Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1850-08-14
& Il z NJ o r D e r a r.
A THRILLING TALE.

a little more than fifty years ago, aman
bgstheaname of Henry Thompson called
ehouse of Mr.. John Smith, a resident
!, s,iinsa retired part Of England, and request
. ed nights lodging. The request was
sSseadilJ granted, and the stranger, having
eaken some refreshment, retired early to
Y gbed, requesting that he might be awakened
at an early hour the following morning.
When the servant appointed to call him
entered the room for that purpose, he was
tonnd in his bed, perfectly dead.
On examining his body, no marks of
violence appeared, but his countenance
looked extremel y natural.
= IlIe OF ilis death soon spread
among the neigh5oSs, and inquiries were
made who he was, and by what means he
came to his death.
Nothing certain, however, was known.
lie had arrived on horseback, and was
seen passing through a neighboring VII
lageSabout an hour before he reached the
house where he came to lis end. And
ssthen, as to the manner of his death, so lit
lie could be discovered, that the jury
which was summoned to investigate tho
cause, returned d verdict thAt ':c died by
visitation nf et0d. When this was done,
ttcstTanger was buried.
and weeks passed en-, and little
svasgknown. The public mind,
pot at rest. Suspicious ex-
lst fell nieaasshad ). fastened the
asath; ,Whisperst to that effect
ssef Z expressed, 4; ald .the hearts Of
many, Smith was considered as guilty.
Tho farmer charadter.of Smith had not
sbeen good He Had $Iiyed loose and
: irregular life, involving himself in debt
by BIS .extravagances, and, atslengtls be;
ing suspected Of having obtained money
wrongfully, he suddenly fled from the
sstown.s
Wore than ten years, however, had
nes elapsed, since his return; during
which he had lived at his present resi-:
denee, apparently in good circumstances;
s5s3and with an improved character. Aa
former life, however, was not renAnSSsr-
ed, aud suspicion, after all, fastened upon
him.
At the expiration Of two months, 4 gen:
tleman one day stopped in the place for
the purpose Of making inquiry respecting
the stranger who had~been found dead in
lis bed. He supposed himself to be a
brother Of the man. The horse and clothes
Of the unfortunate man still remained, and
were Immediately known rs having be-
longcd to his brother The body, also,
was taken up, and though considerably
changed, bore "a strong resemblance to
him.
Honow felt authorized to ascertain, il
possible, the manner of his death de
proceeded, therefore, to investigate tho
circumstances as we'll as he was able Al
length ne made known to the magistrate
Of the district the information he had col
lectediand upon the strength of this
Smith was taken to jail to be tried lol
the WILT, murder Of Henry Thompson.
The celebrated Lord Mansfield was
then on the bench. He charged the
Strand Jury to be cautious rs to the find
ing bill against the prisoner. The evi
dence Of his guilt, ii guilty, might be
small. At 4 future time it might be grea
ter-morc information might be obtained
Should the jury now find a bill against
him, and should lie be acquitted, he could
not be molested again, whatever testimo
ny should riseup against him. The grand
jury however, did find bill, but'it was by
majority of only one.
At length the time of trial arrived
Smith was brought into court, and placec
at the bar A great crowd thronged the
room, eager and anxious to see the pri
soner, and to hear the trial. He himsel
appeared firm and collected. Nothing il,
his manner or appearance indicated guilt
and when the question was put to him by