Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-08-01
The Grand Jury, however, did find bill, but it
was by q majority of only one.


and anxsus to see the prisoner, and to hear the
trial. He himself appeared firm and collected.
Noihlng IN his manner Or appearance indicated
guilt; and when the question was put to him by
The clerk" Are you guilty" he answered with
on unfalterng tongue, and with countenance
perfectly unchanged-" Not guilty"
The counsel for the prosecution now opened
the case. But it was apparent that he hnd little
expectation of being able to prove the prisoner
guilty. He stated to the jury that the case was
involved in great mistery. The prisoner was
man of rospectability and of property The
deceased was suppose to have had about him
gold and jewels to large amonnt but the pris.
oner was not so much in want of funds, as to be
under q strong temptation to commit mul der
And besides, if the prisoner had obtained the
property, he had effectuaIly concealed it. Not
a trace of it could be found.
Why, then, was the prisoner suspected p
He would state the grounds of suspicion The
deceased, Henry Thompson, was jeweIer, re-
siding in London, and man of wealth. He
had left London for the purpose of meeting Il
trader at Hull, of whom he expected to make a
large purchase Thst trader he did meet; and
afther the departure Of the latter, Mr.. Thomp
son was known 10 have had in his possession
gold and jewels to a large amount
With these in his possession he left Hull on
his return 10 London. 1t was not known that he
stopped until he reached Smiths, and the next
morning was discovered dead in his bed. lie
died, then, in Smiths house and if it could be
shown that he came to his death in an unnatural
way, it would increase the suspicion, that the
prisoner was in some way connected with the
murder.
Now, then, (continued the counseD it will be
proved, beyond the possibility of doubt, that the
deceased died by poison. What was the pois-
on? 1t was recent discovery of some Ger.
man chemists, said to be produced from distil-
ing the seed Of the wild cherry tree. 1t was a
poison more powerful than any other known
and deprived of life So Immediately, as to leave
no marks of suffering, and no contortions of the
features.
But, then, the question was-by whom was it
administered? One circumstance, small one
indeed, and yet upon it might hang norrid
tale, was, that the stopper of small bottle of a
very singular description had been found in the
prisoners house. That stopper had been ex-
-1snit1sd, ss>a sala'oy 'ssa,5oA men u havu be-
ongcd to german phial, containing the kind Of
poison which he had described. But, then, was
that poison administered by Smith, or at his in
stitution? Who were the prisoners family ?
1t consisted only of himself, housekeepcr, ant
one man-selvant. The man-servant slept in ar
clubhouse adjoining the stable, and did so OF
the night of 1'hompsons death. The prisonn
slept at one end of the house, the housekeepe
at the other, and the deceased had been put in
room adjoining the housekeeper's.
1t would be proved, that about three hours
after midnight, on the night of Thompson:
death, light had been seen moving about th
house, and that figure holding the light wa
seen to 60 f!om the room in which the prsoae
slept to the house keepers room; the light nov
disappeared for a minute, when two person.
were seen, but whether they went into Thomr
sons room, the witness could not swear; bu
shortly after. they were observed passing quit
through the entry to Smiths room, into whic
they entered and in about five minutes til
light was eXtinguished.
The witness wood further state. that aftt
the person had returned with the light in Smith
room, and before it was extiDgulshed, he ha
twice perceived some dark object to interven
between the light and the window, almost
large as the surface of the window ITSELF ar
which he described, by saying it appeared as
a door had been placed before the light. No,
in Smiths room, there was nothing which cou
account tor this appearances his bed was in
J different part; and there was neither cupb oal
nor press in the room, which, but for the be
: was entirely empty, the room in which he dres
J ed being at distance beyond it.
J The counsel for the prosecution here conclt
J ed what lie bad TO say. During his addres
) Smith appeared in no wise to be agitated or di
tressed-and equally unmoved was be while tt
witnesses testified IN substance what the ope
l ing speech Of the counsel led the Court and II
/, Jury to expect
. Lord Mansfield now addressed the Jury. +
told them that, in his opinion, the evidence W,
1 not sufficient to condemn the prisoner, ard
the Jury agreed with him in opinion, the Cou
= would discharge him. Without leaving the
seats, the Jury agreed that the evidence W,
not sufficient
. At this moment, when they were about to rel
, der verdict Of acquittal, the prisoner rose ar
addressed the Court. lie said he had been accu
ed of foul crime, and the Jury had said th
f there was not sufficient evidence against hil
+ Did the Jury mean that there was any evidenc
against him? Was he to 90 out of Court vii
} suspicious resting upon him. after all? This
| was unwilling to do. He wns an innocent ma
and if the Judge would grant him the opportu
!, nifty, he would prove it. He would call h
, se-keeper, who would confirm a statemeI
which he would now make.
!, The honsekeeper had not appeared in Cour
: She had concealed herself, or had been con
| cealed by Smith. This was considered doy
0 sign against him. But he himself now ofiere
G to bring her forward and stated as the reaso
y not that he was unwilling that she should testif
: but knowing The excitement, he was fearful ,h,
she might be bribed 10 give testimony con,rar
to fact But he was now ready to relate all III
9 circumstances he knew she might, then h