Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-05-04
\ Glcuer GkettI).
From Tait's Edinburg Magazine
THE DOUBLE TRIA L.
A STORY OF cIRcUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

For many years, Sir James Fansbawe,
Bart, of ancient family and large estates,
had resided at - Abbey, about seven
miles from the county town. He was a
widower, and had but one child, beauti-
full and accomplished daughter, who, upon
bis decease, (she being just 21 years OF age,l
became sole possessor OF his property, and
also continued to dwell at the same place.
Shortly after her fathers death, Miss Fam
shave benevolently adopted as her COM
panion a distant relative-a high born Irish
lady, named Eveleen O'Neill, who had
Just been left, not merely fortuneless, but
a totally iriendless orphan.
On the day of the Assizes at we'll
known county town in England, this young
female, Eyeleen O'Nelll, was brought into
the dock under an accusation of having
murdered Miss Fanshawe. The accused
was tall, graceful, modest and beautiful,
with large dark eyes, features deadly pale,
quivering lips, and her hands lightly press
ed before her.
1t was charged that this orphan cousin,
this dependent, deliberately murdered her
beneiactress, tempted by mercenary mo-
tiveS. Miss Fanshawe having previously
made will, leaving her property to Eve
leen, in case she should die unmarrled.--
The principal evidence introduced was the
butler named Collins. He stated that "a
few minutes after four O'Clock, on the
morning of the 2Sth of July, he was
aroused from his sleep by repeated violent
screams, issuing apparently from the sleep
ing room of his mistress. In great alarm,
he partially dressed, and hurried as quickly
as he possibly could towards that room.-
The door stood slightly ajar, and pushing 1t
smartly open, he crossed the threshold, and
was Mortified by what 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 to her
was the prisoner at the bar, with her left
hand resting on her mistress bosom, and
her right uplifted with small drawn dag
ger, which was apparently about to be
plunged in his mistress body. Both the
dagger and the hand which held it were
dripping with blood" A shudder OF hor-
ror agitated the whole court at this part oI
the deposition and the accused sank her
head between her hands, groaning heavily
The examination proceeded:
MIR. CollIns-Will you here describe
the exact position in which your mlstres:
lay when you first saw hers Witness
She was stretched out upon her back, hel
knees drawn up some feet from the carpet
which, being loose one, was rufiled on a
heap under and around her, as though {
great struggle had taken place. Her heat
lay on one side, with the right cheek rest
ing on the carpet, and her hair was tori
from underneath her cap, and hung back
ward over her head. Mr.. Collins-Yor
say that the prisoner was kneeling by hel
side, and holding dagger, which yoI
thought she was about to plunge in you
mistress breast -Witness-Yes. MIR. Col
lins-And there was quite sufficient day
light for you to see, with perfect distinct
ness, the objects you have described ! Wit
ness-Yes. MIR. Collins-Now, sir, oil
, your oath, was the point of that dagger dI
rected downwards with considerable
hesitation, the witness confessed that h
could not speak positively in this respect
With regard to the chamber, no tim
= was lost in making strict and well con
Quoted examination of the apartment am
} the result was, that several most extraordl
nary matters were brought to light. Th
bed in which the ill-fated lady had slept
!, was completely saturated with blood, an
;, the sheets tumbled and twisted in wa
i that clearly evidenced that she must hav
fought hard with the murderer. BY pas
ing the curtains aside, Miss Fanshawe coul
i reach the pull of bell, hanging in he
= own maids room, and SO summon her |
: any moment she required. This bell-pu
; was found carefully tied around the adjoiI
ing bed post, completely out OF the sleel