Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-09

cuFeu laSt year, as compared with the
present year, has been the gratifying re.
suit.
CONVICTIONS UPON CIRcUMsrANrIAL
EVIDENCE.
In the year 1928, a young man who
was serving his apprenticeship in Lon.
don to master sailmaker, got leave to
visit his mother, to spend the Christmas
holidays. She lived a few miles beyond
Deal, in Kent. He walked the Journey
and on his arrival at Deal, in the even.
ing, being much fatigued, and also trou-
bled with q bowel complaint, he applied
to the landlady Of public house, who
was acquainted with his mother, for a
nights lodging. Her house was full, and
every bed occupied; but she told him that
if he would sleep with her uncle, who
had lately come ashore, and was boat
swain of an 1ndiaman, he should be vel
come. He was glad to accept the offer,
and after spending the evening with his
new comrade, they retired to rest. In
the middle of the night, he was attacked
with his complaint, and wakening his
bedfellow, he asked him the way to the
garden. The boatswain told him to 90
through the kitchen; but as he would
lind it difficult to open the door into the
yard, the latch being out of order, he de.
sired him to take knife out of his
pocket, with which he could raise the
latch. The young man did as he was
directed, and after remaining near half
an hour in the yard, he returned to his
bed, but was much surprised to find his
companion had risen and gone. Being
impatient to visit his mother and friends.
he also arose before day, and pursued his
journey, and arrived at home at noon.
The landlady, who had been told of his
intention to depart early, was not sur
prised; but not seeing her uncle in the
morning, she went to call him. She was
dreadfully shocked to find the bed stain.
ed with blood, and every inquiry after
Eer uncle was in vain. The alarm be-
came general, and on further examina-
tion marks of blood were traced from the
bedroom into the street, and at intervals
down to the edge of the pier, head. Ru.
NOR was Immediately busy, and suspicion
fell of course on the young nan who
slept with him, that he committed the
murder, and had thrown the body over
the pier into the sea. A warrant was
issued against him, and he was taken
that evening at his mothers house. On
his being examined and searched, marks
of blood were discovered on his shirt and
trousers, and in his pocket were knife
and a remarkable silver coin, both of
which the landlady swore positively were
her uncle's property, and that she saw
them in his possession on the evening he
retired to rest with the young man. On
these strong circumstances, the unfortu-
nate youth was found guilty. He related
all the above circumstances in his de
fence; but as he could not account for the
marks of blood on his person, unless that
he got them when he returned to the bed
nor for the silver coin being in his pos
session, his story was not credited. The
certainty of the boatswain's disappear.
ance, and the blood at the pier, traced
from his bedroom, were two evident
signs of his being murdered; and even
the judge was so convinced of his Guilt,
that he ordered the execution to take
place in three days. At the fatal tree.
the youth declared his innocence, and
persisted in it with such affecting asseycr.
ations that many pitied him, though
none doubted the justntss of his SEN
tence.
The executioners of those days were
not SO expert at their trade as modern
ones, nor were drops and platforms in
vented. The young man was very tall !;
his feet sometimes touched the ground,
and some of his friends who surrounded
the gallOws contrived to give the body
some support as it was suspended. After
being cut down, those friends bore it
speedily away in coffin, and in the
course Of few hours animation was re-
stored, and the innocent saved. When
he was able to move, his friends insisted
on his quitting the country, and never
returning. He accordingly travelled by
night to Portsmouth, where he entered
on board man-of.war, on the point of
|sailing for distant part of the world !;
and as he changed his name, and dis
guised his person, his melancholy story
was never discovered. After few years
of service, during which his exemplary
conduct was the cause of his promotion
through the lower grades, he was at last
made masters mate, and his ship be.
ing paid off in the West Indies, he, with
a few more of the crew, was transferred
to another man-ofwar, which had just
arrived, short Of hands, from . differen,
station. What were his feelings of as.
tonishment, and then of ecstacy and de-
light, when the first person he saw or
board his new ship was the identica
boatswain for whose murder he had beer
tried, condemned, and executed, fiv,