The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1857-12-03
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Gases Of Ciroumstantial Evidence.

EVidence which has appeared sufficient to
justify conviction, or even positive execution
OF sentence has, in some cases, turned out to
be simple mistake. The number of these
cases is very great. Looking to Europe
alone, and not going back for more than
two centuries, we could bring forward at
least two hundred cases, in a large propor-
ton of which sentence has been executed.
We notice very few of these cases:
One of the most interesting is that of
Helen Gillet, a young, handsome girl, at
Bourg en- Bresse, in France, who, in 1925.
was condemned to death for infanticide.-
But public opinion believed SO strongly in
her innocence that even the executioner
had not the courage to strike in cold blood,
and thus twice missed bis aim. Then a
frigatful scene ensued. The executioner's
wife, fearing her husband might lose his en-
ploy, first tried to strangle the girl, and not
succeeding, tried to cut off her head with a
pair of scissors 1t is the case of Eliza
Fenning with horrid aggravation. The
enraged populace interfered by storming the
scaffold, killing the executioner and his wife,
and liberating Helen Gillet, who afterwards
received free pardon from King Louis
XIII, brother-in-law of our Charles I.
Urban Grandier's conviction and execu-
tion nine years after, in 1884, for crimes he
never committed, is too we'll known TO re.
quire any comment
Another case is that of the Mar.
quis D'Anglade, who, in 1887, was accused
OF theft, was with bis wife, noble high
spirited woman, thrown into frightful pris.
on, and, his judges no; finding him willing
N II L -
ted, was put on the rack, on which he died
un-er the most agonizing tortures. A year
after, his innocence was established beyond
doubt.
A story very much like the last is that OF
Jacques Lebour, who, in 1899, was accused
OF murder, and died under his tortures. A
month after his death his complete innocence
was proved.
All these cases happened in France. vet
there Is no lack of them in England either.
Take, for example, the case of Colonel Char.
teris he certainly was wicked scamp, but
that did not give the right to Judge and iu.
ry to execute him, in 1871, for crime
which he never committed.
Or take the other curious case of iona.
than Bradford, who, in 1895, was executed
for murder, case peculiarly Instructive
Bradford was so Far guilty that he had the
intention Of committing the crime, but he
found the work done by another before him.
The Tea! murderer confessed on lis death.
bed, eighteen months after.
In 1853. Elizabeth Canning accused a
Mrs. Webb, in Moorfeld, and some Others,
of completely in rape and abduction. The
jury declared them guilty, aud nine persons
were condemned to death, and were ordered
for execution. Fortunately, the case attract.
ed the attention Of Allan Ramsay, the poet
who proved it to the satisfaction Of ali the
world that the persons convicted were per.
fectly innocent and that the girl Canning
had got up story to account for an other.
wise uuaccouniable child to whom she after.
wards gave birth.
OF Admiral Byngs execution, four years
after, we will not speak. as it was more Q
politica. than judicial murder; and the
same objection applies 10 the execution ot
Strucusee, the Danish Minister of State. Oh
ell innocent persons ever convicted, Jean
4 Calas has found the most brilliant advocate
\ In voltaire's pen, 90 that Jean Calas' name
Is cited now wherever injustice is mentioned
The case, however, Of John Jennings
= who'was executed in Hull 1872, for high