Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-03-19
From Chambers Journal.
Cases Of Circumstantinl Evidence,


Ii,E YOUNG SALTWATER
III :ne year 80; young man VINO was serv-
ny MS apprenticeship IN London TO Il master
ai-,liakeI you leaVe 10 VISIT ms mother to spend
u'c ol,r,s''i,as hol'days' she iived lew miles
octonu Dea'' III neht, ne walked the journey;
anu o'i 'i' arrival AZ Deai III tne evening. being
'i"cn 'a',snco' ana also troubled with bowel
Ioi''Pi'',' "c aPPled 10 t'le laidlady oil pubic
"''I' ",'o was "t I'",'''eo Wi'n MS "otner, LOT
"s''' i."S aug iicr mouse was tuil anu every
peu ooo"P'eu p', sue loid MN mat II ne would
sleep WIN her uncle who had lately come ashore,
ana was ooa,swa'n OF an indIaman, ne should be
we'ooi'e' ne was gIid 10 accept the offer, and
a'er stiiui''g t'ie evening with MS new conradc,
uhey re''reo TO rest.
IN !le nldule OF the night he was attacked
WIN MS o,d complaint and wakenlng his bedlel-
row, nc asked nun 'he way TO the garden The
poatswaln told HIM to 90 through the kitchen;
out as he would ma It difficult to open the door
'i'o te yard, 'ne latch beng ont OF order he de-
9'teu MN 10 take Knlie out OF his pocket, with
Wnlci ne couid raise the latch. The young man
dIdaS ne was directed, and alter remaining near
~ halt an hour IN the yard he returned to his bed
but was much surprised to find his companion
had risen ana gone. Being impatient to visit
ms mother and trends, he also arose before day,
and pursued his journey, and arrived home at
noon. The landlady. who had been told of his
intention to depart early, was not surprised but
not seeing her uncle in the morning. she went
to call him. She was dreadfully shocked to find
the bed stained with blood, and every inquiry al
ter her uncle was in vain.
Inc alarm now became general, and on fur
ther eXaininatonnarkso OF blood were traced from
tle bedroom INTO the street, and at intervals down
TO the edge OF the pcr-head. Rumor was i'm
inediately busy and suspicion fell of course on
the young man who slept with him, that he had
committed the murder and thrown the body over
the pier INTO the sea. y warrant was issued
against him. and he was taken that evening al
his mothers house. On his being examined and
searched, marks of blood were discovered on hi.
shirt and trousers, and in his pocket were knife
and n remarkable silver coin, both of which the
landlady swore positively were her uncle's prom.
erty, and that she saw them in his possession on
the evening he retired 10 rest with the younu
man. On these strong circumstances the mn
fort innate youth was found pnitv.
lie related all the above particulars in his do
fence but as he could not account f,r the mari
of blood on his person. unless that he pot them
when he returned TO the bed. mar FIR the silve,
coin being in his possession. his story was M
credited. The certainty of tbc boatsr,in's dis
appearanco and tho blood nj IN, Nor traced r,o,
his bedroom. were snpnosed to be foo evJen
siGns of his heinz numbered. and avon tho in,I,,
was so convinced oChis mill tbat bn orjnreI III,
execution to take place in three DAYS. AT til,
fatal tree the vou,h declared his Innocence an,
persisted in it with sucl'atfactnq ns.cvc,otjons
;,,,,, 81; ., '"'' ''''S'' ''i0 ''"'''u "'
W III. eo''V',,
HE eNecutioner' OF those days were not s'
expert at their trade as modern ones nor wer
drops and platforms invented. The Young mar
vo vor,, I'll. liz c,a, '', i,', ,,,.,hI g.,