The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1847-02-27
From Chambers Edinburgh Miscellany
CASES OF CIRCUMSTANTIALE EVIDENCE
THE YOUNG sAILMAKER.

In the year 1928, young man who was serv-
ing his apprenticeship in London to a master sail
maker, got leave to visit his mother, to spend the
Christmas holidays. She lived few miles be-
You'd Deal, in Kent. He walked the journey
and on his arrival at Deal in the evening, being
much fatigued and also troubled with bowel
complaint, he applied to the landlady OF public
mouse, who was acquainted with his mother for
nights lodging. Her house was full and every
bed occupied but she told him thatif he would
sleep with her uncle, who had lately come ashore.
ana was boatswain OF an Indi1man, he should be
welcome. He was glad to accept the offer, and
AFTER spending the evening with his new comrade,
they retired to rest
In the middle of the night he was attacked
with his old complaint and Weakening his bedfel
iow' ne asked him the way to the garden. The
boatswain told him to go through the kitchen.
put as ne would find it difficult to open the door
into the yard, the latch being out OF order he do
sired him to take knife out of his pocket. with
which he could raise the latch. The voupg man
ana as he was directed, and after remaining near.
y nall an hour in the yard he returned to his he'd
but was much surprised TO find his companion had
risen and gone. Being impatient to visit his moth.
er and friends he also arose before day, and pur-
sued ms journey, and arrived home at noon The
landlady, who had been told of his intention IN
depart early, was not surprised but not seeing
her uncle In the morning, she went 10 call him.
She was dreadiuliy shocked to find the bed stain
cd with blood, and every inquiry after her uncle
was in vain.
Inc alarm now became general and on further
examination, marks of blood were traced from The
bedroom into the street, and at intervals down to
the edge OF the pier-head. Rhmor was immedi-
aely 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- warrant was issued
against nm, and he was taken that evening at his
mothers house. On his being examined and
searched, marks OF blood were discovered on his
shirt and trousers, and in his pocket were knife p
anu 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 to rest with the Young man.
On these strong circumstances the unfortunate
| youth was found guilty.
He related all the above particulars in his do.
fence; but as he could not account for the marks
OIL blood ON his person, unless that he got them
when he returned to the bed nor for tbe silver
coin being in his possession his story was not cred
lted. Inc certainty OF the boatswain's disappear-
ance' and the blood at the pier, traced from his
bedroom, were supposed to be too evident signs
oil MS being murdered and even the Judge was
SO convinced Of his guilt, that he ordered the ex-
ecution TO take pac: in three DAYS At the fatal
Tree the youth declared his innocence. and per
sisted IN 1t with such affecting asseyerations thai
|
ness OF his sentence
| The executioners of those DAYS were not 50 OK.
pert at their trade as modern ones nor were drops
| and platforms invented. The Young man was
very tall his feet sometimes touched the oround
and some of his friends who surrounded the Gal.
lows contriyed to give the body some support as
II was suspended. After being emf down fhoea
friends bore it speedily away in a coffin. and in
the course OF few hours animation was restored
ana the innocent saved. When he was able to
moVe' MS friends insisted on his quitting the coun
Try, ana never returning. II e accordingly trav
elied oy night to Portsmouth, where he entered
on BOARD man of-war tie point of sailing for
distant part OF the world and as he changed
his name, and disguised his person his melanc6o,
~ story never was discovered
Alter few years of service during which hi.
exemplary conduct was the cause of his promo
uon through the lower grades. he was at lac,
made masters mate and his shin being maid IN
In the west Indies, he and few more of the crew
were transferred to another man of-war which
hau JUST arrived short OF hands from different
station What were his feelings of establishment
and then of delight and ecstacv. when almost
the iIrst person he saw on board his new shin
was the identical boatswan for whose murder he
had Deen tried, condemned, and executed FIVE
years oeloTe! Nor was the surprise OF the old
ooatswaln much less when he heard the story
AN explanation of all the mysterious crcum-
''o" 'o"A pace III appeared that the
Doatswaln had been bed for pain in tbe side bv
the barber, unknown to his niece. on the dav ri
the young mans arrival at Deal. that when tho
young man Weakened him, and retired TO the ward
ne found the bandage had come off his arm arr
ing the night, and that the blood was flowing
airesh. Being alarmed he rose to 90 the barber
VINO lived across the street. but press-gan laid
noid OF nm just as he left the public house =
Ihey hurried him to the pier, where their boat
was waiting; few minutes brought them IN
board irigate then under weigh for the East In
dles and he omitted ever Writing home TO ac
count for his sudden disappearance. Thus were
me chlel circumstances explained by the two
ifiends thus strangely met. The silver coin be-
ing found in the possession of the Young man
could only be explained by the conjecture, that
when ne took the knife out Of the boatswain'
pocket IN the dark, il s probable, as the coin was
IN the same pocket it stuck between the blades
OF the knife, and in this manner became the
strongest proof against him.
On their return to England, this wonderful ex.
PLANTATION was told to the judge and jury who tri-
ed the cause, and it is probable they never after
convicted man on c'rcnmstdntial evidence II
also made great noise in Rent at the ime.H
we present this case as usually reconnted by pop
ular tradition, without vouchng for IL accuracy If
true the jury, will be observed had no proof Of the
any Judge would have sanctioned gross pever.
sin of sne,to