The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-02

Vosos Ia Low hurled whisper sad.
Mary, are you theIei' She was positive II
was Mr.. Armstrong; voice, but was too
terrified to answer. Then Mrs. Armstrong,
she was sure it was she, said also in
whisper, ami as il addressing her husband,
She is never back at this hour A minute |
OF SO after there was tap at MIR. Wilson's
door. She could not catch what answer
was made; but by Armstrong; reply, she
gathered that Mr.. Wilson had lain down,
and did not wish to be disturbed. lie was
often in tho habit of lying down with his
clothes on. Armstrong said, Il will not
disturb you, sir; I'll only just put this par
Gel on the table, There is no lock 10 Mr..
Wilson's coor. Armstrong stepped into
the room, and almost Immediately she heard
sound as Of violent blow, followed by
deep groaD, and then all was still. She
was parolysed with horror and alright
After the lapse of few seconds, voice
Mrs. Armstrong; undoubtedly-asked IN
uemulous tone if 'al was overt Her bus
band answered Yes but where be the keys
Of the writing-desk kept?' in the little
table-drawer, was the reply. Armstrong
,hen came out Of the bedroom, and both
went into Dir. Wilson's sitting apartment.
They soon returned. and crept steallhlly
along the passage TO their own bedroom on
the same floor. They then went down
stairs TO the kitchen. One Of them--the
woman, she had no doubt--went out the
backway, and heavy footsteps again ascen-
ded the stars. Almost dead with hight,
she then crawled under the bedstead, and
remembered no more till she found herself
surrounded by the villagers.
In confirmation OF this statement, large
clasp-knife belonging to Armstrong, anc
with which it was evident the murder hac
been perp,trated, was found in one cornel
of Wilson's bedroom; and mortgage deeG
for one thousand pounds on Craig Farm
the property of Wilson, and which STug
nell swore was always kept in the writing
desk in the front room, was discovered in
chest in the prisoners sleeping apartment
together with nearly one hundred and lift,
} pounds in gold, silver, and county bani
, notes, although it was known that Arm
strong had but fortnight before declined
very advantageous offer Of some cows b
I was DESTROYS OF purchasing, under the pie
. Of being short OF cash. Worse perhap
than all, a key Of the back door was ioun
D in his pocket, which not only confnne
9 Strugnelrs evidence, but clearly demonstr'
e ted that tho knocking at the door for admit
a lance, which had reused and alarmed III
hamlet was pure subterluge. The col
! clusion, therefore, almost universally arrive
a at throughout the neighborhood was, lht
II Armstrong and his wife were the guilty pa
e ties; and that the bundles, the broken lock-
. the sheet hanging out Of the window, III
!. shiny, black hat, were. like the knocking
n mere cunning devices 10 mislead inquiry.
5, The case excited great interest in III
e county, ard | esteemed myself profession
n ally fortunate in being selected to hold Ii
}, brief for the prosecution. | had satishe
e myself, by a perusal Of the deposition
Is that there was no doubt Of the prisoner
K guilt, and determined that no effort on m
e part shoulc be spared to insure the accom-
% plishment Of the ends OF Justice. DIRE
ot the indictment myself; and in my openr
h address to the jury, dwelt with all the for'
h and eloquence OF which | was master upC
ID the heinors nature of the crime, and Il
conclusiveness of the evidence by which
5 had been brought home to the prisoners.
may here, by way Of parenthesis, mentic
1I that | resorted to a plan in my address
d the Jury which | have seldom known
le fail. 1t consisted in fixing my eyes and a
s. dressing my language to each juror one I
il ter the Other. In this way each conside
the address 10 be an appeal to his individ
he al intelligence, and responds to it by ialliT
is into the views Of the barrister. On this o
casion the jury easily fell into the trap.
n could see tlat had got them into the h
lg NOR Of putting confidence in the eviden'
W | had to produce.
The tria proceeded. The cause Of Il
H. death was scientifically stated by two me
N ical men. Next followed the evidence
to the finding OF the knife in the bedroo
Of the deceased; the discovery of the MOI
gage deed, and the large sum Of money,
xt the prisoners sleeping apartment;
finding the key OF the back -door in d
ID male prisoners pocket; and his demean
and expressions on the night Of the perp
tration OF the crime. In his cross.exan
X nation Of tie constable, several facts pc
:, lectly new 10 me were elected by the We
able council for the prisoners. Their 4
> lorney had udiciously maintained the striC
g est secrecy as to the nature OF the defenc
30 that il now took me completely by 81
!, prise. The constable in reply to question
e by counsel, stated that the pockets Of d
r. deceased were empty; that not only h
purse. but a gold watch, chain, and sea
e which he usually wore, had vanished, an
!. no trace OF .hem had as yet been discove
9 ed. Many other things were also missing
D A. young man Of the name OF Pearce, 81
d psrently a sailor, had been seen in the vi
|, LACE once or twice in the company OF Mar
y Strugnell; but he did not notice what So
!, of hat he generally wore; he had not see
;. pearce since the night the crime was con
9 united; had not sought for him.
/. Mary Strugnell was the next witness
/. She repeated her previous evidence with prt
l. cision and apparent sincerity, and then
d abandoned her with mixed feeling {
e anxiety and curiosity TO the counsel for III
}. defence. A subtle and able cross-examir
alton of more than two hours duration 70
/. lowed; end at its conclusion, felt that III
/. case for the prosecution was so damaged
,; chat q verdict Of condemnation was, Q