The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-10-05

my father wouiu repeat Wofu Ior Worup %
deeply had every word uttered been i'm.
pressed upon his mind; bu,isis needless
for me to repeat il here, as.lhe reader has al
ready been informed Of The nature Of the
evidence, and the facts appeared so conclu-
sive agains, my father that no one could
imagine him otherwise than guilty Of the
crime with which he was charged. oil.
"The only difficulty, continued my "a
ther, twas 10 ascertain what had become Of
the por,manleau previous 10 committing the
murder, and i'll had accomplices. Indeed
people thought that had tracked tho old
gentleman from Albany purposely TO com.
mi, the crime, so easily are people prsiudi.
ced agains, prisoner when once the idea
has gone forth tha, he is guilty. The Judge
had commenced 10 sum up with decided
leaning against me, and the jury looked as
though they were anxious 10 pronounce tho
verdict, without leaving the box, when the
same voice that had before interrupted the
court exclaimed:
"Hs is innocent, and nothing shall longer
cause me 10 withhold my evidence"
airing that woman down here" exclaim.
cd the judge, sloppius in his summing up.
IF she has no evidence 10 give, but is
merely aetualed by feelings Of excitemout,
I will commit her-ssoh persons have no
business to attend such scenes as this"
The general impression appeared 10 be
that the woman was, as the judge said, act.
ing from feeling Of excitement, over which
she had ro control, and such was my own
opinion though j, was still sweet 10 believe
that one person in that crowded court
thought me innocent when all others beliey.
ed me guilty; for had begged my poor
father and mother moi 10 attend tho trial.
The counsel who plead my cause, how
ever, thought there might be some reaction
in my favor made by this occurrence, and
his keen eye caush, tie two accusers steal
ing out Of the court, as the woman wa,
brough, forward by the officers.
~ request that the witnesses for the pros
ecution be detained until this witness is ex.
amincd," said my un,el,-whose name
by the way, was Lemon.
The judge ordered that they be detained
"And now" said hc, as he turned 10 the
female, "what is the meaning Of your in
terrupliug the court in this manner !"
81 am chambermaid at the Hudson Inn
she replied, "and can prove that this young
man is uujus,ly accused"
A ray Of hope sho, through my mind
raised my head and my eyes caught those
OF my accusers. saw that they were dead
ly pale.
"Wha, have you to say" continued the
Judge, sill addressing the woman.
III wish 10 be sworn" she replied, and
the oath was administered. She then pro.
ceeded 10 state as follows:
"NIy name is Hannah Smith am cham
bermaid a, Hudson Inn, but the house maid
was not we'll a, the morning in question, and
as the fires were 10 be lighted, / had promis'
ed 10 rise and light them for her."
AT this juncture Of the witness statement
jenkins suddenly exclaimed:
sits a lie It's lie she has been paid
10 90, me me into trouble"
"You," said Mr.. Lemon with voice that
rang through the cour., "she has never
mentioned you. Does your conscience fore.
stall her evidence "
A murmer Of surprise and interest ran
over the court, and tho Judge leaned forward,
his eyes fixed on the pale working face oI
jenkins.
"Wherc ore you, Captain Mooro'" he
exclaimed, "where are you'll They aro oil
against us-all-all you sec"
"Tdiot !" Kissed the captain through biz
clenched teeth.
"I cannot allow this" said the Judge
"Oficcrs take both these men into custody,
but keep them in the court"
Mr.. Lemon now turned to the witness and
said, Hannah Smith 60 on with your tes'
timony." ....-.
The woman continued I" I went to bed
early, but about midnight I awoke and II
then occurred to me, as I was restless, that
I would rise and lay the fires ready for morn.
ing. I got up, and had to cross the yard 10
the sculery. As I opened the door leading
out saw Jenkins cross from the stables
with the gentleman's cloak with the red lin
ing hanging over his arm.
"You are quite sure II was jenkins you
saw!n
~ should not have spoken had I mol
heard him deny that he took the gentlemsn's
cloak 10 brush"
"And this,' said the counsel, "you
state on oath :"
81 do"
"Why, in tho early stage Of his trial,
when you FIRST heard the denial Of jenkins,
why did you not come forward at once and
tell oil you know!"
~ had hoped that othor evidence would
have saved. tho prisoner, and would have
rendered mine needless, forI was engaged
to marry jenkins, and though since the
night Of the murder, I have cast such
thoughts aside, I did not want to DO his ae-
cuser."
"And this Is all you have TO say This
is q favorable turn in the evidence for the
prisoner, but merely proves that he told the
truth respecting the cloak, and that his &c.
cuser swore falsely" ?
"lt was not oil. When I heard the
noise in tho inn, was in tho parlor laying