night in the middle of winter ?
How far off was he when the actual deed took place ?
How was it that Houseman was not with them, as they
came out together, and their business concerned all
equally? To these searching questions Houseman
replied that, although it was night when the murder
was perpetrated, the moon was out, though slightly
hidden by clouds, so that he could see the movements
of Eugene's hand, though not the weapon whichit held.
That, so far as he remembered, he was about twelve
yards away. That with regard to the third question,he
besought the court to protect him, as, if he replied,his
answer might incriminate himself. Also, he was not