The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-09-22
Remarkable Case Of Circumstautfal Evi.
deuce.

Remarkable Case Of Circumstautfal Evi.
deuce.
At the Surry (Ens) Sessions, recently Mr..
Charnock, who was engaged to defend prisoner,
the evidence for the prosecution resting entirely
on circumstan,la evidence,) cited the following
remarkable case:
On the Northern Circuit few years
ago, a respectable farmer was indicted
for the wilful murder Of his niece, 10
whom he was left executor and guardian.
A serious quarrel took place between the
uncle and his ward, and the former was
heard 10 say that his niece would never
live TO enjoy her property, although she
wanted bu, short period of becoming of
age. Shortly after this declaration and
quarrel, the niece was suddenly missed,
and no one knew what had become of
her. Rumors were quickly spread TO the
disadvantage of the farmer, until it was at
length publicly reported that he had muir
dered his niece for the sake of possessing
himself of her property, and that he had
concealed the body. On his being appre-
kanded on a charge Of murder, various
spots of blood were found on his clothes.
those being the garments lie was in The
habit of wearing. Appearances went so
much against the prisoner, that he was
committed for trial. Al the assizes. APP
plication was made 10 the Judge to post
ponc the case, on the ground that public
indignation was SO generally excited
against the prisoner that he could not 60
safely to trial, and an affidavit was put in.
that if time was granted, there was no
doubt the niece would be produced in
court, and that the prisoner was entirely
innocent of the murder. The application
was successful, and in the interim the
most strenuous exertions were made or
behalf of the prisoner and his friends to
find the niece, but all TO no purpose, and
the search proved frutless. The period
of the asszes at length came round, and
being unable TO produce the niece, the
prisoner, to save his life, resorted to
deception, the fatal step of which procur-
ed his condemnation and execution within
forty eight hours after trial. A young
lady was produced in court exactly re-
semblng the supposed murdered female
her height, age, complexion, hair, and
voice, were so similar, that many persons
IN court, who where acquainted with the
niece, were satisfied she was the same,
ard some witnesses actually swore TO the
identity. An intimation, however, was
given TO the counsel for the prosecution,
that the female in court was not the niece
Of the prisoner, but the resemblance was
perfect. By the most skllful cross-ex-
animation by the counsel for the prosecu-
ton, the arliiice was at length detected,
and the Jury without hesitation pronoun-
ccd the verdict of guilty. His lordship,
in passing sentence of death. said it was
impossible the jury could have come to
any other conclusion, and sentenced the
unfortunate man TO be executed on the fol-
lowing Monday. On the scail,old, with
his last breath, the unhappy convict de-
clared his innocence. but the clergyman
rebuked him for hardwood, and the crowd
of spectators who had witnessed the exc
cution were satisfied he died a guilty
man. Within two years after the execu-
ton, the niece actually made her appear
aace, and claimed the property to which
she was entitled. 1t appeared that on the
day after the unfortunate quarrel, the
niece eloped from her uncle's house with
a stranger, to whom she had recently be-
come attached, and had never been heard
of until her sudden and unexpected re-
turn, and that she had only by accident
heard Of her uncle's execution.