r
r names unknown,
with ctmspiriiW the jject! of these suspicions wis not clearly indica- ken.. No
iU and I command 1 ed; some implicated one person, some another, Gn that cii
-j .' ' -1 , 3T.-. . t . . ' i: Lt.j .4 1 . i 1 is. , jL.-ii,a!k-:.-.iu.- . tri ll nnnn the nrisnner for his Deared. His object, therefore, war tn
1 was Still AS DOldBS COUlu, DO : ,f TV . -- . . x ,, i . C , , -..- 1 i. -L , , .i v.! lira lirAra nf h same frnm the nnnsekeenpr fthe nnlv rtoTcnn
mn irl i;'om and Bob afterwards boldly expressca. : i ne precise on-. 8uuated m the roadmen neougni i? naye aeience , T iT;;rV r.:,:, T'
- N. ?ii J J::l v. l ieet nf these susmcions wis not cfearlv indica-1 ken-: Nh reliance, i howevercouid De
circumstance ; for it
as not at
placed
ail un-
obtair
except
,ith of sundry lndividi
ya,,I continued, torningt FaAoncerned in the death! ot the1crtv ahlt ihem. Cleave the direct road, even mated their acquiescence in his lordship's view ;
4lSif!IyJ l" ? lT0r!i.- a RAk stranff enl As usual in such cases, circumstan- forV considerable distance, iM 9 secure i of the evidenceThe counsel folded up their : i
uOTnHac me cnargc. 'TT W tZtv unconnected with the transaction in themelve i eflfectnallv as nossible from the Uriefs. and a verdict of acquittal was aboutto
r TCZa the m0S TJlS questionmatters many years antecedent, and. robbers byl whomthe remote parts of the coun- betaken, when the prisoner addressed the
f'rit Uherpersons, as well as other times, were atly infested, He hoteen curt. He stated, thathaving been -
V- " - j y.uJiarvian nftri were used as auxiliary to the preseni cnarge. seen from the time ot his leaving nun tui ne so tout a crime as rnuruer, .
lite uproar increaseu, BiiuwicpuvyuvM v mu.' L.LLi-.!lfo:.L i i:r k.koon kJi ' l!j .u . ti . .Uin fim;u.
I . rm. MS.m . r. I -. Illll m m . mmm m. , A a w am w -m u m m w -wm . m m r.lJ Lll . W n. u . a a m. J. i U k ! ama a, hi w
ricd us all before Sir Richard Birnie
he
passed,
without
tnili .-!; t.l u TiaiirJ exnosea xo mucn ooservauon. uc nousf, ana tnrousn wnicn
wX S TaSd1 ther wa yet alive, he had left his native coun- even a momentary halt. He was seen to alight
rmt eeemen tr nrrnainn some SUrnriSC ano I , J . . . . (. . . I . . . i 4. . ill ... i-
1 5nVf Lun tn Icnow them try, involved in debt, known to Have oeen gui - at Smith's gate and the next morning was ais?
