The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1847-12-02

kIngly exhibits the tulilDlc and uncertain
nature Of circumstantial evidence, aivord
also convincing proof Of the indispensable,
necessity Of procuring medical tes,imon,
OF the highest order, in all criminal case,
relating to injuries Of the person. The
narrator, MIR. Perfect, is surgeon, O
Hammcrsmth, Eugland:-
II is now thirty years ago, that, accident
ally passing the Pack-IIorsc, Turnham
green, my attention was attracted BY q
mob Of persons Of the lower order, assem-
blcd around tho door OF the inn, who were
very loud in their excavations against some
person who was suspected Of having muir.
dered his brother, in confederation Of which
! was told that his bones were found near
the premises whcro he formerly resided
upon view Of which . jury was then sitting,
after IN adjournment from the day prcce-
ding. found that two surgeons had been
subpnnacd to inspect the remains, and
had no doubt but that every information rs
to their character had been obtained; curl
osity alone, therefore, induced inc to make
my way into tho room, where found the
coroner, md, ! believe, double jury,
were sitting for the second day, and enga-
gcd in IN investigation which tended 10
show that farmer and market gardener at
Sutton-court Farm, had, lew years before,
brother living with him, who was engag-
ed in tho farm, but whose conduct was dis
solnte and irregular to degree that often
provoked the anger Of his elder brother, and
sometimes begat strife aud violence be-
tween them; that the temper Of the elder
brother was as little under control rs the
conduct of tho younger; and, in fine, that
they lived very unconlior,aaly together.
One winters night, when the ground wns
covered with snow, the Younger brother
absconded from the house (for they beth
lived togeihcr.) by letting himself down
from his chamber window; and when he
was missed tho ensuing morning, his foot
steps were clearly tracked in the snow to
a considerable distance; nor were there
any other footsteps but his own; time pass
cd on, and aficr lapse Of some few years
no tidings were heard Of his retreat, nor
pcrhnps have there ever been since. Some
alterations in the ground surrounding the
house having been undertaken by n subse-
quent tenant (for tho elder brother had
then left the farm a skeleton was dug up,
and the circumstance appeared SO conclu.
sive that one brother bad murdered the
other, that the popular clamor was raiscd
to the utmost, md n jury cmpannclcd to
investigate the case.
After listening nttcntiyely 10 these de-
tails, ] veniured to request Of the coroner
TO be allowed to examine the bones. which
found were contained in hamper bn skc,
at the farther end Of tho room, and felt
much ilattered by his immediate comrli-
ance, for he desired the parish bendle, who
was IN attendance, TO place them upon th
table; aud having myself disposed them in
their natural order, found TINT they rep
resented a person of short stature, and from
tho CELEBRATION Of the skull and the worn
down state Of the teeth, must have belong
ed TO un aged person. But what was my
surprise when ! reconstructed the bones
Of the skeleton, and found the lower homes
oil the trunk TO be those Of female. Icom-
municated the fact to the jury, and request
ed that tho two medical men who had be-
fore given their opinions might be sent for,
one Of whom Immediately attended, and
without moments hesitation corroboratcd
my report.
need not add that the proceedings were
instantly at an end, and the innocent man
received tho amcndc honorable, in tho
shape Of IN apology from nil present, in
which the coroner heartily joined. Il has
since been proved, beyond all doubt, that
the spot where the bones were found, was
formerly tho sight Of large gravel pit, in
which hordcs Of eipsies not only assembled
but occasionally buried their dead, and per.
hnps more skeletons arc yc: to be found in
that vicinity.
Not so fortunate in its issue was the case
we subjoin to this, and which occurred in
England previous to tho reign Of Charles
II. The narrative is given in one Of the
early volumes Of the GcntIcman's Maya.
zinc.
A gentleman died possessed Of a very
considerable fortune, which he left to bis
only child, a daughter, appointing his broth.
CT to be her guardian and executor Of bis
will. The young lady WAS then about
eighteen; and il she happened to die I'm.
married, or it marricd without children, lie,
fortune was left to his heirs. As the in.
forest Of tie uncle WINS now incompatible
with the life Of tho niece, several other re-
lations limited that il would not be propcl
for them 70 1.-Two together. Whether they
were willing to prevent any occasions
SANDER against tho uncle, in case Of tho
young lady's death; whether they had any
apprchcnsions Of her being il danger; d
whether they were only discontinued with
tho fathers disposition Of his fortune, nnc
therefore propagated rumor to tho prejudice
Of those who possessed il, cannot be known