Cashel Byron's Profession

That the constables had been guilty of gross exaggeration was shown

by their evidence as to the desperate injuries the combatants had

inflicted upon one another. Of Paradise in particular it had been

alleged that his features were obliterated. The jury had before them

in the dock the man whose features had been obliterated only a few

weeks previously. If that were true, where had the prisoner obtained

the unblemished lineaments which he was now, full of health and

good-humor, presenting to them? (Renewed laughter. Paradise grinning

in confusion.) It was said that these terrible injuries, the traces

of which had disappeared so miraculously, were inflicted by the

prisoner Byron, a young gentleman tenderly nurtured, and visibly

inferior in strength and hardihood to his herculean opponent.

Doubtless Byron had been emboldened by his skill in mimic combat to

try conclusions, under the very different conditions of real

fighting, with a man whose massive shoulders and determined cast of

features ought to have convinced him that such an enterprise was

nothing short of desperate. Fortunately the police had interfered

before he had suffered severely for his rashness. Yet it had been

alleged that he had actually worsted Paradise in the

encounter--obliterated his features. That was a fair sample of the

police evidence, which was throughout consistently incredible and at

variance with the dictates of common-sense.

Attention was then drawn to the honorable manner in which Byron had

come forward and given himself up to the police the moment he became

aware that they were in search of him. Paradise would, beyond a

doubt, have adopted the same course had he not been arrested at

once, and that, too, without the least effort at resistance on his

part. That was hardly the line of conduct that would have suggested

itself to two lawless prize-fighters.

An attempt had been made to prejudice the prisoner Byron by the

statement that he was a notorious professional bruiser. But no proof

of that was forthcoming; and if the fact were really notorious there

could be no difficulty in proving it. Such notoriety as Mr. Byron

enjoyed was due, as appeared from the evidence of Lord Worthington

and others, to his approaching marriage to a lady of distinction.

Was it credible that a highly connected gentleman in this enviable

position would engage in a prize-fight, risking disgrace and

personal disfigurement, for a sum of money that could be no object

to him, or for a glory that would appear to all his friends as

little better than infamy?

The whole of the evidence as to the character of the prisoners went

to show that they were men of unimpeachable integrity and

respectability. An impression unfavorable to Paradise might have

been created by the fact that he was a professional pugilist and a

man of hasty temper; but it had also transpired that he had on

several occasions rendered assistance to the police, thereby

employing his skill and strength in the interests of law and order.

As to his temper, it accounted for the quarrel which the

police--knowing his profession--had mistaken for a prize-fight.