f 1 In? theoS of great irregularities, and suspected of covered dead in his bed. He now came to the
iTn havingeennoiJveriscrnpulousastothemode most extraordinary part of tn case: It Would
1 the policemen. " Uentlemen said ne, , inis .1- -'uJ- r r e rak5A , - ji i. - iu u.suiiw., nri k
' a most .extraordinary .affair J 1 scacev W t WQC.i4nii.llvinnt anl whirh Tie seem- untuL aLL0JLa IlieH hv ntisnnL noison of
pected to see
a a a
9
sipn
not
yod
" You could
Wnrn ilmt frentlem'en are to be nelted b
a mob. and draped here, liKe lei
q'u the bare j assertion of a scurvy, halfdrun
iHejifIUn
character assailed bvl suspicio
affltincr nature, tliat character could never be
clewed by his acquitta', upon the ground that
the evidence against mm was iut-.;v,
witliout giving him an opportunity of stating
hi nurn rase and callinsr a witness to counteract
cc; that had been raised against
o u;r w avnlainino- those circumstances which
. j. Hnnnitn nr. ui&u
4 .,kiA nnai- ranci aptiVA in lis nnpra. i tk I nr fc 11 1 niii khicu uuuuhm" - o
tion, and possessing the wonderful and dread- learned Judge to permitjhim to state his ,case
uon, ami pus L ' t rt u :,. o,i rail his house-keeper, with
lUl QUalllV OI J ICaVillU HU CAIUI" uim wi iu- I iu uib iui wuu r, " 7 . J J
forgotten by many, and to many were entirely ken by which itspresencecould be detected, so much earnestness, rand was seconueu
unknown : but on this ocsasion, they were re- The'ingredients ofwhich it was composed were strongly by his counsel, that l.ord Mansn
iderable addj- 0f so sedative a nature, that, instead of the body though very much against ms
Wect it ess than e4omewhat inexplicably to procured
It is not to be Ten years and more had elapsed si
return and the events of his
1
since nis
youtn naa.oeen
mbi
nature; most active
wish you had learn
Horse," answered Bob, as
'Richard, I presume we may
put
as brass
ir
IfWu
'saJid
vived, and, probably with considerable
tions. f.v':.l: h '. 1 -' - 'j - .1-.v
Two months after ihe death of the stranger
a gentlemanj arrived at the place, impressed
with a belief that he was his brother, and seefc
on which it had been used Exhibiting any con- contrary to his usual Mbit, gave way, and yiei
1, . h i a. I- ' I ii . iv ir- . j .1 j u ri ..'..last I
A; ma 1 k s of snfr.rnor. it left unonthe fea- ded to the fatal request
turesnothinebutthecalmplabidquietoi repose " lvertere domos ioiaf, P-"U:um;
i . i i - ...
Its effects! and indeed its very existence, were
: -r ' I 0, - " .!' .1." u :
I Gentlemen." said Sir Richard, "have
tnomont's patience, and we shall soon settle
this business. Yom fellow, state your charge,"
By your leave, Sir Richard,l will first saj
:?i finv words, which will make their conscience
!v ' in their face. Hark ye, Master Bob and
Master Tom, other names unknown, look at
mc. " Well !", answered Bob.f we do look at
iy&vl arid see nothing but a half-starved ivretch,
v in a suit oclothes not worth eighteen- ience,"
"VIf I took in hand certain iobsi and shared
' the1 cash like some people, replied I, staring
them lull in the lace, "ii migni nave nau a oei
(i terl coat cn my back J You take njc, Master Bob"
f 1 take you for oninsolentscoundrcl!" said Bob,
in f ft rage. "3Vo more of this,"; said ir Ilich
rl.or.ro thorn trith rnhsninnbr the fieatll Ol
irentleman of the natiie ot ircrkeiy, and ,01 nis
.O 1 :. i- .' ' .. wr-'wF " . . t .it'- ill
nn am me iounu.
her, and
most gracious! majesty, vv inpm ine
At this Bob and Torn stared at each o
Sir Richard looked confounded.
1
es.
continued, turning to the culprits, r 4 over-
rieard vour murderous ; schemes ; and "you,
rrtVTKter of ininuitv ! v-ou swore to assassinate
'-.'"iw"r . -: : .t. - ....4 , ,1 ,f -- 1
the kiner ! And what harm nas HerKeiy aone
you, that he. should be mujdered by a slave
Hriver ? Von boasted that vour plot I was well
inrr .for information either to confirm or refute but recently: knpwn in this country, though it
is susoicions. The horse and the clothes 01 had for some time Deen useo in ouier nauuus
tunate man sun remainea, ana were ol i;urope , aim 11 waa suppyscu iu uc a uisu-
ecofftiized ; one other test there was, very of the German chemists, and to be prod u
was uncertain whether that wouia red fov a powenui uibiuiauon 01 ine seeo-onne
v nWsiHve mnelnsion : the exhuma- wild cherry, tree, so abundant in the Black
j 'I i . w. - I ' r , 11 i ;
iie body. This test was tried and al- Forest.
