The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1857-1858, 1857-11-25
A Canada MaAslans snisA Triaa.

The London (CanAda) Prototype Of Novem-
bsr 2, gives the particulars Of the trial in that
place Of . man named Beaton and his wife ON
. charge Of poisoning the FIRST husband Of the
wife, whose name Vas Russell. The trial only
occupied one day, but in that vicinity seems 70
have excited about ~ much interest a. thas
Of Madeline Smith, in Scotland. For some time
after the death Of Russell there ~as NO sospl-
ciOn against the accused, but circumstances
gradually accumulated, Of . suspicious char
acter,. the chief Of which was the marriage Of
the parties soon after the death OF Russell. The
Prototype says:- A 44 "
'Fr0m the commencement Of the trial, The
court was crowded almost 70 sufOcation, and
the most intense interest Was manifested In the
proceedings throughout the day. The malls
pfisoaer = young man about Ave % six aad
twenty, and y rather well featured. The female
prisoner i appparently thirty eight years Of age,
by no means handsome, but cf appearance de-
noting o somewhat better class Of life than thae
to which her acCoDpaice apparently bel0Dgs.-
She was dressed in deep mourning, and were Q
vail, with which, however, she did not cover
her face during the trial. The demeanor Of
both prisoners in che dock was remarkably coel
and self possessed; not . sigh, mot start, NOS
the slightest emotion escaped either one or the
other during the heightened and exciting in
vestigation. During the greater part or the day
Beaton leaning with biz elbow upon ths front ef
the dock, and starred 6xedly ct the Witnesses
and jury BY turns- s g,..t x. 5.... w.
"The woman remained standing In the mid
die Of the dock for several hours; - night ap.a
preached she became seated, ard oceasionally
addressed few words % her companion, whose
attention she attracted, whom wishing 70 speak
to him, by gently shaking white handkerchief
which she held in her hand. Had she, indeed,
studied the air and demeanor Of Madeline Smith,
when upon her trial for ! somewhat similar
crime, she could not have acted the part Of thas
celebrated parsonage with more 6delsty and ef-
feet. The trial lasted from half-pase II o'cleck
until near midnight"
The chief points Of evidence against the -.
cused are thus stated 10 the closing plea 1bs sho
Crown - ~.
There was every reason to suppose that the
prisoners INDUCED in Illicit love during the life
time Of Russell, that this supplied motive for
the commission Of the crime, and whish metive
was rendered the more apparent BY tie mar.
riage Of Beaton TO Mrs. Russell : few days after
the death Of her husband. During the learned
counsers speech, be brought prominently under
the notice Of the jury What Vas said By Bsatoa,
apparently in anticipation Of Russell's death !;
the question put BY the female prisoner felasive
70 the properties Of arsenic, &c.; the fact o; her
leaving her bed ct the dead Of night TO talk -
Beaton privately; the fact Of her being seen
giving the deceased something % drink under
| ssspicious circumstances and her unieelng con-
duct while her husband was on the point Of
death.-Ar. Beecher dwelt inpressively and q
much length on these and other points 81 evi-
| deDce, and concludsa bic addssse by pointing
ont % the jury the evil eneos upoa society
where such diabolical crimes q that charged
against the prisoners we're allowed to 20 nm
| punished 41. s@l An 1FAaeh
The Jury, afsss being ont ~ aighs rssnEnsa
| the following verdict: -
That We end the prisoners guilty Of tho
crime, according 70 the circomstAntial evidencs,
and recommend them % msfcy.* -&a
| The prisoners did not bsssay the alighteeo
emotion at the announcement Of the verdict.