, 1860-11-09
Circumstantial Evidenee.

In the year llSo, young man, WHO was SerN
ing his apprenticeship in London to master
sailmaker got leave to visit his mother, to spend
the Christmas holidays. She lived few miles
beyond Deal, in Kent. He walked the journey,
and on his arrival at Deal in the evening, being
much fatigued and also being troubled with the
bowel-complaint, he applied to the landlord Of
public house, who was acquainted with bis
mother, for 4 nights lodging. His house was
full and every bed occupied but he told him IL
he would sleep with his uncle, who had lately
come ashore, and who was boatswain Of an
Indiaman, he should be welcome. He was glad
to accept the offer, and after spending the even
ing with his new cOinrade, they retired to rest
In the middle Of the night he was attacked
with his complaint, and waking his bed-fclow,
he inquired the way to an clubhouse.
The boatswan told him TO go through the
kitchen, but as he would find Il difficult to open
the door into the yard, the latch being out Of
order, that he had better take knife out Of his
pocket with which he could raise the latch.
The young man did as he was directed, and
after staying some time, he returned to bed, but
was much surprised TO find his companion had
risen and gone. Being impatient to visit his
mother and friends, he also rose before day and
pursued his Journey and arrived home about
noon. The landlord, who had been told Of his
intention to depart early in the morning, was not
surprised, but not seeing his uncle, went to call
him.
He was dreadiully shocked to find the bed
stained with blood, and every inquiry after him
was In vain.
The alarm now became general, and on further
examination, marks Of blood were found from
the bedroom into the street, and at intervals
down to the pier-head. Rumor was Immediately
busy, and suspicion fell Of course on the young
man who had slept with him, that he had COM
mitted murder, and then thrown the body into
the sea.
A warrant was issued, and he was taken that
evening at his mothers house.
On his being examined and searched, marks
Of blood were discovered on bis shirt and trow-
sers, and in his pocket was knife and remark
able piece Of coin, both Of which the landlord
swore positively was the property Of his uncle,
and that he saw them in the possession Of his
uncle on the evening he retired to rest with the
young man.
On these strong circumstances the young man
was found guilty.
He related ali 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 he account for the
silver coin being In his possession, his story was
not credited.
The certainty Of the bOatswain's disappear
ance, the blood at the pier, traced from his bed
room, were too evident signs Of his being muir
deredi and even the judge was 50 convinced Of
his guilt that be ordered his execution 10 take
place in three days.
Al the fatal tree he declared his innocence, and
persisted in il with such affecting asseverations
that many pitied him, though none doubted the
justness Of his sentence.
The executionefs Of those days were not 50
expert at their trade as the modern ones, nor
were props and platforms invented. The young
man was very tall his feet sometimes touched
the ground, and some Of his friends who sur
rounded the galloWs contrived to give the body
some support as il was suspended. Afler being
cut down, these friends bore itspeedily away in
a coffin, and in the course Of few hours anima-
ton was restored, and the innocent saved. When
he was able to move, his friends insisted on his
leaving the country, and never returning lie
accordingly travelled by night to Portsmouth,
and entered on board aman-of-war, on the point
Of sailing to distant part Of the world; and as
he had changed his name and disguised bis per.
son, bis melancholy history was never discovered.
Afler few years Of service, during which
time bis exemplary conduct was the cause Of his
promotion through the lower grades he was At
last made mnsteF's mate and bis ship being
paid of in the West Indies, where he with few
more Of the crew were transferred 70 another
man-oi-war, which had just arrived from dif-
e,rent station. What were his feelings Of aston
ishment, and then Of ecstacy and delight, when
almost the first person he saw on board Of his
new ship was the identical boatswain for whose
murder he had been tried, condemned, and ex-
ecuted, Eve years before
Nor was the surprise OF the old boatswain
much less when he heard the story. An ex-
Dlanation Of all the mysterious circumstances
then took place.
II appeared that the boatswain had been bled
for pain in the side by barber, unknown to
his nephew, on the day Of his arrival at Deal;
that when the young man awakened him and re-
tired to the yard he Qhe boatswain) found the
bandage hadcome off his arm during the night,
and that the blood was flowing afresh.
Being alarmed, he rose to 60 TO the barber,
who lived across the street, but press-gang laid
hold Of him just as he len the public house
They hurried him to the pier, where a boat was
waiting, and few moments brought them on
board frigate, then under way tor tho west
Indies, and he omitted ever writing home TO ae-
count for his sudden disappearance These
were the chief circumstances explained by the
friends thus strangely met
The silver coin being found in the possession
Of the young man, could only be explained BY
conjecture; that when the bOatswain gave him
the knife in the dark, il is probable, as the cjin
was in the same pocket, that II stuck between
the blades Of the knife, and in this manner be-
came unconsciOusly the strongest proof against
him.
On their return to England, this wonderful ex-
PLANTATION was told to the judge and jury who
tried the cause and il is probable that they never
convicted man on circumstantial evidence
again.
.Nf.hao Ala n,ner saws that an inoucst was