The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-05-10

obvious that he had been so for many
hours. There was not the slightest
mark of violence on his body, and the
eonntenance retained the same express
sion which it had borne during his life.
Great CONSERVATION was, of course, es-
cited by this discovery, and inquiries
were Immediately made, first, as to who
the stranger was-and, secondly, as to
how he met with his DEATH Both were
unsuccessful. AS to the former, no in
formation could be obtaincd-no clue
WAS discovered, to lead to the knowledge
either of his name, his person, or his
occupation. lie had arrived on horse
back, aud was seen passing through
ncigllboring village about an hour be-
fore he reached the house where his OK
istencc was 50 iuystcriousy terminated,
but could be traced no further. Beyond
this, all was conjecture.
With respect to the death, as little
could be learned as of the dead man; it
was, it is true, suddcn-awfully sudden:
but there was no reason, that alone cx-
ceptcd, to suppose that it MAS caused by
the hand of man, rather than the hand
OF God. ~ coroner's jury was, Of course,
summoned: and after an invcsti CATION, in
which little more could be proved lhan
that which | have here stated, II verdict
was returned to the effect that tie
deceased died by a restitution Of Goj.--
Days and weeks passed on, and little
| further was known. In the meantime
rumor was not idle: suspicious, vague,
indeed, and underlined, but of Il dark and
fearful character, were at first whispered,
and afterwards boldly expressed. The
precise object Of these suspicious was
not clearly Indicated; some implicated
one person, some another: but they all
pointed to Smith, the master Of the
house, as connected III the death Of the
stranger. As usual in such cases. cir
c,lnstances totally unconnected with the
transaction in question; matters many
years antecedcnt, and relating to other
persons, as well as to other times, were
used as auxiliary to the present charge.
The character of Smith, in early If, had
been exposed to much observatlon.-
While his father was yet alive, he had
left his native country, involved in debt,
known to have been guilty Of great ir-
regularities, and suspected Of being not
over-scrurulous as to the modes II OBJ
tanning those supplies of money of which
he was continually in want, and which he
seemed somewhat inexplicably to pro-
cure.
Ten years aud more had elapsed since
his return; and the events of his youth
had been forgotten BY many, and to many
were entirely unknown: but, on this oc-
casion, they were revived, and probably,
with considerable additions.
Two months after the death of the
stranger, gentlemen arrived at the
place, impressed with the belief that hc
was his brother, and seeking for infor-
nation either to confirm or refutc his
suspicious. The horse and tie clothes
of the unfortunate man still remained,
and were instantly rccognizcd; one other
test there was, though it was uncertain
whether it would. lead to any concl.l-
slon-thc examination of the body. I lie
test was tried; and although dccoMposi-
ton had gone on rapidly, enough remain
ed to identify the body, which the broth
CT did most satisfactorily. As soon as
it was known that there was a person
authorized by relationship to the deceas-
ed, to inquire into the cause Of his death,
and, if it should appear to be otherwise
than natural, to take steps for bringing
to justice those who had been concerned
IN it, the reports which hal been pre-
vlously floating idly about, and circulate
ed without having any distinct object,
were collected into one channel, and
poured into his ear. What those report.
were, and what they amounted to, it is
not necessary here to mention: suffice it
to say, that the brother had before the
magistrates of the district such evidence
as induced them to commit Mr.. Smith to
Jail, to take his trial for the wiltul muir
dea of Henry Thomson. AS it was
deemed essential to the attainment of
justice, to keep secret the examination
of witness who were produced before the
magistrates, all the information of which
the public were possession before the
trial took place, was that which / have
narrated.
Lord Manield's charge to the grand
jury upon the subject of thismurdcr, had
excited a good deal of attention. He
had recommended them, if they enter
tained reasonable doubts of the sufficicn-
cy OF the evidence to ensure conviction
to throw out the bill, explaining to them
most justly and clearly that, in the event
OF their doing so, if any additional evil
dence should, at IL future time, be dis
covered, the prisoner could again be ap-
pretended and tried for, the offence
whereas, if they found true bill, and,
from deficiency of proof, he was now uc-
quilted on his trial, he could never again
be molested, even though the testimony
against him should be morally as clear as
light. The grand jury AFTER. as was
supposed, very considerable discussion
among themselves, and, as was rumored,
by majority of only one, returned II
true bill. Iaa
Never shall / forget the appearance of
anxiety exhibited upon every countcnance
ON the entrance Of the Judge into Court.
In all instant the most profound silence