Deadly Triangle by Susan Goldenberg

Author:Susan Goldenberg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dundurn Press

Everyone stood in respect as Humphreys, described by the press as “a small, alert figure,” entered wearing the customary High Court justice outfit of a red velvet robe trimmed with white ermine fur; a “full-­bottom” wig, a long handmade white one that hung over the ears to below the shoulders; and breeches, stockings, buckled shoes, and white gloves. He carried a triangular piece of black material known as the Black Cap, donned by judges when they impose a death sentence, and a small nosegay, a tradition going back centuries to when cases were held in the adjacent Newgate Prison and judges had a posy of sweet herbs to ward off the typhus rampant in the prison due to the large quantity of lice, bedbugs, fleas, mites, and rats biting and infecting inmates. A High Court judge is addressed as “My Lord” during a trial.

The lawyers wore black silk robes and “barrister wigs” made of white horsehair with frizzled crowns, rows of coiled curls at the back, and two queues (pigtails) at the bottom, perched atop their heads.

After Humphreys took his place, Alma was led up the stone stairway from the holding cells to the courtroom and was seated at the right side of the prisoners’ dock. She had always made a point of being stylish, and this was no exception. A study in blue except for the fox fur stole around her shoulders, she wore a matching outfit of dark-blue coat, dark-blue silk dress with a dark-blue and white dotted scarf, wide-­brimmed dark-blue straw hat, and dark-blue elbow-­length suede gloves. During her two months in jail, her hair had grown from its original bob to long enough to braid around her ears. Her face was lightly powdered, she wore red lipstick, and had dabbed on perfume. Alma’s fashionable appearance was suitable for a British Vogue cover. She glanced briefly around the court, then half hid her face with her fur stole.

George was brought up and placed at the left end. He and Alma were separated by a warden and wardress sitting between them. George wore the light-grey suit she had bought him at Harrods. She gave him a fleeting glance, but he didn’t return it.

Daily Mirror reporter Barbara Back wrote,

After the first glance she gave round the court, Mrs. Rattenbury remained half-­hidden by her fur, and apparently quite unmoved. She is more than a pretty woman: her face is attractive with its large perfect eyes, short nose and thick-­lipped mouth. She was said to be thirty-­eight. She looked much younger. She wears her dark blue coat and hat with gloves to match with a certain chic.

Stoner looks even less than his eighteen years. He has a pale gentle face.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.