The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-07-28
THE SECRET CLOSET;
or, let we'll enough alone.

called at the house of John Smith, res
ident in retired part of England, an,
requested nights lodging. This reques
was readily granted, and the stranger
having taken some refreshments, retired
early to bed, requesting that he nigh
be awakened betimes the following morn
ing. When the servant appointed to cal
him entered the room for that purpose
he was found in his bed perfectly dead
On examining his body no marks of VIC
lence appeared, but his countenance
locked extremely natural. The story Of
his death soon spread among the neigh.
bors, and inquiries were made as to who
he was, and by what means he came to
his death.
Nothing certain, however, was known
He had arrived on horseback, and was
seen passing through q neighboring vii
lage, about an hour before he reached
the house where he came to his end.--
And then, as to the matter of his death,
SO little could be discovered that the jury
which was summoned to investigate the
cause, returned q verdict that he died
'by visitation of God When this
was done the stranger was buried.
Days and weeks passed, and little
further was known. The public mind,
however, was not at rest. Suspicion ex-
listed that foul means had hastened the
strangers death. Whispers to that effect
were expressed, and in the minds of
many, Smith was considered as the gull
ty man. The former character of Smith
had not been good. He had lived q
loose and irregular life, involved himself
in debt by his extravaganza, and at
length being suspected of having obtained
money wrongfully, be suddenly fed from
the town. More than ten years, howev-
or, had now elapsed since his return,
during which he had lived at his present
residence, apparently in good circumstan-
ces, and with an improved character
His former life, however, was now re-
membered, and suspicion utter all, fas-
tened upon him.
At the expiration of two months, o
gentleman one day stopped in the place
for the purpose of making inquiry re-
specting the stranger who had been found
dead in his bed. He supposed himself
to be brother of the man. The horse
and clothes of the unfortunate man still
remained, and were Immediately known
as having belonged to his brother. The
body itself was also taken up, and though
considerably changed. bore strong re-
semblance to him. He now felt authori-
zed to ascertain, if possible, the manner
of his death. He proceeded, therefore,
to investigate the circumstances as well
as he was able. At length be made
known to the magistrate of the district,
the information he had collected, and up
on the strength of this, Smith was taken
to Jail to be tried for the wilful murder
of Henry Thompson.
The celebrated Lord Mansfield was
then Oh the bench. He charged the jury
to be cautious as to finding bill against
the prisoner The evidence of his guilt,
if guilty, might be small. At future
time it might be greater; more informa-
ton might be obtained. Should the jury
now find bill against him, and should
be be acquitted he could not be molested
again, whatever testimony should rise up
against him. The grand jury, however,
did find a bill, but it was by majority
of only one. At length the time of trial
arrived. Smith was brought into court
and placed at the bar. A great crowd
thronged the room, eager and anxious to
sec the prisoner, and to hear the trial
lie himself appeared firm and collected.
Nothing in his appearance or manner
indicated guilt; and when the question
was put to him by the clerk, 'are you
guilty or not guiltyl' he answered with
an unfaltering tongue, and with coun-
tenance perfectly unchanged, mot guilty
The counsel for the prosccutin now o.
pencd the case, And it was apparent he
had little expectation of being able to
find the prisoner guilty. He stated to
the jury that the case was involved in
great mystery. The prisoner was a
man of respectability and property. The
deceased was supposed to have had a
bout him gold and jewelsto large amount;
but the prisoner was not SO much in
want of funds as to be under strong
temptation to commit murder. And be-
sides, if the prisoner had obtained the
property, he had effectually concealed it.
Not trace of it could be found. Why
then was the prisoner suspected? He
would state the grounds of suspicion.--
The deceased, Henry Thompson, was
Ijeweller, residing in London and a man
of wealth. He had left London for the
purpose of meeting trader at Hull, of
whom be expected to make large pur-
chase. The trader he did meet; and af-
ter the departure of the latter, Mr.
Thompson was known to have in his pos
session gold and jewels to q large amount.
With these in his possession, he left
Hull on his return to London. 1t was
not known that he stopped until he
reached Smiths, and the next morning
he was discovered dead in his bed. He
died, then, in Smiths house, and if it
could be shown that he came to his death
in an unnatural way, it would increase