Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-10-23
CTRCUmsTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

The Monticello Waterman contains the pro-
cecdings of the trial Of VIM. II. Palmer, charged
with the murder of his brother, Timothy Pal
mer, in the town of Mamakating, New York, in
NAV last. There was a quarrel between the
brothers as to the title Of certain lands, and Will
liam had threatened many times TO kill deceased
if he persisted in cutting wood, peeling bark
&C., on the premises in dispute. One witness
testified:
civilian said that Timothy was destroying
his wood; he did not like to have him there, and
would not have him, and would fix a plan that
he should not stay there; that in August, about
the time his mother died, witness asked him now
his mother was; he said she was not well, that
she had been a mother once TO him, but now he
wished to God she would not live two hours;
she was no mother to him, she turned for "Big
Thunder" William generally called Timothy
by that name" To another witness he said If
he had nut ball through Timothy two years
ago he would then have had his just dues; wit
ness told him hewoud be hung if he killed
man; he said he did not think it any more harm
than it would be TO shoot a snake"
The testimony showed that deceased was alive
at noon of the 18th of May last; that about one
o clock of that day he left his home alone for
the woods, in which his body was found, to peel
bark; that the prisoner was home about the time
he left and no other male person; that about half
an hour afterwards the prisoner took bis rife
andAgent in the direction of the woods where
the>ebdy of the deceased was found; that about
two o'clock the report of ariAe was heard in the
direction Of the bark-peeling, and, as Mrs. Pal
mer testified, cry Of murder, and as Mr.. Raj
ferty says, shrek; that the prisoner informed
Mrs. Palmer when he left the house, that she
need not call him 10 dinner, and that he return
ed to the house about five o'clock from the di-
roction of the woods in which the body was
found. There was tree upon the body, SO
placed as to give the idea of accidental death by
its fall but an examination showed a buckshot
wound in the breast TO the heart, the buckshot
resembling some in possession Of the accused;
and the wadding extracted from the wound,
which it had penetrated two and half inches,
was found to be part Of the Albany Evening
Journal of April 10, 1851. 1t was washed and
could be read. A loaded gun of the prisoners
was discharged the next day on the coroner's
inquest, and found to contain wadding which
was part of the Evening Journal of the
date, of like type, &C., presumtively Y
paper. The jury returned a verdict
When asked if he had any thinS
prisoner replied:
eyes, have. The reason is that ! l
guilty Of the crime, and it, has not been DrOS~-
satisfactorily. At least think the evidence :
was altogether circumstantial and presumptive."
Judge Wright, after an impressive exortatony
sentenced the man to be hung on the 10Th No
vember next. The evidence showed maligni-
ty and baseness on the part of the prisoner,
which he seemed to have festered, till, from step
to step,,it reached murder. 1t will be reeollec-
ted that the shooting of Miss Sharpless, in
Chester county, Pennsylvania, by Geo. Pharoah,
was traced to the murderer by the circumstance
that the wadding. was found to be part of news
paper in his possession.