-" i II T
and
He
1
me
instantly
though it
eau to a
tion of
though
yet en
l : ;
which
Soon
auth
inq
shou
who f
had be
circulat
were col
to his ear.
V
X
L
f
u
. li
decomposition had gore on rapidly
uiin remaineu vu lucmny mc """Jt
the brother did most satisfactorily.! As
s it was known that there was a. person
rized Wv relationshiD to the deceased to
lire into the cause of his death, and, if it
tld appear to have been otherwise than ha
to take steps lor bringing to justice those
!ad been concerned in it, the reports which
anti
en previously floating! idly about,
. .1 w' I . . a ! I
without hating any distinct objects
cted into one channel and poured m-
What "these reports were, and what
Xa tiiii it is nnt ner.essarv here to
they amount u to say, that the brother laid
mention: suthev Antrim e..r.h evil
tw
the three
nineteen
HitTaf- into
root rink.
ainly that
sorne stb-
At length,
his companions
mes j Park that
driver ? You boasted that y bur pi
Vd; but confess, ruffians, who are
44iKe5r w ,en marauessesjand the
eans, who are cngng; lt ? ' - J
such a shout of laughter as made the
Veal followed peal ; though 1 saw p
this was done to gain time id concert
ry to palm upon. Sir4 Richard.
blaster. Bob owned that he and
uuy heen in St. Jam
vjxight, and that they had at
der tree ; but that the conversation I had
overheard related entirely to the personages
in a novel jwhich he ani his companion
were writing ' jointly, and. that j this f was
ifie plot they alluded to ! Master Tom, taking
Hub hint, chimed inwith the story ;'anH lhy
hamtjooztcd1 Sir Richard, that tfie good simple
rhan dismissed the charge, ad ling a fe w remarks,
so little complimentary .to me, that I must
Stand excused for not setting them down,
j Sir Richard," said I, solemnly, " you are im
posed upon these rogues are too much for
you ; but since you are leased to let loose
Master Bob' and Tom, oth ?r names unknown,
I wash my handsl"- u When your hand is in,
jyou had better wash your face," remarked. Mas
ter Bob ; and this' was the last 1 saw of Master
Bob and Mister Tom, other names unknown.
f
;1
before the magist
dences as induced
to gaol,1 to take his tri
of Henry Thomson,
tiai to the attainment i
the examination of the w
duced before
tion of which
- v .
-m
m to commit ! Mr. omith
As it was deemed essen
If justice, to keep secret
tnesses who were pro
toc nil the infnrma-
.L' , ':-?i voy .
ine magisiriv possession be.
llM S u va j a a. x f vi v
fore the trial took place, was
here narrated. -J
Never shall I forget the appearance o
ietv exhibited on evervT countenance on t
qntraiu,. te judge into the court. In an
instant the most pavc..Mi silence prevailed ;
and interest, .intense and impass-..,!. though
suDUueu, seemep o wait upon every wora o
1 I 1 1 . .'' . .
?hich 1 have
or
Dii faciles torrens licenili copia muitis,
Et. sua mortifcra et facunrfia."
The prisoner then addiessed ti e jury
mtreated their oatience for a short time.
repealed to them that lie never could feel sa
tisfie.l to be acouited. merely because the evi
ch-nre wasnotconclusivd ; and pledged himself.
in a.verv short time, by the few obser
vations he should make, and witness vhom lie
ch.iilrl p1L tn nhtain their verdicl on much
higher grounds, upon the impossibility of his
it w . . , , . i lllliL
i hp nir tTiiiltv of t he d read tui crime. v mi res
. 1 1 . 1.1 I IIIIL HUHIMM IIIMI. Ill: Lll WU 111 V -
induce sucn a suspici
important circjumstarvpe.
