Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1840-01-23
MISCELLANEOUS
CIRCUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE,

leXnl3llS the tuillOlc ana uncertain nature Of
circumslantial evidence, affords also conyin.
cling proofofthe indispensable necessity Of pro-
curing medical testimony Of the highest order
in all criminal cases relating TO Injuries ofthe
person. The narrator, (MR PERFEcrAa sur
geon at Hammersmith, sent the statement 10 the
editor Of the Lancet (Nr. Wakely) in January
of the present year.
sslt is now thirty years ago, that accidentlv
passing the Pack-tiorse, Turnham-green. nv
attention was attracted by a mob of persons Of
the lowest order, assembled around the door Of
thainn, who were very loud in their exccra-
tons against some person who was suspected
Of having murdered his brother; in corrobora-
ton of which, was told that his bones we're
found near the premises where he formerly
resided, upon view Of which jury was then
sitting, after an adjournment from the day pre-.
ceding. | found that two surgeons had been
subpGnaed to inspect the remains, and had
no doubt but that every information as to their
character had been obtained; curiosity alone,
therefore, induced me 10 make way into the
room, where found that the coroner and | be
lieye adoable jury, we're sitting for the second
day, and we're engaged in an investigation
/
ket-gardener at Sutton.court farm had, few
years before, a brother living with him, who
was engaged in the farm, but whose conduct
was dissolute and irregular TO degree that Of
ten provoked the anger of the elder brother,
and sometimes begat strife and violence be-
tween them; that the temper OF the elder broth
er was us little under control as the conduct of
the younger and, in fine, that they lived very
intentionally together.
"One winters night, when the ground was
covered with snow, the younger brother alb
seconded from the house Tor they both lived 10,
gether,) by letting himself down from his cham
Der window, and when he was missed the en-
suing morning, his footsteps were clearly in the
snow TO considerable distance, nor we're there
any other footsteps, but his own. Time passed
lon, and after a lapse Of some few years, no Ii
Idings we're heard Of his retreat, nor, perhaps
have they ever been since. Some alterations
in the grounds surrounding the house having
been undertaken by subsequent tenant, 10
the elder brother had then lelt.the farm,)
skeleton was dug up, and the circumstance ap
i, peared so conclusive that one brother had mur
dercd the other, that the popular camor wa
4 raised to the utmost, and q Jury ssarv,aAelled 4
investigate the case
safer listening attentiyely TO these details
ventured to request of the coroner to be a
lowed TO examine the bones, which found wer
contained in hamper basket, at the furthe
end Of the room, and felt much flatered b
his immediate compliance, for he desired h
parish beade, who was in attendance, to plac
Them upon the table; and having myself dispo
lsed them in their natural order, found tina
they represented person Of short stature, AM
from the obteration OF the sutures of the skull
and the worn-down state of the teeth, mus
have belonged to an aged person. But wha
: was my surprise, when ! reconstructed th
bones Of the skeleton, and found the lowe
bones of the trunk TO be those Of female!
' Immediately communicated the fact to the jury
land requested that the two medical men VIII
had before given their opinions, might b.
9 sent for, one Of whom attended, and withou
moments hesitation, corroborated my re
port.
Ineed not add that the proceedings were in
stantly at an end, and an innocent man recelv
ed the amende honorable, in the shape Of al
apology, from all present, in which the coro
Iner heartily joined. II has since been prove,
beyond all doubt, thatthe spot where the bone
were found, was formerly the site Of a larg
gravel pit, in which hordes Of gipsies notIonl.
assembled, but occasionally buried their dead
and perhaps, more skeletons are yet TO b
found in that vicinity.
( ssAt the distance Of thirty years, the narrator
of this occurrence may we'll look back upon i
\ with pleasure, and congratulate himself upol
having been ''ihe happy instrument, IN tn
nc hands Of Providence" ofrescuing worthy ant
innocent man from the obloquy, and perhaps
or the fate ola murderer
Not so fortunate in its issue was the cas-
which We subioin 10 this, and which concurret
10 in England previously 10 the reign Of Charles
q, III. The narrative is given IN one q ~
J. early volumes Of the Gen,leman's Maya
zine,
Arentleman died, possessed Of very con
siderable fortune, which he left TO his oni.
child, daughter, appointing his brother p ~ ?
IN her Guardian, and executor Of his will ! 2
Young LADY was then about eighteen ana y 81
ar, hannened 10 die unmarried, or Unmarried WIT
out children, her fortune was lc's 70 nSt sua g
dian and his heirs Asthe interest o. inc u y
Gle was now incompatible WIN me llie ~ % -
Rs niece. several other relations limited inas
asa would not bc proper 10 live together. Wnelne
\, thew were unwilling to prevent an occasion ;
III SANDER against the uncle, in case o. inc youn
Iadv,s death: whether they had any anpPrene'
sion Of being in danger; or whether they weI
NJ. orlv d;sconiented with the fathers dsposluo
m If IA fortune, and therefore proPagatea ru'O'
IA M nreiudce ofthose who possessed ~ oa :,
8Fl $500 X VJlga n AZ, hnVVever, TOOK d