The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-07-20

Hull on his return to London. 1t was
not known that he stopped until he reach.
cd Smiths and the next morning was
found dead in bed. lie died thon in
Smiths house, and if it could be shown
that he came TO his death in an unnattu-
raj way it would increase the suspicion
that the prisoner was connected with
the murder.
Now, then, continued the counsel, it
will be proved beyond the possibility of
a doubt that the deceased died by poison.
But what was the poison2 1t was re-
cent discovery of German chemist,
said to be produced by distilling the
seed of the wild cherry tree. 1t was
poison more powerful than any other
known, and deprives of life so immedi-
ately as to leave no marks of suffering
and no contortions on the fcatur es
But then the question was, by whom
was it administered One circumstance,
a small one indeed, and yet upon it may
hang horrid tale, was that the stopper
of small bottle of very singular dis
cription had been found in the prisoners
house. The stopper had bocn examined,
and said by medical men to have belong
ed to a German phial, containing the
kind of poison which had been describ
cd. But then was the poison admins
tered by Smith or at his nstigation2-
Who were the prisoners family 1t cor
sisted only of himself, housekeeler,
and man servant. The man servant
sleptn an clubhouse adjoining the stable,
and did so on tic night of Thompscn's
death. The prisoner slept at one end of
the house, and the housc-keepcr at the
other, and the deceased had been put in
a room adjoining the housckeeper's
1t would be proved that about three
hours after midnight, on the night of
Thompson's death, light had been seen
moving about the house, and that fig
urc holding the light was seen to 20 out
of the room in which the prisoner slept,
to the house keepers room the light
now disappeared for a minute, when two
persons were seen, but whether they
went into Thompsons room, the witp9ss
could not swear but shortly after they
were seen passing quite through the cr.-
try into Smiths room, into which they
entered, and in about five minutes the
light was cxtinguisbcd.
The witness would further state, that
after the person returned with the light
into Smiths room, and before it was cx
, tinguished, he twice perceived some darl
object intervene between the light ant
the window, almost as large as the sur
J face of window itself, aud which he de
: scribed by saying, it appeared as if {
door lad been placed before tho light
= Now in Smiths room there was moth
i, ing which could account for this appear
: ancc Ibis bed was in different part
, and there was neither cupboard nor pres
; in the room, which, but for the bed, wa
S entirely empty, the room in which h
J. dressed being at a distance from it, Th
t counsel for the prosecution here conclu
= ded what he had to say. During his ad
c dress Smith appeared in no wise to b
: agitated or disturbed and equally III
{ moved was he while the witnesses test
= fed in substance what the opening speec
t of the counsel led the court and jury
C expect.
n Lord Mansfield now addressed tn
!, jury. He told them that in his opiI
= ion the evidence was not suflicior
a to condemn the prisoner, and if the iur
r, agreed with him in the opinion. the Coui
6 would discharge him. Without leavin
l. their seats, the jury agreed that the c.
), idcncc was not sufh
e At this moment, when they were
C bout to render verdict Of acquittal, I'll
prisoner arose and addressed the cour
a lie said he had been accused of fol
= crime, and the jury had said the cvidcnt
C was not sufficient to convict him. Di
is the jury mean to say there was any cy
D. dcncc against him Was he to 90 out
IS tic court with suspicion resting again
d, him after all This he was unwilling
6 do. lie was an innocent man, and,
Is the Judge would grant him opportunit
e he would call his housekccpcr, who wou
- confirm statement he was now abo
II to make
lie The housokoepcr had not appeared
ie court. She had been concealed by Smit
- This was considered dark sign again
s. him; but he now offered to bring h
le forward, and stated as a reason, not tn
of he was unwilling she should testify, b
ID knowing the excitement. he was fearf
she might be bribod to give tcstimoi
as contrary to the fact.
ic lie was now ready to relate all the ci
a eunstanccs he knew she might then
&C called and examined. If her tcstimol
1t did not confirm his statement, he W
re willing to be condemned.
I'd The request of the prisoner seem
st reasonable, and Lord Mansfield, contra
OF to usual practice, granted it.
ny The prisoner went on with his stat
id, mcnt lie said he wished to go out
it court relieved from the suspicious viii
he were resting on him. As to the pois
tn by means of which the stranger "
he said to have died, he knew neither t
IN, namo or the effect of it, nor even
he existanee Of it. until mado known by I
nd counsel He could call God to witn'
nd the truth of what he said.
he And then, as to Mr.. Thompson,
TX, was a perfect stranger to him. III
er- should be know what articles Of val
- he hal with him2 He did not knC
o. If he kad such articles at Hull, he mis
Lly have lost tnem on the road or VIII
lcr was more probable, have otherwise {
he posed of them. And if he died
= means of the fatal drug, he must hi
lii administered it himself.
up He begged the jury to remember Il
Nv his premises had been minutely scar
ris- ed. and that not the most trihing a.