It i . ! : . J i.L . .v....
most neea'iveu us put. .-? iiiy, umi nut , . , . , , j ... t
uiuot nv5 .( r .i ' Cl1n r rhirH lo n11pH lion ti. witness that he
vessellof any kind had been discover- v : ,
. 1, in... . 1 1 o rl notroi- prpn lioanf p, hpr the name or the
existence until this day, was not every proba-
ject, which,xas she could not help seeing its
importance, would have led her at once to a
I positive denial. He knew, moreover, that as
she had not "been in court, she could not! knowl
i . : ' . i ' . i ' ; . . . I
now mucn or now mtie ine; j inquiry had!
brought to light; and by himself treating the
matter as immaterial, he might lead her to con-
sider lt-so al50,andby that means draw forth all.
that she knew. After some few unimportant
questions, he asked her, in a tone and manner
calculated rather to awaken confidence than
excite distrust. HI I
During the time you were in Mr. Smith's
room, you stateM that the candle stood on the
table, in the centre of the room ? Yes.
Was the closet, or cupboard, or whatever
you call it, opened once or twice, while it
stood there ? A pause : no answer,
I will call it to your recollection : "after Mr
niuiui naa iaKen me meuicme oyt ol the closet
uiu ne snui ine aoor, or aia n remain open?- -He
shut it.- ..' -; '' IT I. ' ' ))
Then it was opened again for th
of replacing the bottle, was it ?- It was.
Do you recollect how long it was open the
last time ?Not above a minute. .
The door, when opened, would be exactlv
between the light arid -the window. u-nnM
. i ' vun, 0
not i It would.
I forget whether you said
But the fact being ascertained,' that the cause
of the death was poison, left open the much
more momentous question by whom was it
i I 1 I l a A ;i " W . aia!" . a - , 1
administered f it coum nard y ne supposeu & :--v " j . w Ln thrnwn
1 1 'i i r- i hii l Lii Lilt: iiiaiiiiidLiuiia n iiivii uw r "
to be by
thing td
was ! this!
itself a
nhial
ed in which the poison could have been con
' 'I" . i -.-rr .1 .1 .1. ' ' --U
Was ll in en uie uribuiier wiio-auiiu-
nisteren it ? Before he asked, them to come to
that conclusion, it would be necessary to state
more distinctly what his evidence was. The
prisoner's family consied only of himself, a
housekeeper, and one man-servant. The man-
ervant slept in an out nouse aujuumig me
and did so on the'night of Thomson s
i The prisoner slept at one end 6f the
and the housekeeper at the other, and
i . -i i ii i i. i- :
ec asea naa oeen put into a room aojoui
! .. 1. I - 1- Z jLa..IiI rnt .rt-ctiI? II ill
1 .1 I IIIIL SI (JH1 I1NL IIIIII. IIK LIIIIU!lll .11 uugvitu"""
on; ana mere 7s?,: ;.:,t ..... u .
:-..u:u uc wouiauispose oiiriem. :Assuimgi"
inai . me ueceaaeii uieu num. mctuiokui
inx
stable,1
death,
house,
the d
inr the housekeeper's, j It would be proved,
by a person who happened to be passing by
the house on the night in question, about three
himrJLter midnierht; that he had been induced
, i !! li . -i - . -l A
htten
from havingthfl
itance, tl.Tv very
every look, las if divided between expectation
and doubt, whether something might not even
yet """interfere to prevent the extraordinary
trial from taking place. Nothing, howev
er, occurred ; and the stillness was broken
y. the mellow and silvery voice of Lord Mans
field jLcf John Smith be? placed at the bar."
entered the dock, he met on every side the ea-
to remain and watch.
ion I excited by the circumstance
1 Im 7 W . i b T
al, oi aiiigni movintf auoui me i. use u
unuss
I i -fc A 0 : M. - ' -.ww. - - - -
"l . iUTTv xnjit-he could distinctly see a
from the room in
to the housekeeper's
then came out of the
the light disappeared
en
1 nossitivctv
Ul .L' MllKlA.nr
which vvU prisoner
room; that two persons
housekeeper's room. andj
for a minute. Whether the
IL rrTL ' J, L lJ..
tw
tility in favour of his innocence I Here was
e purpose
oise.
into Thomson's room he could not see. as th
window of-that room looked another way ; but
inj about a minutethey pi.ig quite
along the house to Smith's room .again ; and
ger and -anxious eyes of a countless multitude; i d hn saw it no morn. f j f '
mn
From the London New Monthly Magizine, for February
' ! -T IS " '1 ' ' I :
Prom the Note Book of a
1C34.
an
hen
his
deceased Lawyer.
