The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-05-28


stand, compromised, = arranged - at all
events the prosecution was not present
Is that not 80 ?''
Ycs-no-ycs.
Very well; either answer will do. You
| lived also, believe, with Mr. Thorndyke
rs his housekecpcr, of course, when he
was in business as Il concoctcr and vcndcr
Of infallible drugs and pills %
"Ycs."
"lIo was held to be skillful in the
preparation of drugs, was he not-wcll
vcrsed.n their properties -
"Ycs-I believe sol do not know.
Why | am asked such questions ?'
You will know presently. And now
woman, answer the question | am about to
put to you, as you will be compelled to
answer it to God at the last great day
What was the nature of the drug which
you or he mixed with the medicine pre-
scribed for the late Mrs. Thorndykc ?'
4 spasmodic, shrek, checked by des-
perate effort partially escaped her, and she
stood fixed gazing, with starting eyes, into
my face.
The profondcst silence reigncd in the
Court as iteratcd the question
"Iou must answer, woman," said the
judge, sternly, unless you know your
answer, will criminatc yourself"
The witness looked wildly round the
court, as # in search Of counsel or sympa-
thy, but cncountering none but frowning
and eager faces-Thorndyk she could
| NJ Il ho Il n,ly, q,
giddy and panic-strickcn, and seem to lose
all presence of mind.
" "IIe-hc-hc," she last gaspcd-" he
mixed it ! do not know But
how" she added, pushing back her hair
and pressing her hands against her hot
temples, -" can this this be What can
it mean Z"
A movement amongst the bystanders
just at this moment attracted the notice of
the judge, and he Immediately exclaimed.
"The defendcnt must not leave Court. "
An officer placed himself beside the
wrctched murderer, as well as forgcr, and
| resumed the cross-cxamnaton of the
witness.
Now, Mrs. Tucker, please to look ut
this lettr " 1t was that which had been
address to Mary Wsodley by her son.
"That, believe, is your sons handwrit,
ing 2"
eyes"
"Tho body of this was written by the
same hand.
! Now, woman, answer Was it your
son-this young man who, you perceive
If guilty cannot escapcc from justicc-was
it he who forged the names Of the deceased
Mrs. Thorndykc and of John Cummins
attached to it 2"
" Not he-not he" shriekcd the
wrctchcd woman. I" 1t was Thornlyke-
Thorndyke himself. And then with a
sudden rcvulsion of feeling, as the conse-
qucnccs of what she had uttered flashed
upon her, she exclaimed. "Oh Silas,
what have said what have | done ?"
Hanged me, that's all you accursed
devil y replied Thorndykc with gloomy
ferocity. :" But deserve 1t fer trusting
in such an idiot, dolt and fool that | was
for doiug it."
The woman sank down in strong con-
vuisions and was by direction of the
judge, carried out of the hall.
The anxious silence which pcrvaded the
court during this scene in which the read
cr will have observed | played bold,
tentative and happily successful game, was
broken as the witness was borne off, by
a loud murmur Of Indignation, followed
by congratulatory cxclamations on the
fortunate termination of the suit. The
defendants counsel threw M their briefs
and a verdict was at once returned for the
plaintiff.
All the incul patcd parties were speedily
in costody; and the body of Mrs. Thorn
dyke having been disintercsted, it was
discovered that she had been destroyed by
bi-chloridc of mercury, Of which consid-
cradle quantity was detected in the body.
: | was not present at the trial of Thorndykc
and his accompliccs-hc for murder and
ilcadley for pcrjury-but | saw by the
public prints that he was found guilty, and
executed; the woman was, if | remember
rightly, admitted evidence for the crown.
Mary Woodlcy was of course put into
: immediate possession of her parental in
hertancc and is now ut least she was
about four months ago when dinncd with
her and husband at Dale Farm-a comely
prosperous matrun; and as happy as a
woman with a numerous progeny and an
easy tempered partner can in this, accord
ing to romance writers, vale of grief and
tears, expect to be.
Eriy" 4" | come for the saw, sir"