The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-12-25
Circumstantial Evidence.

was serving his apprenticeship in London to
a master sail.maker, got leafto visit his
mother to spend Christmas holidays. She
lived few miles beyond Deal. in Kent
lie walked the journey, and on his arrival
at Deal, in the evening, being much fati-
gued, and also troubled with a bowel COM
plant, he applied to the landlady of pub
tic house who was acquainted with his moth
err, for nights lodging. Her. house was
full and every bed occupied, but she told
him that if he would sleep with her uncle,
who had lately come ashore, and was boat
swain ofan lnJiaman, he should be wei
conc-he was glad to accept the offer :;
and after spending the evening with his
new comrade they retired to rest.
In the middle Of the night he was attack
cd with his complaint, and Weakening his
bedfellow, he asked him the way to the
PRIV.
The boatswain told him to 60 through
the kitchen, but as he would find it difficult
to open the door.in the yard, the latch being
out OF order, lie desired him to take knife
out OF his pocket with which he could raise
the latch.
The young man did as he was directed
and after staying half hour in the yard, re.
turned to bed, but was much surprised to
find his companion had risen and gone.
Being impatient to visit his mother and
friends, he also arose before day, aud pur-
sued his journey, and arrived at home at
noon. The lady, who had been told of his
Intention to depart early. was not much sur
Pr'sed but not seeing her uncle she went
to call him.
She was drcadfully shocked to find the
bed stained with blood, and every inquiry
after her uncle was in vain.
The alarm now became general, and on
further examination, marks of blood were
traced from the bedroom into the street,
and at intervals down to the pier head.
kumor was sinmediately busy, and suspic-
ION tell fcourse on the young man who
slept with him, that lie had committed the
murder. and thrown the body into the sea.
A warrant WAS issued, and he was ia
ken that evening at his mothers house.
Ou being examined asd searched, marks
OF blood were discoverd on his shirt and
trowser, and in his pocket was knife and
a remarkable silver coin, both Of which the
landlady swore positively were her uncle's
property, and that she saw them in posses
sion on the evening he retired TO rest with
the young man. On these strong circum-
stances the unfortunate youth was found
guilty.
lie related all the above circumstances in
his defence, but as he could not account for
the marks Of blood on his person, unless he
got them when he returned to bed, nor
could account for the silver coin being in
his possession, his story was not credited.
The certainty of the boatswain's disap-
pearance ; the blood at the pier, traced from
his bedroom, were two evident signs of bis
being murdered; and even the Judge was
SO convinced of his guilt, that he ordered
the execution to take place in three days.
At the fatal tree the youth declared his
Innocence, and persisted in it with such af-
tecting asservation that many pitied him,
though none doubted the justness of his
sentence.
The executioners of those DAYS were not
so expert at their trades as modern ones, nor
were props and platform, invented. The
young man WAS very tall, his feet sometimes
touched the ground, and some of his friends
who surrounded the galIows cou,rived to
i've the body some support as it was suspen-
ded.-AIter being cut down, those friends
bore 1t speedily away in a coffin, and in the
course OF few hours animation WAS rcstor-
ed and the innocent saved. When he was
able to move his friends insisted on his leav-
ing the country and never returning. lie
accordingl ly travled by night to Portsmouth
and entered on board of man -of. war, on
the point Of sailing to distant part of the
world and as he changed his name and
disguised his person his very melancholy his
tory was never discovered.
After few years of service, during which
his exemplary conduct was the cause Of his
promotion through the lower grades, he
was at last made masters mate, and his
| slip being paid off in the West Indies, he
with few more of the crew were transferred
TO another man-of-war, which bad Just ar
rived short Of hands from different station.
What were his feelings of astonishrnent,
and then Of delight and ecstacy, when al
most the first person he saw on board his
new ship, was the indentical boa,swain for
whose murder he had been tried, condelned
and executed five years before. Nor was
the surprise of the old boatswain much less
when he heard the story. An explanation
OF all the mysterious circumstances then
took place.
1t appeared that the boatswain had been
bIed for pain in his side by the barber,
unknown 10 his niece, on the day of the
young mans arrival at Deal, that when the
Young man bad awakened him and retired
70 o.. the yard, he found the bandage had came
on MS arm, dnring the night, and that tue
blood was flowing afresb.
Beng alarmed, be arose to 90 to the bar.
Der, who ivedscross the street; but press
gang laid hold Of him just as he left the
public house. They hurried him to the
pier where the boat was waiting, and few
minutes brought them on board frigate,
then under way for the East Indies, and he
omitted ever writing home to account for
his sudden disappearance. These were the
chief circumstances explained by the friends
thus strangely met.
4 1t