Mneof the most extraordinary and most -in-
.tuesting trials of which 1 hnd any aecount in
ihy note book, took place e n the Northern Cir-
icint, veryllte less than filty years agoJ
In the year IT , John Smith , was indicted
i, Tor the wilful murder of Henry Tliqmson. The
4 ease was one of a most extraordinary nature,
land the interest excited by it was almost un
irallcled.' The accused Was a eentleman of
considerable property, residing upon his own
estate, in ian unfrequented part of shire.
A, person, supposed to be Jan entire stranger to
mm, had, late in a summer s day, requested
' land obtained shelter and j hospitality for jthe
night. He had, it was supposed, after taking
, i some sngnt reiresnmeni, reureu 10 ueu in per
I icct health, requesting to be awakened at
oarly hour the following morning, j W
Jthe person I'appointed to call him entered
Iroom for that purpose, he was found in his bed,
f perfectly dead : and, from the appearance of
tne qoay,l u was oovious inai e nau oeen so
4 ior many hours ' j There w as not the slightest
mark of violence on his person, and thefCdun
tenance retained the same expression which it
had borne j .'during life- jGreat consternaltion
wits, of course, excited by this discoveryyjand
inquiries jwcre immediately mads, first, as to
wiio the stranger was nd, secondly! as to
how he met with his deatli. Both were unsuc
cessful, j As ta the j former no information
cbuld be obtained no cl ne discovered, to lead
fo thejinowlcdgc either of his name, his per
son, or his occupation. He had arrived on
hbrscbacki and was- seen passing through a
neighboring village about an hour before he
readied the house where his existence was so
mysteriously terminated, but could be traced
no farther Beyond this, all was conjecture. ,
With- respect to the death, as little could be
rneaasioi me ueaa man : n was, u is true,
eh-f awfully, sudden ; but theref wa no
that alone excepted, to suppose that it
iised by the hand of man, rather than
M of uod. j A coroner's iury was, of
""tmoiied, and after an investigation,
Me more could be proved than that
here stated, a verdict was return
mat the deceased died by . the visi-
Days and weeks passed; on,
r was known, in the mean
- " at '-U
sX not been idle : suspicions,
vmdefined, hot of a dark
bent in piercing scrutiny. A momentary suffu
sion covered his cheeks ; but it was only mo
mentary, and less than might have been expect
ed from an indifferent person, who found him
self oriaj5udden'the observed of all observers.''
He bowed respectfully. to the court; and then
folding; his arms seemed to wait Until he should
be called upon to commence his part in that
irama in which He was to perform so conspicuous-
a character,- I ! i '
The counsel for the prosecution opened his
case to the jury in. a manner that, indicated
very little expectation of a conviction. He be
gran by imploring them to divest their 0 minds
of all tjicy had heard before they came into the
box; he entreated then to attend to the evi
dence,' and judge from that alone. He stated,
tha t,' rn the course of his experience, which was
Very great, he had ncvfcr met with-a case invol
ved in deeper mystery than that upon
upon which he was then addressing them. The
prisoner at the bar was a man moving in a re
spectable station in society, and maintaining a
fair character. I He was, to all appearance, in
the possession of considerable property, and
was above the ordinary temptatious to commit
so foul a criiiH?r With respect to the proper
ty of the - deceased,- it was strongly suspected
that he Had either been robbed of, or in some
explicable manner made way with, gold and
jewels to a very large amount yet in qandor,
he was bound ! to admit that no portion of it,
however triflingr could be traced to the prisoner.
