The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-08-31

ury to expect. f
Lord Mansfield now addressed the jury Ip
Ie told them, that in his opinion, the evidence
vas not sufficient to condemn the prisoner,
nd il the jury agreed with him in opinion, the
'ourt would discharge him. Without leaving
heir seats the jury agreed that the evidence
vas not sufficient.
A this moment, when they were about to
ender a verdict of acqaittal, the prisoner rose
md addressed the court. He said that he had
been accused Of foul crime, and that the jury
lad said that there was not sufficient evidence
against him. Did the jury mean that there
was any evidence against him? Was he to go
out Of court with suspicion resting upon him
aIteFag This he was unwilling to do. u
was an innocent man, and il the Judge would
grant him the opportunity, he would prove it.
He would call his housekeeper, who would
confirm a statement which he would now
make.
The housekeper had not appeared in court.
She had concealed herself, or had been con-
cealed by him. But he himself now offered
to bring her forward, aud stated as the reason,
not that he was unwilling that she should tes-
tiiy, but knowing the excitement, he was fear
lul that she might be bribed to give testimony
contrary to fact. But he was now ready to
relate all the circumstances he knewt-she
might then be called and examined. # her
testimony does not confirm my story, let me be
condemned.
The request Of the prisoner seemed reasona-
BILE, and Lord Mansfield, contrary to his usual
practice, granted it.
The prisoner went on with his statement
He said he wished to go out of court relieved
from the susp cions which were resting upon
him. A to the poison, by means OF which the
stranger was said to have died, he knew neither
the name Of il, nor even the existence Of It
until made known by the counsel. lie coulc
call God to witness the truth of what he said
The housekeeper was now introduced, anc
examined by the counsel for the prisoner
She had not heard any part Of the statement
of Smith, nor a single word Of the trial. lie
s,o,-v confirmed all he said
To Ills succeeded the cross-examination.-
One c,rcun, stance had made deep impression
or nj. mind-,.his was, that while the prlsole
and tie housekeeps' were in the room oil tn
former, something like door mad oOs'r"c'e'
Ggh. of the chnndle so that the witness
'"' .e1 to the fact, but, cou,'d not see IT,
'tos' "'1 he obstruction! Til ere was !"
" "a' w." n the room which c,'u'u a'
uOo'-,'o'I,%s ,sis Ye, the witness was pON "''
,ha. something like door, 1'U' w ,,C,s' h
''r, o"ms u between the windswnp I'D the ''ad'e'-
This needed explanation. Inc :, na
was the only person that could give ~
s,ro;r, to probe the matter, in the end to :"
bo,,om. but not wishing to excite her alarm
he began by asking her few unlmPOF's'
questions, and amOog others' where tue O'''
ala o,ood while she was in Mr.. Smiths room
q n the centre of the room,' she rePheo'
tWelI, was the closet or cupbOard' OF wna
ever you call it, opened once or twice "u''0
stood there?'
She made no reply.
.Iwill help your rocOllectiOn,' said the cOu,
) 80, after Mr.. Smith had taken the med
cine out of the closet, did he shut the oOOf'
did it remain opeh!'
r Shut IT, ,..
u .And when he replaced the bottle in
closet, he opened it again, did he'
:" He did, ,....p.
t' Sand how long was it open the last ''me
~ mot above a minute.'
al sWell, and when open, would the a( @
- be exactly between the light and the WI
= dow?
' Glt would -.
eu Il forget,' said the COUNSEL whether
n said the closet was to the right or tho lett II
side Of the window
leu son tho left hand side.'
llau .Would the door Of the closet make
~, w. noise in opening''
~ None;
~ Are you cerInin?'
~ am
aaO .Have you ever opened it yOuFseli' OF
i"'; seen Mr.. Smith open it?'
o. Il never opened it myself
70 Did YOU ever keep the key9'
-. sNever,'
'Who did!'
'u' tMr. Smith always
d. AT this moment, the housekeePer c0a
The 10 cast her eye towards Smith, the f''so"
sller, His countenance suddenly changed
He damp sweat stood upon his brow ana "''
ng a lost all its color; he appeared a living I'm
"aN' Of death.
no'ti She no sooner saw him, than she sht
omp. .od tainted. The conseq quence OF her an
gold a,.bad across her mind. She had be-
thoroughly deceived by the manner
ull on advocate, and by the little Importance
n that seemed to attach to her statements u
I'D the had been led on by one question 10 ~
II 4 van