The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-07-09

D
He told them that, in his opinion the evi.
dence was not sufficient TO condemn the
prisoner, and if the jury agreed with him in
the opinion, the court would discharge him.
Without leaving their seats the jury agreed
that the evidence was not Sufficient.
AT this moment, when they were about
to render verdict of acquittal the prisoner
rose and addressed the court. He said that
he had been accused of a foul crime, and the
Jury had said that there was not Sufficient
evidence against him. Did the jury mean
that there was any evidence against him ?
! Was he 10 go out of court with suspicious
resting upon him, after all This he was
unwilling to do. He was an innocent man,
and if the Judge would grant him the OPP
portunity, he would prove it. He would
call his housekeeper, who would confirm
statement which he would now make.
The housekeeper had not appeared in
court. She had concealed herself, or had
been concealed by him. But he himself
now offered to bring her forward, and
stated as the reason, not that he was un-
willing that she should testify, but knowing
the excitement, he was fearful that she
might be bribed to give testimony contrary
to fact. But he was now ready to relate
all the circumstances he knew--she might,
then, be called and be examined. If her
testimony does not confirm my story, let me
be condemned.
| The request of the prisoner seemed rea-
sonable, and Lord Mansfield, contrary to
| his usual practice granted il:
The prisoner went on with his statement.
He said he wished to go out of court re.
ieved from the suspicious which were rest
ing upon him. As to the poison, by means
of which the stranger was said to have
died, he knew neither the name of it, nor
even the existence of it, until made known
by the counsel. He could call God to wit
ness the truth of what he said ..
The housekeeper was now introduced,
and examined by the counsel for the prison.
er. She had not heard any part of the
etatement of Smith, nor a single word Of
the trial. Her story confirmed all he said.
To this succeeded her cross-examinaton
by the counsel for the prosecution. One
circumstance had made a deep impression
on his mind this was, that while the pris-
oner and the housekeeper were in the room
of the former, something like door had
obstructed the light of the candle, so that
the witness testified to the fact, but could
not see it, What was the obstruction
There was no door-nothing in the room
which could account for this. Yet the wit
ness was positive that something like a
door, did, for moment, come between the
window and the candle. This needed ex-
PLANTATION. The housekeeper was the only
person that could give it, Designing to
probe this matter, in the end, to the bottom,
bat not wishing to excite her alarm, he be.
gan by asking her a few unimportant ques.
tions, and among Others, where the cand! c
stood while she was in Mr.. Smiths room
"In the centre of the ROOM" she replied
"Well, and was the closet or cupboard,
or whatever you call it, opened once or
twice while it stood there?"
She made no reply,
"I will help your recollection" said the
COUNSEL "After Mr.. Smith had taken the
medicine out of the closet, did he shut the
door, or did it remain open?"
"He shut it."
"And when he replaced the bottle in the
closet, he opened it again, did he :"
"He did"
"And how long was it open the last
time 3"
Mot above minute"
"Well, and when open, would the door
be exactly between the light and the win
dow?"
s"It would"
81 forget" said the counsel, whether
you said the closet was on the right or left
hand side of the window"
"On the left hand side"
"Would the door of the closet make any
noise in opening?"
, None"
care you certain ?"
"I am"
"Have you ever opened it yourself, o.
only seen Mr.. Smith open it +"
Il never opened it myself"
"Did you ever keep the key
"Never.''
! "Who did ?"
Mr.. Smith, always"
At this moment the housekeeper chancet
TO cast her eye towards Smith. the prisoner
His countenance suddenly changed, A
cold, damp sweat stood upon his brow, AM
! his face had lost all its color; he appeared
f living image Of death.
She M sooner saw him than she shrieket
and tainted. The consequence of her an
swers flashed across her mind She hat
been so thoroughly deceived by the manne
) of the advocate, and by the little impor
| tance he had seemed to attach TO her state
ments, that she had been led on by on
| question to another, till she had told him a
D he wanted to know. ear
" She was obliged to be taken from tn
l court. and physician, who was present
5 was requested to attend her, AT this tim
, the solicitor for the prosecution (answerini