Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-05-08
From fais's Eai.burg Magazine
THE DOUBLE TRIAL


For many years, Sir James Fanshaws
Bart. Of ancen, family and large estates
had resided a, - Abbey, about seve
miles from the county town. He was
widower, and had but one child, a beau'l
tul and accomplished daughter, who, upo
his decease, (she then being just 2l year
of age became sole possessor Of his prop
erly and also continued 10 dwell a, the SAM
place. Shortly after her fathers death
Mss Fanshawe benevol, nlly adopted a
companion distant rclaiive-a hish borl
Young Irish lady. named Eyeleen O'NeIl
who had just been left, not merely fortune
less. but totally friendIess, orphan.
On the day of the Asszes at wei
known county town in England this young
female, Eveleen O'Nelll. was brough, into
the dock under an accusation Of having
murdered Miss Fanshawe The accused
was graceful, modest, and beautiful, with
large dark eyes, features deadly pale, qulv
ering lips. aud her hands lightly pressed
before her.
1t was charged that this orphan cousin,
this dependent, deliberately murdered hel
benfactress, tempted by mercenary motives
Miss Fanshawe having previously made a
will, leaving her property to Eveleens in
ease she should die unmarried. The prin-
ciple evidence introduced was the butler,
named Collins. He stated that "a few
minutes afler four o'clock, on the morning
of the 2s;h Of July. be was aroused from
his sleep by repeated violent screams, issu
Ing apparently from the sleeping room o
his mistress. 10 great alarm, he dressed
and went as quickly rs he possibly could
towards that room. The door stood slightly
ajar, and as he pushed it smartIy open, he
crossed the threshold, and was Mortified by
wha, he Immediately saw. On the carpet.
by the side of the bed, lay the body Of his
mistress,in her night dress, bathed in blood.
kneeling close 10 her was the prisoner al
the bar. with her left hand resting on her
mistress bosom. and her right hand uplii-
ted with small drawn dagger, which was
apparently about to be plunged in his mis-
'ress' body. Both the dagger and the hand
which held it were dripping with blood"
A shudder Of horror agitated the whole
court at this deposition; and the accused
sank her head between her hands, groan-
ing heavily. The examination proceeded
Ar. Collins-WiIl you here describe the
exact position in which four mistress lay
when you first saw her! Witness She
was stretched out upon her back, her knees
drawn up some height from the carpet.
which, bein. loose one, was ruffled on
heap under and around her, as though
srea, struggle had taken place. Her head
lay on one side, with the right cheek rest.
ing on the carpet, and her hair was torn
from underneath her cap. and hung back
ward over head. Mr.. Collins-You saw
that the prisoner was kneeling by her side,
and holding dagger, which you thought
she was about plunging in your mis,ress's
breasts Witness-Yes. Mr.. Collins
And there was quite sufficient daylight for
you 10 see, with perfect distinctness, the
objects you have described! Witness-l
les. Mr. ColIins-Now, sir, on your
oath, was The point Of that dagger di!ec-
led downwards With considerable
hesitation, the witness confessed that he
could not speak positively in this respect.
With regard TO the chamber, no time
was lost in making strict and well-con.
Quoted examination Of the apartment and
me result was that several most extraordi-
nary matters were brought to light The
BED IN which the ill-lated lady had sep,
vas completely saturated with blood. and
The sheets 'umbled and twisted in a way
that clearly evidenced that she MUS, have
fought hard with the murderer. By pass !
ing the curtains aside, Miss Fanshawe
could reach the pull Of a bell, hanging in
nef own maids room, and SO summon her
any moment she required. This lI.pull
was 'ound carefully tied around the adjoin-
ing oeo post, Completely out of the sleep.
et's reach. This apparently indicated two
"nporlan: facts: first, that the murder
must have been a deliberately planned ar
'air' second, that it must have been com.
hHu sonno on lpilIualeix acauainied