Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1848-06-01
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

RCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
A gentleman died possessed Of very cons
siderable fortune, which he left to his on y
child, daughter, appointing his brother to
be her guardian, and executor Of his will.
The young laIy was then about eighteen
and if she happened 10 die unmarried, or if
married, without children, her fortune was
I left to his heirs. As one interest of the un-
Gle was now incompatible with the life of
the nice, several other relations limited that
it would not be proper for them to live to-
gelher. Whether they were willing 10 pre-.
ven; any occasional Islander against the un'
Gle, in case Ut the lady's death-whether
they had any apprehension of her being in
danger-or, whether they were only discon>
tented with the fathers disposition of his
fortune, and therefore propasa led ramors 10
the prejudice Of those who possessed it,
cannot be known-the uncle. however, took
his niece to his house near Epping Forest,
and soon afterwards she disappeared.
Great inquiry was made after her, and
ii appearing that on the day she was miss
ing she went oat with her uxcle into the
forest, who returned without her, he was la
ken into custody. A few days afterwards
he went through a long examination, in
which he acknowledged that he went with
her, and pretended that she found means to
loiter behind him as they were returning
home-that he sought her in the forest as
soon as he missed her, and that he knew not
where she was, or what had become of her.
This account was thought improbable, ard
his apparent interest in the death of his
ward, and, perhaps, the Fetuanl zeal ofoth>
er relations, occurred 10 raise and strengths
ensuspicions agains, him, aud he was de-
tanned in custody. Some new circumstan>
ces were every day rising against him. 1t
was found the young lady had been address
Ell by neighborlng gentleman who had
few days before she was missing, set out on
Journey TO the north, and that size had
declared she would mary him when he re-
turned that her uncle had frequently ex>
pressed his disapprobation of the match in
very strong teems-,hat she had often wept
and reproacheG him with nnkindnesS and
an abuse OF his power. A woman was also
produced, who sWore thai on the day the
young lady was missing about eleven o.
clock in the forenoon, she was coming
through the forest, and heard mans voice
exposiulating with great eagerness-upon
which she drew nearer the place, and, before
she saw any person, heard the voice say,
''Don't kill me, uncle--don't kill me" up,
on which she was greatly terrified, and i'm.
mediate ly hearing the report of fire-arm
very near, she made all the haste she could
fl ON the SPOT, but could not rest in her mind
ill she had told what had happened.
Such was thegenclal Impotence to pun
ish man who had murdered his niece to
inhe' ii her fortune, that upon this evidence
he was condemned and executed
About ter days after the execution, the
young lady came home. 1t appeared W.
ever that what all the witnes SEES had sworn
was true, and the fact was found to be thus
circumStanced.
The young lady declared, that having
previously agreed to go off with the gentle
men that courted her, he had stated that he
was going journey 10 the north, but that
he waited concealed al little house near
the skirts OF the forest TIL the time appoint
ed, which was the day she departed. That
| he had horses ready for himself and her,
and was attended by Two servants on horse
| back. That as she was walking with her
| uncle, he re proached her with persistiBg to
marry man of whom he disapproved !; and
after much alteration she sad, with some
heat, II have set my heart upon tiff l
do not marry him, it will be my dealh--and
don't kill me, uncle-don't kill me-" that
just as he had pronounced these words, she
heard fre-arm discharged very near her
at which she started, and Immediately af>
forwards saw a man come from the coppice
with wood pidgeon in his hand, that he
bad Just shot. That coming near the place
appointed for their rendezvous, she formed
a pretence TO let her uncle go on before her,
and her sutton being waiting for her with
horse, she mounted, and Immediately rode
OFF, THAT instead of going to the north,
they retired to a house in which he had ta>
Pken lodgings, near Windsor, where they
| were Married the same day, and in about
week vent journey of pleasure to France,
from whence, when they returned, they first
heard Of the misfortune which they had in
acyertently brought upoA their uncle.
30 uncertain Is human testimony, even
when the witnesses are sincere, and SO nec~
essary is cool and dispaSsiona'e inquiry
and termination, with respect to crimes that
are erroneous in the highest degree. q com.
mitted with every possible asgravalion.