As to any motive-of malice or revenge, hone
could, by possibility, be assigned, for the pris
oner and the deceased were, ;as far as could be
ascertained, total strangers to each other. Still
there j were most extraordinary circumstances
connected with' his deathr pregnant with suspi
cion atjleast, "and imperiously demanding expla
nation, andlit ;was justice,. no less to the.ac-'
cused than to the public, that the! case should
undergo judjeal investigation. The deceased,
Henry Thomson, was a jeweller, residing-in
London, wealthy and in considerable business;
and, as was-the custom of his lime, in the hab
it of personally conducting his principal trans
actions with the foreign merchahts with whom j
he traded. He had travelled much in the course
of his business? in Germany and Holland; and
it was to rfieet at Hull a trader of the latter na
tion, iof whom he was to make a large purchase,
that he had left London a month before his death.
It would be proved by the landlord of, the inn
where lie had resided, that he and his corres
pondent had been there ; and a wealthy jeweller
of the town, well acquainted with i both parties
had seen Mr. Thomson after the departure
of the' "Dutchman ; and could speak positively
to there being! then in his possession jewels of
large value, and gold; and1 certain bills of ex
change, the parties to which he could describe.
This was on the morning of Thomson's j de-
partuic from Hull ; on his return to London,
and was on the day but one preceding that on
which he arrived at the house of the prisoner. I
ra
Such vas the e
videnc
upon which the
aguitratesj had committed Smith ; and singu
larly enough, since his committal, the house
keeper had been missing nor could any trace
of her 3e discovered. Vithin the last week,
the witness who saw the light had been more
particularly examined ; and, in order to refresh
his memory, he had been placed, at jdark, in
the very spot where he had stoodf on that nigAt,
and another person1 was placed with him. The
whole Scene, as he had described it, was acted
over again; but it was Utterly impossible, rom
the cause abo vie mentioned, to ascertain, when
the light disappeared, whether the parties had
gone into Thomson's room. As if, however,
to throw still deeper mystery over this extra
Ordinary transaction, the witness persisted in
adding a new feature to his former statement :
that after the persons had returned with the
light i into Smith's room and before it was ex
tinguished,: he had twice perceived some dark
object to intervepe between the light and the
window, almost as large as the surface of the
winaow,iisen,ana wnicn ne aescricea; oy say
ing, it appeared as if a door had been placed
in Smith's rc-dm there
before! the light.- Now,
was nothing jwhich could accourt forj this ap
pearance i 'I his bed was
there was neither cupboard nor pres in the
room,1 which, but for the! bed, was entirely emp
ty ; the room in which he dressf d being at a
distance beyond it. He Wouli siate only one
tact more (said the learned coansel) and he had
done his duty; it would then be for. the jury to
dys there had been
bjuse, the stopper of
angulaT description ;
do theirs1.. Within a few
found, in the prisoner's
a : small bottle of a very
it was apparently not of Inerlish manufacture :
arid was described, by jthe medica) men; as
being of the description used by chemists to
preserve) those liquidi which are mst likely
to lose their virtue by exposure to the'air. To
whom it belonged, or to what use it had been
applied, there was nO evidence to shpw.
Such was Jthe address of the counsel for the
prosecution;' and during its delivery 1 had
earnestly watched iie countenance of the pris
oner, who had listened to it with deep atten
tion. Twice ony did I perceive that it pro
duced in hinij the slightest emotion1. When
the disappearance of His housekeeper was men-
tioned,
Hps;
the
est,
j -i iJ ;- i i--
sum? as ,v scorn, passed over nis
and the notice of the discovery of
stopper, obviously excited, an mter-
and. I jtliought, an -apprehension, but
I need uotidetail the
it quickly subsided.
evidence that was given for the prosecution :it
amouated, ie substance, to that which' the coun
sel sjrated; ftpr was it varied in any particular.
Thr stopper was produced, and proved to be
found in the house ; bui no attempt Was made
to trace it tOj the prisoner s possession, or even
knowledge.
a perfect stranger, not known to 1 have in his
possession a single article ot value, wno migni
either have lost, or been robbed ol, that pro
perty which he was said to have had at Hull.
