Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-08-24

court and the jury to expect.
| Lord Mansfield now addressed the Jury. he
said that in his opinion the evidence was NOT
sufficient to condemn the prisoner, and If the
jury agreed with him in opinion, he would dis
charge him. Without leaving their seats, the
jury agreed that the evidence was not sufi.
| cient.
AT this moment, when they were about TO
| render averdict Of acquittal, the prisoner rose
and addressed the court. He said he had been
accused of a foul crime, and the jury had said
that there was not sufficient evidence against
him! Was he to 60 out Of court with suspi.
! cions resting upon him, after all
This he was unwilling to do He was an in
nocent man, and if the Judge would grant him
| the opportunity, he would prove it. He would
call the bousekeeper, who would confirm a
statement which be would now make.
The housekeeper had not appeared in court.
She had concealed herself, or had been by
Smith. This was considered a dark sign
against him. But he himself now offered TO
biing her forward, and stated as the reason,
| not that be was not willing tha. she should
testify, but knowing the excitement, he was
| fearful that she would be bribed to l;ve testi-
mony contrary to fact. But ne was now ready
| TO relate all Inc circumstances he knew: she
might be called and examined. If her testi-
mony does not confirm my story, let me be
condemned.
The request of the prisoner appeared reason
able, and Lord Mansfield, contrary to his
usual practice, granted it.
The prisoner went on with his statement.
dc said he wished to go out of the court re-
ileved from the suspicious that were resting
upon him. As TO the poison by means of which
the stranger was said to have died he knew
neither the name of it, nor the existence of it
until made known by counsel. He could call
doi to witness the truth of what he said.
And then, as to Mr.. Thompson, he was a
perfect stranger to him. How should he know
what articles of value he had? He did not
know. If he had such articles at Hull, ho
might have left them on the road, or, which
was more probable, have otherwise disposed
OF them. And If he die by means of the fatal
drug, he must have administered it himself
lie begged the jury to remember that his
premises had been repeatedly and minutely
searched, and not the most trifing article that
belonged to the deceased had been discovered
In his possession. The stopper of q vial had
been found, but of this he could only say, he
had no knowledge, and had rot seen it before
II was produced In court.
One fact had been proved, and oaiy one
That he would explain, and his hcuseke.ner
would confirm the statement. A witness hgi
testified that some one had gone 10 the beu
room of the housekeeper on the night in cues
ton. He was ready to admit that IL was he
life to sudden fits of illness he had been
seized with one on that occasion, and had gone
to procure her assistance in lighting fire
She had returned with him to his room for
that purpose, he having waited for a minute
in the passage, while she put oa her clothes
This would account for the momentary disap
pearance of the light. After remaining few
minutes in his room and finding himself bet
ter, he had dismissed her, and retired 10 bed.
from which he had not risen when he was in
formed of the death Of the guest
such was the prisoners address, which pro.
duced powerful effect. 1t was delivered iu a
very firm and impressive manner, and from
the simple and artless manner of the man per-
haps not one present doubted his entire inno-
cence.
The housekeeper was now introduced, and
examined by the counsel for the prisoner. She
had not heard any part of the statement of
Smith, not single word of the trial. Her
story confirmed all he had said.
To this succeeded her cross-examination by
the prosecution. One circumstance had mad.
a deep impression on his mind-thst was.
that while the prisoner and the housekeeper
were in the room of the former, something like
door had obstructed the light of the candle.
so that the witness testified to the fact, bu;
could not see it. What was the obstruction.
There was no door-nothiHg in the room which
could account for tiis. But the witness was
positive that something like door did for A
moment come between the window and ths
candle. This needed explanation. The house
Keeper was the only person that could give it.
Designing to probe this matter in the end t.
the bottom, but not wishing to excite her alarm
he began by asking her few unimportant
questions, and among others, where the can
die stood while she was in Mr.. Smiths room.
" In the centre of the ROOM" she replied.
"Well, was the closet or cupboard, or what
ever You call it, opened once or twice, while it
stood there ?''
She made no reply.
II will help your recollection" said the
counsel, after Mr.. Smith had taken the med
iclne out Of the closet, did he shut the door, or
did it remain open ?"
"Hs smut it %
And when he replaced the bottle in the
closet, he opened it again, did he
" And how long was it open the last time ?''
" Not above a minute
"Well, and when open would the door he
exactly between the light and the window -
" Ii would
- forget, said the counsel, :" whether YOU
SAID the closet was on the right or the left
hand side of the window 30
On the left hand side. -
"Would the door of the closet make any
noise in opening ?''
None"
Are You certain ?"
g L am
Have you ever opened it yourself, or only
seen Mr.. Smith open it 20
u never opened it myself"
Did you ever keep the key?"
Never"
Who did ?''
Mr.. Smith, always"
AT this moment the housekeeper Glanced 10
cast her eyes towards Mr.. Smith, the prisoner.
A cold damp sweat stood upon his brow, and
his face had lost all its color; he appeared a
living image of death. She no sooner saw him
than she shrieked and tainted The conse-
quence OF her answer flashed across her mind.
She had been so thoroughly deceived by the
manner of the advocate, and the little impor
tance he had seemed to attach to her state
ments, that she had been led on, by one oues
ton TO another, till she had told him ali he
wanted to know
See was obliged 70 be taken from the court.
and physician who was present was reuues-
ted to attend her. At this time the solicitor
for the prosecution answering to our States
Attorney left the Court, but no one knew for
what purpose. Presently, the physician came
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