Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1857-03-26
Use of the Microscope.

1t is thought that the microscope may
be used to detect secret murders, by ex
aiming the last impression upon the re
tina of the murdered man. This opinion
may prove erroneous, but the microscope
has often acted the part of an accuser, il
bringing to light proofs of criminal acts
which might have otherwise escaped de
lection. The following incident is in
point:
The value of this peculiar discriminat
ing power the microscope was remarka
bly, illustrated in q very curious case tried
a few years ago at Norwich. A female
child about nine years old was found one
morning lying dead; the cause Of the
death being at once denoted by large
and deep cash in the throat. severing
both of the carotid arteries, the trachea
and the esophagus. Suspicion immediate.
ly fell on the mother of the murdered
girl, who had been seen by more than one
person leading her daughter toward the
plantation on the morning Of the day upon
which the crime was presumed to have
been committed. tef
Upon being taken into custody, the wo-
man behaved with the utmost coolness-
at once admitted having taken the child
to the plantation where the body was
found; but averred, that having arrived
there, the girl ran about gathering wild
flowers; that she subsequently lost sight
of her, and, after long search, returned
home without her.
Upon being searched. there was found
in the womans possession a large and
sharp knife which was at once subjected
to a minute and careful examiration.-
Nothing, however, was found upon it.,
with the exception of a few pieces of hair
adhering to the handle, so exceedingly
small as scarcely to be visible. The ex-
animation being conducted in the presence
of the prisoner, and the officers remark
ing,
Here is bit Of fur or hair on the
handle of your knife"
The woman Immediately replied:
Yes; dare say there is, and very
likely some stains Of blood for, as came
home, | found rabbit cought in snare,
and cut its throat with knife"
The knife was sent to London, aud with
the particles Of hair, subjected to micro
scope examination. No traces of blood
could at first be detected upon the weap.
ON, which appeared to have been washed;
but upon separating the horn handle from
its iron lining, it was found that between
the two. fluid had penetrated, which
turned out to be blood, certainly not the
blood Of rabbit, but bearing every re-
semblanee to that Of the human body
Then came the examination of the hair,
which added powerfully to the Presumption
of the prisoners guilt. Without knowing
anything Of the facts Of the case, the mi
croscopist Immediately declared the hair
to be that Of squirreJ-in this he could
not be mistaken, for the fur Of one animal
differs so entirely from that of another,
not only its size, color, ect., but from its
actual construction, that it is altogether
impossible to mistake it when under the
miscrocope. Now, round the neck Of the
child, at the time of the murder, there
was tippet or yictorine," over which
the knife, by whatsoever held, must have
glided, and this victorine was made 81
squirrel furl The strong circumstantial
evidence of-the guilt of the prisoner was
deemed by the jury sufficient for a CON
viction, and while awaiting execution the
wretched woman fully confessed her
crime.