' . . . ; ' I . I m m ' .
What so probable as that he should, in a mo
ment of despair at his loss, have destroyeu
himself? The fatal druff was stated to have
been familiar in these countries in which Mr.
- - a a . ' '' - Bb' ." l-" 1 i .
Thomson had travelled, while to nimsen ii,was
utterly unknown. Above all, ihe implored
the jury to remember, that although the eye
of malice had watched every proceeding of his
since the fatal accident, and though, the most
minute search had been made into every part
of his premises, no vestige had been discover
ed of the most tijfling article belonging to the
tieceased, rtor had even a rumor, been circu
lated that poison' of any kind had ever Been in
his possession! j Of the stopper which had been
found, he disowned all knowledge; be de
clared, most soleixinly, that he had never seen
itbefore it wasproduced in court i; and heasked,
could the fact of its being found in his house,
1-1 ' L,-!inflrRds of neo
only a few uy s uPnri 3 taj
had been there, prodcw. , rp5rtial
mind even a momeniaryYijjfldice against him?
One fact, and one only hid been proved, to
which it was possible for him to trive answer,
the fact of his having gore to . the bedroom
of his housekeeper on the night in; question.
He had been subject, for many years of his
life to sudden fits of illness, he had been seized
with one on that occasionf'and,had gone to fier
to procure her. assisten'Cc in lighting a fire.
She hard returned With him to his 1 room for.
that purpose, he havingVaitcd for a minute in
the passage while she puton her clothes, which
would account for the .momentary -disappearance
of the light ;; and after she had, remained
in his room a few minutes, finding himself
better, he dismissed her, and returned again
to bed, from which he had not risen when he
was informed of the death of his guest. It
had ben said, that, after his committal to pris
on, Ms housekeeper had disappeared. He
avowed that, finding his enemies determined,
if possible, to accomplish his ruin, he! had
thought it probable they might tamper with
his servant: he had, therefore, kept, her out of
their way but for what purpose ? Not to pre
vent her testimony being given, for she was
now under the care ofhis solicitor, and would in
stantly appear for the purpose of confirming,
as far as she was concerned, the statement
which he had just made: , I"
Such was the prisoner's address, which pro
duced a very powerful effect. It was deliver
ed in a firm and impressive manner, arid f its
simplicity and artlessness gave to it an appear
ance of truth. The housekeeper was then put
into the box, and examined by the counsel! for
the prisoner. According to the custom, at that
time almost universal, of excluding witnesses
frpm court until their testimony was required,
sne naa. Deen Kept at a house, near at hand.
and had not heard a single word of the trial.
There was nothing remarkable in her manner
or appearance ; she might be about thirty-five,
or a little more; with regular though not
agreeable features, and an- air perfectly free
from embarrassment. She repeated, almost
in the prisoner's own words, the story that he
had told of his having called her up, and her
having accompanied him to his room, aJdinir
that, after leaving him, she had retired to her
own room, and been awakened by the man-servant
in the morning, with an account of the
traveller's death. She had now to undergo a
cross examination; and I may as well state here,
that which, though not known to me till after
wards, wil assist the reader in understanding
the following scene. ! !f i
The counsel for the prosecution had, in his
own mind attached considerable importance
to the circumstance mentioned b the witness
who saw the light, that while the; prisoner and
the housekeeper were in the room of the for
mer, something like a door had intervened
between the candle and the window, which
was totally irreconcilable with the appearance
of the room when examined ; and he. had half-,
persuaded himself, that there must be a secret
and! Wbiat had become of him in the interval could! tion,! said, fie thought
1 . 1 a a ' a
! .cioset wnifh bad esraned me search nf. th
When the case' was closed, the learned I officers of iristice. the onehiner of which wnnlH
Judge, addressing the counsel for the prosecu-1 account for the appearance alhided tovand tfie
there was hardly suffi- j existence cf which had so mysteriously disafp-
he closet was on
the right or left hand side of the Window '
The. left. , J !jj :- 'I .."
