The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-10-01
EvANsvII1Ee IND, MONDAY MORNING. OCTOBER /,
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A Thrilling Story!!

England, and requested nights lodging.
This request was granted and the stranger,
having taken some refreshments retired early
to bed, requesting that he might be awakened
at an early hour the following morning.
When the servant appointed to call him en-
tered the room for that purpose, he was found
in his bed perfectly dead. ~
On examining his body no marks Of violence
appeared, but his countenance looked extreme
ly natural. The story ofhis death soon spread
among the neighbors, 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 pass
ing through neighboring village abnut an
hour before he reached the house where he had
come to his end. And then, as to the manner
Of his DEATH so little could be discovered that
the jury returned a verdict that he died
.'by visitation from God.'' When this was
done, the stranger was buried. Days and
weeks passed on, and little further was known
The public mind, however, was not at rest
Suspicious existed that foul means had hasten
ed the strangers death. Whispers to that eff
feet were expressed, and in the hearts of many
Smith was considered as the guilty man.
The former character of Smith had not been
1 Il
involved himselfin debt by his extravaganza,
and at length, being suspected ofhaving obtain
ed money wrongfully, he suddenly fed from
the town.
More than ten years, however, had now
elapsed since his return, during which he had
lived at his present residence apparently in
good circumstances, and with an improved
character. His former life however, was now
remembered, and suspicion, after all was fasten-
led upon him.
AT the expiration Of two months, a gentle
man one day stopped in the place for the pur-
pose of making inquiries respecting the stran-
ger who had been found dead in his bed He
supposed himself to be the brother ofthe man
The horse and clothes of the unfortunate man
still remained, and were Immediately known
as having belonged to his brother. The body,
also, was taken up, and though considerably
changed, bore a stong resemblance to him.
He now felt authorized to ascertain, if possi-
ble the manner of his death. lie proceeded
therefore, to investigate the circumstances as
well as he was able. At length he made known
to the magistrate of the district the information
he had collected, and upon the strength of this
Smith was taken to Jail to be tried for the viii
full murder of Henry Thompson.
The celebrated Lord Mansfield was then on
the bench. lie charged the grand jury to
be cautious as to finding bill against the
prisoner The evidence of his guilt, if guilty,
might be small. More information might be
obtained. Should he be acquitted, he could
not be molested again, whatever testimony
should rise up against him. The grand jury
however did find a bill, but by a majority o
only one.
At length the time of trial arrived, Smith
1 I,,1o 10,
A great crowd thronged the room, eager and
anxious to see the prisoner, and to hear the
trial He himself appeared firm and collected
Nothing in his manner or appearance indica
ted guilt; and, when the question was put tc
him by the clerk, care you guilty or not
guilty?' he answered with an untaltering
tongue, and with a countenance perfectly un
changed, "Not guilty.,
The counsel for the prosecution now opened
the case. But it was apparent that he had
little expectation Of being able to prove the
Iprisoner guilty. He stated to the jury, thai
the case was in great mystery. The prisonel
was man Of responsibility and Of property
The deceased was supposed to have about
him gold and Jewels to a large amount; bu
i the prisoner was not so much in want offunds a.
to be under strong temptation to commit
murder. And besides, if the prisoner haC
obtained the property he had ehectually con
Icealed it. Not trace Of it could be found.
Why. then, was the prisoner suspected
The deceased, Henry Thomson, was jeweler
Iresiding in London, and man of wealth. do
Ihad left London for the purpose of meeting 8
trader at Hull, ofwhom he expected to make {
large purchase The trader he did meet; and
after the departure ofthe latter, Mr.. Thomson
was known to have had In his possession jew
i
i With these in his possession, he left Hull or
his wav to London. 1t was not known thai
Ihe stoned until he reached Smiths, and the
lneyt morning was discovered dead in his bed
He died. then. in Smiths house, and fit coulc
lhe shown fiat he came to his death in an un
natural way. it would increase the suspicion
That the prisoner was in some way connected
with the murder.
Now. then, continued the COUNSEL it viii
be proved beyond the possibility OF doubt, tina
G the deceased died by poison. What was tha
Ipoison? 1t was recent discovery of some
Herman chemists said to be produced from
E ldistiIline the seed of the wild cherry tree. L
was a poison more powerful than any othe
known and deprived oflife so Immediately a
to leave no marks of suffering, and no contor
ton of the features.
But then, the question, when, and by whom
, was it administered? One circumstance,
5 small one, indeed, and yet upon it might han
; horrid tale, was, that the stopper ofa small
: bottle of very singular description had beel
+ found in the prisoners house The stoppe
: had been examined, and said by medical mel
It to have belonged to German vial, containing
the kind ofpoison he had described. But, theI
was that poison administered by Smith, or
' his instigation? Who were the prisoner
4 family? 1t consisted only of himself, mouse
e keeper and one man-servant. Ihe mall-4Il