Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1850-08-14

the clerk" Are you guiltys" he answer
ed with an. unfaultering tongue, and with
a countenance perfectly anchanged,-
"Not guilty"
The counsel for the prosecution now
opened the case. But it was apparent
that he had little expectation of being
able to prove the prisoner guilty He sta.
ted to the jury. that the case was involved
in great mystery. The prisoner was a
man of responsibility and of property.
The deceased was supposed to have had
about him gold and jewels to large
amount; but the prisoner was not so
much in want of funds, as to be under a
strong temptation to commit murder And
besides, if the prisoner had obtained the
property, he had effectually concealed it.
Not trace of it could be found.
hy,sthen,was the prisoner SUSPECTED?
He would state the grounds of SUSPICION.
The deceased, Henry Thompson, was a
/ jjeweler reidipg in London, and a man
of wealth. He had left London for the
purpose of meeting a trader at Hull, Of
. whom he expected make llargs pufs''
Echasa. That trader he did meet; and
Eafter the departure Of the latter. Mr..
Thompson was known to have had in his
4 possession gold and jewels to a large
amount
With these in his possession, he left
Hull on his return to London. 1t was
not known that he stopped untilhe reach
ed Smiths, and tue next morning was
discovered dead in his bed. He died,
then, in Smiths house; and if it could be
shown that he came to his death in an un-
natural way, it would increase his suspi.
cion, that the prisoner was in some way
connected with the murder.
Tie counsel for the prosecution con-
claded what he had to say. During his
address, Smith appeared in no wise to be
agitated or. distressed and equally un-
moved was he willie the witnessed testi-
fled in substance what the opening speech
of the counsel led the court and the jury
to expect.
Lord Mansfield now addressed the jury.
Tie told them that, in his opinion, the evi
dence was not sufficient to condemn ths.
prisoner, and if the jury agreed with him
&: or;&ion, t'.> y'o,.,: would discharge him.
Without leayiugsstheir seats, the jury
agreed that the eadenec was not sufficient.
At this momentSwhen they were about
to render verde. of acquittal, the pri-
soner rose and addressed the court. lie
said he had been accused of foul crime,
and the jury had said that there was not
sufficient evidence against lin. Dill the
jury mean that there was aur-~TIience
against him? WaaE-t0 80 oat OF court
with sr-,,.sctoEs resting upon him, after
! all? This he was unwilling to do. He
was an innocent man, and if the Judge
would grant him the opportunity he would
prove it. He would call his housckeeper,
who would confirm Il statement which he
would now make.
The housckecpcr had not appeared in
court. She had concealed herself, or
had been concealed by him. But he HIM
self now offered to bring her forward,
and stated as the reason, not that he was
unwilling that she could testify, but know
iHg the excitement, he was fearful that she
might be bribed to give testimony contra
ry to fact. But lie was now ready to re-
late all the circumstances lie kncw-sIs'
might, then, be called aud he examined:
If her testimony does not confirm MSY
story, let me be condemned.
ss,s IA The request of the prisoner seemed rea-
aass0nable, and Lord Mansfield, contrary to
Usual practice, granted it.
The prisoner went on with his state
mcnt. tEc said he wished to 60 Ont Of
court relieved from the suspicious which
were resting upon him. As to the poi
son, By means Of which the stranger was
said to live died, he knew neither tue
name OF it, or even the existence OF it,
until made known by the counsel. lie
could call God TO witness the truth CT
what he said
The housekeercr was now introduced,
and examined by the counsel for the pri-
soner. She had not heard any part Of
the statement Of Smith, nor single word
Of the trial. Her story confirmed all he
said.
o,tlis succeeded her cross:examina-
ton By the counsel for the prosecution.
One circumstance had made deep i'm.
preston on his mind-tliis was, that willie
the prisoner and the housekeeper were in
the room Of the former, something like "a
door had obstructed the light of the can.
die, so that the witness testified to the
fact, but could not see it.-What was the
obstruction? There was no door-noth.
Ing in the room which could account for
this. Yet the witness was positive that
something like door, did, for moment,
come between the window and the cam
die. This pcededexplanation. The house.
keeper was the only person that could
give it. Designing to probe this matter,
in the end, to the bottom, but not wishing
to excite her alarm he began by asking
hcrsa few unimportant questions, and
among others, where the candle stood
while she was in Mr.. Smiths room.
"In the centre of the room," she replied
tt WILL ,,,l ,,.,. a., 81 oso{ ~, on,,1, r,or,I