Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-04-24
From Tait's Edinburg Magazine.
THE DOUBLE TRIAL.

From Tait's Edinburg Magazine.
THE DOUBLE TRIAL.
STORY OF cIRcUMsTANT1AL EVIDENCE.
For many years. Sir James Fanshawe
Bart, Of ancient family and large estates, had
resided at - Abbey, about seven miles
from the country town. He was widow
er, and had but one child, beautiful and
accomplished daughter, who, upon his de-
cease, (she then being just FL years of age,)
became sole possessor of his property, and
also continued to dwell at the same place.
Shortly after her fathers death, Miss Fan
shave benevolen,Iy adopted as her compan-
ion a distant relalive-a high born young
Irish lady, named Eveleen ON eiII, who had
just been left, not merely fortuneless, but a
totally friendless orphan.
On the day Of the Assizes al well-known
county town in England, this young female,
EveIeen O'Neill, was brough, into the dock
| Miss Fanshawe. The accused was tall, grace
ful, modest and beautiful, with large dark
eyes, features deadly pale, quivering lips,
and her hands lightly pressed before her.
1t was charged that this orphan cousin,
this dependent, deliberately murdered her
benefac,ress, tempted by mercenary motives,
Miss Fanshawe having previously made a
will, leaving her property to Eveleen, in case
she should die unmarried. The principal
evidence introduced was the butler, named
Collins. He stated that "a few minutes af-
ter 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 sleeping room of his mistress. In
grea, alarm, he partially dressed; and hurri-
ed as quickly as he possibly could towards
,ha. room. The door stood slightly ajar, and
pushing it smartly open, he crossed the
threshold, and was Mortified by wha, he i'm
media,ely saw. On the carpet, by the side
of the bed, lay the body Of his mistress, in
her night-dress, ba,hed in blood. Kneeling
close TO her was the prisoner a. the bar, with
and her right uplifled with small drawn
dagger, which was apparently about to be
plunged in his mistress body. Both the
dagger and the hand which held i. were drip
ping with blood" A shudder of horror agi-
tated the whole court at this part Of the de-
position; and the accused sank her head be-
tween her hands, groaning heavily. The
examination proceeded:
Mr.. Collins-WilI you here describe the
exact position in which your mistress lay
when you first saw her: W,ness-She
was stretched ou, upon her back, her knees
drawn up some height from the carpet.
which, being loose one, was ruffled on a
heap under and around her, as though a
great struggle had taken place. Her head
lay on one side, with the right cheek rest
ing on the carpet, and her hair was torn
from underneath her cap, and hung back
ward over her head. Mr.. Colins-Y ou
say .ha. The prisoner was kneeling by her
side, and holding dagger, which you
thought she was about pIunging in your
mistress's breast Wi,ness-Yes. Mr.. Col
lins-And there was quite sufficient daylight
for you to see, with perfect distinc!ness, the
object you have described? Witness-Y es
Mr. Collins-Now, sir, on your oath, was
the point of that dagger directed downwards!
With considerable hesitation, the witness
confessed that he could not speak positively
in this respect.
With regard TO the chamber no time wa:
lost in making a strict and well-conducted
examination of the apartment; and the re-
suit was that several most extraordinary
matters were brought to light. The bed il
which the ill-fated lady had slept was com
pe,ely saturated with blood, and the sheet.
tumbled and twisted in way that clearly
evidenced that she must have fought hare
4 with the murderer. BY passing the curtains
; aside, Miss Fanshawe could reach the pul
Of bell, hanging in her own maids room
r and SO summon her at any moment she re
, quired. This bell-pull was found CAREFUL.
. tied round the adjoining bed-post, complete
ly out Of tine sleeper's reach. This appar
5 emily indicated two important facts frs
e that the murder mus, have been deliberate
. ly planned affair; secondly, tina. i. mus
S have been committed by some one intimate
q ly acquainted with the apartment. On tn
c victims body being examined, it was foun