The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-11-07
SELECT TALES.
I TIL L NJ u r D E R E R,

LITTLE more than fifty years ago,a man
by the name Of Henry Thompson called
at house Of Mr.. j. Smith, resident in a
retired part of England, and requested IL
nights lodging. This request was granted
and the stranger, having taken some re-
treshments, retired early to bed requesting
that he might be awakened at AN early
hour the following morning.
When the servant appointed to call
him entered the room for that purpose, he
was found in his b | perfectly dead.
On examining lis bolv no marks of ,;o-
lcacc ap pcarcl but lis counlcnance 10. krul
extremely natural. The story of his death
soon spread among the uei;,.Ibors, all in.
qnirics were made rs lo WAC he was and
bv what means lie came 10 his death.
Nothing certain, however, WAS known.
Ilo had arrived on horseback, AMI va,
seen pn stag through n'ig' ,bnrn y,.l'ag
about an hrur before he reached the Il ~ 4
where he hal come To his cnt.-.Aml
then, ~ IU the mtnrtr 1T his drat'I, 50
little coull I've discovered that the inv
which WAS suinm III Il 10 Investigate the
cause, returned u verdict that he died by
visitation fiom Col" When his WAS
done, the stranger WAS buried.
Days and weeks passed ON, but little
'Lrther was known. The public mind,
however, WAS not at rest. Suspicious cx
istel that t. ul menrs had nas,cned the
stranger, Heath. Whispers to that effect
were expressed, and in''le hearts ot many,
Smith was considered ns the guilty r. an.
The former character III Smith had not
been goo |. iie hal livcl II loose and
Irregular life, involved himself in debt by
his extravignnce, and At length being sus-
pected OF having obtained money wrong.
fully, he suddenly fled from the town.
More than ten years, however, had
nov elapsed since his return, Turing which
he ha | lived at his present residence ap-
parently in good circumstances, and wtIh
AN improved character. H.s former lie
however, was now remembered, aud sus-
picion, after all. was fastened upon him.
At the expiration Of two monthS,a gen
tleman stopped in the place for the par.
pose Of making inquiries respecting the
stranger who had been founI deal in his
bed. lie supposed him,e!f to be the
brother of the man. The horse and clio lie :,
of the unfortunate man still remained,
and were Immediately knownas having
belonged to his brother. The body also
was taken, up, and though considerably
changed, bore strong resemblance TO
him.
He now felt authorized to ascertain, If
possible, the manner OF his death. lie
proceeded therefore 10 investigate the
circumstance as well ~ he was able. A,
length no made known to the mag istrate
of tie district the information he had col.
lected, and upon the strength OF this,
Smith was taken to the Jail to be tried
for the wilful murder Of Henry rhomp,
son.
The celebrated Lord Mansfield was then
on the bench. He charged the grand
Jury to be cautious as to finding blll
against the prisoner. The evidence of
his guilt, if guilty might be small. At a
future time il might be greater. More in
formation might be obtained Should
tho jury now find bill against him and
should he be acquitted, he could not be
molested ngain, " atever testimony should
rise up agaios. him. The grand jury
however dii find bill, but by a majority
0f only one.
At length the time OF trial arrived
Smith was brought into court, and placed
at the bar. a great crowd througed the
room, eager and anSious to see the pris.
oneT, and to hear the trial. lie himself
appeared firm and collected. Nothing
In his manner or appearance indicated
!. guilt; and, when the question was put to
him by the clerk, Are you guilty or not
guillYf he ahsweredwith an uDfaltering
tongue, and with'a countenance perfectly
unchanged, Not guilty.
The council for the prosecution now
opened the case. But Il was apparent
that he bad little expectation Of being
able TO prove the prisoner guilty. lie
slated 30 the jury that the case was in
volyei in great mystery. The prisoner
sas man Of iespectabiIity and Of proI.
e,ty. The diseased was supposed to have
abou, HIN goLl and jewels TO q large
amopnt: but the prisoner was not SC
much in want Of funds rs to lie under q
strong Temptation to commits murder
And besides, IL the prisoner had obtained
tho property he had etfeetualIy concealed
Il. Not trace of eoald be found.