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


dock, he met on every side the eager and
anxious eyes of a countless multitude
bent in piercing scrutiny upon his face.
And well did he endure that scrutiny
a nomsntary flush covered his checks;
but it was only momentary, and less than
might have been expected from an indif-
ferent person, who found himself on a
sudden :the observed of all observers. !"
He bowed respectfully to the Court; and
then folding his arms, seemed to wait
until he should be called upon to COM
mence his part in the drama III which he
was to perform so conspicuous IL charac-
ter. find it difficult to describe the
effect produced on my mind by his per-
sonal appearance; yet his features were
most remarkable, and are indcliby i'm
pressed on my memory. lie was arpar-
emily between forty and fifty years of
age: his hair, grown grey, either from
toll, or care, or age, indicated an APP
preach to the latter PERIOD while the
strength and uprightness of his figure,
the naughty GOODNESS Of his look, and an
eye that Of fire, and pride, and passion,
i'll concealed, would have led conjecture
to fix on the former His couutcnauce.
at the first glance, appeared to be that
which we are accustomed to associate
with deeds Of high and noble daring: but
a second and more attentive examination
Was less satisfactory. There was, in
deed, strongly marked, the intellect to
conceive and devise schemes of high i'm
port; but fmcicd that could trace, III
addition to it, caution to conceal the
deep design, a power to penetrate the
motives OF others, and 10 pcrsonate Il
character at variance with his own, ana
a cunning that indicated constant watch
fulncss and crcunspcction. Firmncss
there was, to pcrseycre to the last, but
that was cqrivocal: and could not help
pursuading myself that it was not Of that
chara cte' Nhich would prompt to deeds
of virtuous enterprise, or to "scck the
bubble reputation at the cannon's mouth"
but that it was rather allied to that
quality which would sslct no compunc-
tious visitngs Of Nature shake his fell
purloSe whatever it might be. The
result of this investigation into his char
acter, such as it was, was obviousl y I'M
favorable aid yet there were moments
when thought had melted out to him
IA hard measure Of justice, and when was
tempted to excuse myself Of prejudice in
the opinion had formed of linn; and
particularly, when he was asked by the
clerk of the arraigns the usual question,
''Are you guilty or not guilty!' lie
drew his form up to his fullest height,
and the letters clanked upon his legs,
rs he answered with unialtcring tongue
and unb.cnching cheek, "Not Guilty."
my heart smotc me for having inyoun-
tarily interpreted against him every sign
that was doubtful.
The counsel for the prosecution OPEN
ed his case to the jury in Il manner that
indicated very little cXrcction Of con-
viction. He began hy iulplcring them
to 'liycst their minds Of all they had
heard before they came into the box: he
eltrcatcd them to attend t. the cvidGace
and Judge from that alone. lie stated
that i'll the course Of his experience,
which was very great, he had never met
with case involved in deeper mystery,
than that upon which he was now adj
dressing them.
The prisoner at the bar was man
moving i'll respectable station in society
and maintaining fair character. He
was, to all appearances, in tie possess
sion of considerable property, and was
above the ordinary temptations to COM
init SO foul Il crime. With respect to
the property OF the deceased, it was
strongly suspected that he had either
been robbed Of, or in some nexplcabic
manner made way with, gold and jewels
to very large amount; yet, in candor,
he WAS bound to admit that no portion
of it, however trifiug, could be traced
to the prisoner. AS to any motive Of
malice or revenge, none could by posi-
bility be assigned; for the prisoner and
the deceased were, as far as asccrtaincd,
total strangers to each other. Still
there were most extraordinary circun-
stances connected with his death, prcg-
nant with suspicion at least, and impcri-
ously demanding examination: and it was
justice, 10 less to the accused than to
the public that the case should undergo
judicial investigation. The deceased,
Henry Thomson, was u jeweller, reSid
ing III London, wealthy, and in consider
able business: and, as was the custom OF
his time, in the habit of personally con-
Quoting his principal transactions with
the foreign merchants with whom he
traded. He had travelled much in the
course of his business in Germany and
Holland; and it was to meet at Hull Il
trader of the latter nation, Of whom he
was to make a large purchase, that he
had left London month before his
death. 1t would boproved by the land
lord Of the inn where, he had resided,
that he and his correspondent had been
there: and IA wealthy jeweller of the town,
well acquainted with both parties, had
seen Mr.. Thomson after the departure Of
the Dutchman; and could speak positive
ly to there being then in his posse SON
jewels of large value, and gold, and GER
tain bills of exchange, the parties of
which he could describe. This was the
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