The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-10-02
EVANSVILLE IND, TUESDAY MORNING. OCTOBER 3 1855.
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IN z VI Q * D EIs ER .
A Thrilling storyl!
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the counsel for the prosecution. One circurn-
stance had made deep impression on his
mind-that was, that while the prisoner and
the housekeeper were in the room of the for
mer, something ike door had distracted the
light Of the candle, so that the witness testified
TO the fact, but could not see it. What was
this obstruction? There was no door--noth-
ing in the room which could account for this.
But the witness was positive that something
like door did for a moment come between
the window and the candle This needed cx-
planation The housekeeper was the person
that could give it. Designing to probe this
matter in the end to the bottom, but not wish
ing to excite her alarm he began by asking
her a few unimportant questions, and among
others, where the candle stood while she was
in Mr. Smiths room.
'lnthe center of the rooHa,' she replied.
We'll, was the closet, or cupboard, or what
ever you call it, opened once or twice, while it
stood there?' @
She made no reply
4 will help Your recollection said the
counsel, after Mr.. Smith had taken the medi-
cine cut of the closet, did he shut the door, or
did it remain open?'
lie shut it, sal
And when he replaced the bottle in the
c.oset, he opened it again, did hep
lie DID
And how long was it open the last time?'
Not above a minute
We'll and when open would the door be
exactly between the light and the Window
1T would
4 forgot said the counsel whether you said
the closet was ON the right or on the left hand
side of the window"
ON the left hand side2'
tXYouIJ tho door of fia oIo-o+ ,,,al-a .rr no;ea
in openingH .x
None'
Are YOU certain?'
j am
Have you ever orened it yourself or only
seen Mr. Smith open it?'
Il never opened it myself
Did you ever keep the keyT
Never
who did?
Mr.. Smith, always
At this moment the housekeeper chaneed to !
cas-. 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
living image Of death. She no sooner saw
him than she shr.eked and tainted. The con-
sequence of her answer flashed across her
mind. She had been SO thoroughly deceived
by the manner Of the advocate, and the little
importance he had seemed to attach to her
statements that she had been led on by one
question to another, till she had told him all
he wanted to know.
She was obliged to be taken from the court, |
and physician who was present was request
ed to attend her. At this time the solicitor
for the prosecution answering to cur states
Attorney left the Court, but no one knew
for what purpose. Presently the physician /
came into Court, and stated that it would be
impossible for the housekeeper to resume her
scat in the box short OF an hour or two.
1t was almost twelve in the day. Lord
Mansfield having directed that the jury be /
accommodated with room where they could
be kept by themselves, adjourned the court
two hours. The prisoner in the meantime,
was remanded to jail.
1t was between four and five o'clock when
the judge resumed his seat upon the bench. |
The prisoner was again placed at the bar, and
the housekceper was brought in and led to the
box. The courtroom was crowded to excess,
and an awful silence pervaded the place.
The cross-examining counsel again ad- |
dressed the housekeeper 4 have but few
how you answer, your life hangs upon a /
thread
Do you know this stopper?
Il de-
TO whom does it belong%
TO Mr. Smith
when did you last see it?'
On the night of Nr. Thompsons death
At that moment the solicitor entered the
court bringing with him upon tray watch
two money-bags, a jewel-case, and a bottle of
the same manufacture of the stopper, and hav-
ing cork in it. The tray was placed on the
table, and in sight ofthe prisoner and the wit
ness, and from that moment no doubt remain
ed in the mind ofany man present ofthe guilt of
the prisoner
A few words will bring this melancholy tale Ii
to its close The house where the murder had 5
been committed was between nine and ten
miles distant. The solicitor as soon as the
cross examination Of the housekeeper had dis
covered the existence of the closet, and its
situation had set off on horseback with two
sheriff's officers and after pulling down part
of the wall of the house, had detected this i'm
portant concealment. Their search was well
rewarded; the whole of the property belong
ing to Mr.. Thompson was found there, amount
ing in value to some thousand pounds; and
to leave no room for doubt, a bottle was dis
covered which the medical men instantly pro
nounced to contain the very identical poison
which had caused the death of the unfortunate |.
Thompson. The result was too obvious to
need explanation.
1t scarcely need be added, that Smith was
convicted and executed, and brought to his aw-
full punishment by his own means. Had he said
he not persisted in calling wit
ness to prove his innocence he might have es-
capped. But God had evidently left him to work
out his own ruin, as just reward of 1ais awful
crime.
The housekeeper had not appeared in court.
She had concealed herself or had been by