The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-28

into the Loch 1t was deed OF atroclty ana
guilt, but he will live to repent it, and It has
proved a deed of mercy to me. | am well, and
happy; and all that we believed OF Saviour
and a future state of existence is true"
On receiving this extraordinary information,
and precisely at this part of the dialogue, the
widow tainted and recovering from her
swoon, she found that her friend was gone; but,
conscious of having been in her perfect senses,
and remembering every thing that had passed
between them, she was convinced that she had
seen and conversed with her deceased friends
ghost, or some good benevolent spirit IN her
likeness.
Accordingly, the next morning, she went to
magistrate and informed him of the circum-
stances; but he only laughed her to scorn, and
entreated her, for her own sake, never again 10
mention the matter, else people would account
he4 mad She offered to make oath before wit
nesses, TO the truth of every particulars but this
only increa sed the chagrin of the man IN ONCE,
and the worthy widow was dismissed with many
bitter reproaches. She next went to the minis
ter, and informed him of what Ahe had seen and
heard He answered her kindly, and with eau
ton; but ultimately strove only to reason Der
from her belief; assuring her, that it was the
effect of distempered imagination, and oc-
casioned by rejecting toe deeply on the unfor-
tunate end of her beloved friend; and his reason
ing being too powerful for her to answer, she
was obliged to give up the point
Sne Ialled NOT, however, 10 puDllSH inc
among her neighbors, relating the circumstances
in that firm and serious manner in which per-
son always stands to the truth, thereby making
an impression on the minds of every one who
heard her. The story was of nature TO take,
among such a society as that OF which the main
bulk of the population of Loehmaben and its
vicinity consists. 1t flew like wild-fre. The
people blamed their magistrates and ministers;
and on the third day after the appearance of the
deceased, they rose in boGy, and with two min
listers, two magistrates and two surgeons at their
head, they marched away to the Crane Moor,
and lifted the corpse for inspection.
To the establishment of all present, it appeared
on the very first examination, that the deceased
had been felIed by a stroke on the back part of
the head, which had broken her skull, and
casioned instant death. Little cognizance had
been taken OF the affair at her death; but, at
any rate, her long hair was folded so carefully
ever the wsInd, and bound with snood so close
to her head, that without minute investigation,
the fracture could not have been discovered
Farther still, IN confirmation of the words OF the
apparation, on the surgeons opening the head, 1t
appeared plainly from the semi-circular fern OF
the fracture, that it had actually been inflicted
by one side of the bottoS of bottles and there
being hundreds of respectable witnesses TO all
these things, the body was forthwith carried to
the churchyard, and inferred there; the smith
was seized, and conveyed TO jail; and the in
1890
the utmost establishment.
The smith was tried at the ensuing circuit
court Of Dumfries, where the widow was exam
| ined as a principal witness. She told her story
before the Judges with firmness, and swore to ev-
ery circumstance communicated to her by the
/ ghost; and even when cross examined by the
prisoners counsel she was not found to prevari-
cate in the least. The jury appeared to be stag
| pered and could not refuse their assent to che
truth of this relation. The counsel, however,
obviated this proof, account OF its being rela-
tI at secos.d hand aud not by an eyewitness oil
the transaction He therefore refused 10 admit
il against his client, unless the ghost appeared
personally, and made verbal accusation; and,
! being a gentleman of sarcastic turn, he was but
too successful in turning this part of the evidence
into ridiculc, thereby quite, OF in great meas
ure, undoing the effect that it had made ON the
minds OF the Jury.
| A material witness being still wanting, the
smith was remanded back to prison until the Au-
tumn circuit, at which time his trial was conclu-
| ded. The witness above mentioned having been
! found he stated to the court, that as he CHANGED
to pass the prisoners door, between one and two
| in the morning of that day on which the deceas-
ed was found in the Loeb, he heard noise as
| of one forcing his way out; and, wondering who
il could be that was in the house at that hour,
he had the curiosity to conceal himself in an ad-
Joining door, until he saw who came out. That
the night being very dark, he was obliged tc
cover down almost close to the earth, in order
that he might have the object between him and
the sky; and, while sitting in that posture, he
saw a man come out of the smiths house, Will
something in a sack upon his back. That he fol
lowed the figure for some time, and intended tt
| have followed farther; but he was seized with al
| indescribable terror, and went away home; AND
l that, on the morning, when hl heard OF the dead
BODY being found in the Loeb, he entertained not
a doubt of the smith having murdered his wife,
| .,raI bar in ~ "a lsAph.-
m beinr asked. If he could aver upon oath, that
| Il was the prisoner whom he saw come out OF the
| house bearing the burden, he said he could not,
| because the burden which he carried, caused the
person to stoop, and prevented him from seeing
his figure distinctly; but that it was him, he had
no doubt remaining on his mind. On being asked
| yvhy he had not divulged this sooner and more
pnbiicly he said that he was afraid the business,
| In which he was engaged that night, might have
| heen inquired into, which it was OF great lmpor-
| tahoe to him at that time to keep secret; and
tbercfore he was not only obliged to conceal what
he had seen, but TO escape tor assessor out oil the
| yvav. for fear of being examined.
The crime of the prisoner appeared new to be
h;ous. Mt least the presumption was strong
$3.50 him. Nevertheless, the Judge, in sum-
-. ,,,, tbe evidence, considered the proof as de-
fect;ye: expatiated at considerable length on the
e-traordinary story told by the widow, which,
:. oo,ld not be denied, had been the occasion of
III
.gonderfully exemplifed by corresponding facts;
vi lid he considered himself bound to account
e., , II in natural way, for the satisfaction of
he own mind and the minds of the jury, and
na,,d not account for it in other, than by saP-
nos;ng that the witness had discovered the frac-
ture Before the body of her friend had been con-
signed to the grave; and that, on considering
Ie;surely and seriously various circumstances
connected with the fatal catastrophe, she had be-
come convinced of the prisoners guilt, and had
either fancied, or, more probably. dreamed the
story, on which she had dwelt 50 long, that she
believed it as fact.
After all, the jury, by small majority retar-
ned verdict Of not proOen; ana aiter severe
,vas s;s,;ssed from the bar. forgot to mention
in its poperplace, that of the principal things
ia having made oath that he was in her apart |
mrnt all that night, and never left 1t.