Would the door of the closet make a n
m opening ? L one. j-
Can you speak positively to that fact? Have
you ever opened it yourself,-or only seen Mr.
&mttn open it .f J never opened it myself.
Did you never keep the key ? Never
Who did ?3Mr. Smith always, j
At this moment the witness chanced to tur
her eyestowards the sot where tl.e prisoner
stood, and the eflect was alniost f lectrical. A
cold dttmp sweat stood upon! his hii Vt. and his
face had lost all its colour!; be "appeared a
living image of death SBt no sooner saw him
than she shrieked and fainted. The corise.
quences of her answers flashed across her
mind. She had been so thoroughly deceived
by the manner of the, advocate, and by th
little importance he hid seemed to attach t
her statements, that she had been led on b
one question to another, till she had told hi
all that he wanted to know. A medical m
was immediately directed toj attend to her; afcd
during the interval occasioned by! this interrcp
tion to the proceedings the; solicitor for ihc
proseculum left the court. . j ! ,
In a short time tlie gentleman-who had
tended the witness returned into. cqr
stated that it was impossible klial sn ' na
present resume her place in their'
gested that it would be inuch fnd f"
her to wait for an houra!r lo a,,ow'
about twelve in ftsgzrf
havinff (Yirecf Mansfield,
.ijLi -sTthejury -should jbe accom-
a room where they could be kept
T-mselves, adjourned the J court for two
hours. The prisoner was taken back to gaol,
and the witness to an apartment in the gaoler's
house ; and strict orders were given that she
should be allowed to communicate with no
one, except in the presence; arid hearing of the ,
physician. It was between four and five
o'clock when the judge resumed his seat upon
tire bench, the prisoner his! station at the bar,
and the housekeeper hers in the witness box:
the1 court in theinterval hud remained crowded
with the spectators, scarce one of w hom had
left h.is, place, lest during his absence it should
be seized by spine" one else, j ; t i
The cross-examining counsel then addressed
the witriess-I have very few more questions
to ask of you; But Beware that you answer
them truly, for your own HfeV hangs upon a
-.thread.' . - j .( ' I ! . j ; . - .
Do -oU know this stopper? I do.
To whom does it belong? To Mr Smith.
WThen did you see it last ? On the night of
'Mr.- Thomson's death. j
At tliis moment the solicitor for the prose
cution? errtered the ' court; bringing with him
upon a tray, a watch, two money-bagsr jewel
case, a pocket book, and a bottle of the, same
manufaciure as the stopper,8 arid havjng a cork
in it ; som-e other articles there were on it, hot
material to my story. The! tray was placed on
the table in sight of the prisoner and the wit
ne5S ; arid from that moment hot a doubt rc
mained in the mind of any man of the guilt of
the prisoner. 1 ' -
A few words will bri nW my tale to iti close.
The house where the murder had.been commit
ted was betw- en nine and j ten miles distant
The solicitoi, as soon as the cross examination
of the housekeeper had discovercfd the existence
of the. closet, anil its situationJhad set off on
horseback, with two sheriff's officers, and, after
pulling down part of the wall of the house, had
detected this! important place of concealment."
. heir search Was well rewarded, the whole of '
the property belouging to Mr. Thomson was
found there, amounting, in value to sooie thoa
sand pounds; and to leave no room for doubt,
a bottle was discovered which the medical men
instantly pronounced to contain the very iden
tical poison which had caused the death of the
unfortunate Thomson. The result is too ob-
vious to need explanation. '
The case presents the perhaps unparalleled
instance of a man accused of murder, the evi;
dence against whom was so sligh t as to induce
the judge and jury to concur in a verdict of
Ucquittal ; but who, persisting in calling a J1'
"is innocence, was, vyvu "
testimony of that wi ness, convicted and exe
cuted. , M I. .
i ECCLEST'ASTf H AT lvnTlCE
THE PHESBYTERY OF dRANGE Will hold
f- its next stated session in this place, on Wednes
day ihe,30th April, 1834; at Tb'cIock.P. M.
Island
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