Squatter sovereign., 1855-11-27

wealth. He had left London for the pur-
pose of meeting trader at Hull, of whom
he expected to make a large purchase
The trader he did meet and after the de-
.parturc of the latter, Mr. Thompson was
Known to hape had in his Possession, jew
els ard gold TO q. large amount. : 80, =
With these in his possession, he left
Hull on his return to London. : It was not
known that he stopped until he reached
Smiths, and the next morning was discov-
ered dead in his bed. He died, then, in
Smiths house, and if it could BIZ shown that
he came to his death in an unnatural way,
it would increase the suspicion that the
prisoner was In some way connected with
the murder 90 + = .@.e.r l77.1 i +
Now. then, continued the counsel, it viii
be proved beyond the possibility of doubt.
that the deceased died by poison What
was that poisons / 1t was a recent discor-
cry of some German chemists, said 10 be,
produced from disulling ths seed of the
wil1-cher-y tree. 1t was a poison more
powerful than any other known. and de-
priyed of life SO Immediately as to leave
no marks of suffering, and no contortion Of
the features. =..s'
But, then, the question, when and by
whom was it administered One cireuln-
stance, a small ore indeed, and yet upon
it might hang horrid tale, was, that the
stopper of a small bottle of a very singular
description had been found in the prisoners
house. The stopper had been examined,
and said by medical men to have belonged
to a German vial. containing the kind of
poison he had described. But, then, was
that poison administered by Smith, or eat
his -instigations Who were the prisoners
ta,nily2 1t consisted only of himself, q
house-keeper and one man-serEanI The
man-servant slept in an clubhouse adjoin-
ing the stable, and did so on the night of
Thompson's death. The prisoner slept in
one end of the house, the house-keeper at
the other, and the deceased had been put
in room adjoining the hause-keeper's. a
1t could be proved, that about three hours
after midnight, on the night Of Thomp-
sons death, light had been seen moving
about the house, and that a figure holding
the light was seen to go from the room in
which the prisoner slept, to the house.
keepers room; the light now disappeared
for minute when two persons were seen,
but whether they went into Thompson's
room, thu. witness esuld not swear but
shortly after, they We're observed to pass
quite through the entry to Smiths room,
into which they entered, and in about Eve
minutes the light was extingttished. ~ 'a
The witness would further state, that
after the person had returned with the light
INTO Smiths room, and before it was ex.
inguishcd, lie had twice perceived some
lark object to intervene between the Ii. lit |
and the window, almost as large as the, |
surface Of the window itself, and which lac |
described by saying II appeared as if a
loor had been placed before the Light |
Now, in Smiths room, there was nothing
hat could account for this appearance. and !.
here was neither cupboard nor press III the !
oom, which but for the bed, was entirely |.
empty; tie room in which he dressed be- /
ng il distance heyond it. t
The counsel for the prosecution here |
concluded what lie had 10 say. During !;
lis address, Smith in no wise appeared 10 !,
,e agiiaied or distressed-and equally un- +
moved was he while the witness testified !
II substance what the opening speech al
he counsel led the court and jury to ex- |
,ect. t tsi
Lord Mansfield now addressed the jury.
&c said. that in his opinion, the evidence |
vas not sufficient to condemn the prisoner, /
md if the jury agreed with him in epinloa j
he would discharge him. Without leaving
heir seats, the jury agreed that the eyi- i
s..lee was not sufficient. ar /
AT this moment. when they were abou: /,
0 render a verdict of acquittal, the pfisois- /
!
le had been accused sf foul crime, and !
he jury had said there was no sufficient |
violence against him. Was he to go out /
{ court with suspicious resting upon him. /
fter all! This he was unwilling TO do
lie was an innocent man, and if the Judge |
would grant him the opportunity he would /
'roye it. He would call the housekeeper..
sllo. would confirm a statement which Le
would now make. .hise bas @ I
The house-kerper had not appeared in
ourt. She had concealed herself, or had /
een concealed by Smith. This was con-
idsred dark sign against him, hu, he
.iinsef now offered TO bring her forward,
nd stated as a reason. not that he was not /
wiling that she should testify, but, kiiosy-
ng the exeiismeni, he was fearful tha,she |
sEzssess asfi