Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-02-14

never held brief in a case which felt de-
pended more upon the humor of the jury than
this one; and when in Court saw a small box
on the barrister's table, in which was the hair
which the murdered man in his death struggles
might be supposed to have torn from the head
of the murderer, and when the identity of tha.
hair would, knew, be sworn to by competent
fears.
And must confess that had no means of
satisfying either Judge or jury, by any reason
able hypothesis on the subject, of the inno-
cence of Edward. felt that there was some
mystery in the whole affair, but what it was,
puzzled me exceedingly. .......
1t was to come out, though, and il did come
out in the most marvellous manner
The Attorney General conducted the case
for the prosecution, thought, with too much
animus against the prisoner, and made too
much of the ''death-struggle, in which Provi-
dence decreed that the murdered man should
hold in his dead hand the evidence of the iden-
tity of his murderer" ..
In fact, this handful of hair was the thing
that made all the impression against Edward.
And we, who were for the defense, had no.
thing to say to the case, but a simple denial of
ever seeing or meeting the dead man in the
ten-acre field, or anywhere else, after he had
leaped through the window at Mayfeld House.
Everything was going wrong at the trial
Il
anticipated verdict certainly Of manslaugh-
ter, when saw dirty and mysterious bit of
paper handed from usher to usher, and finally
to the Judge through the hands Of his clerk
Then the Judge, after reading it, handed it
down to the Attorney General, who then hand
ed it to me
The dirty bit of paper contained the follow
ing words, in the following photography:
"Bil Simms has seed the 60 will be a heavy
dents cos wy he hisent toe be nabbed for the
cendri 60. Ees incort.''
This was most incomprehensible epistIe,
and looked at the Judge with a puzzled air
Then the Judge spoke.
" A paper has been handed to the Court"
he said, . which seems to imply that one Bill
Simms is in possession of evidence in this case
l can only say, that if such person comes for
ward, and incurs peril by so doing, will do
my best to hold him harmless -
Here you are -. said a voice, and man in
that indescribable costume of half tramp, half
gypsy, which is looked upon with so much sus-
pIcion In suburban districts, made his appear
ance. Here you are I'm Bill Simms. I'll
take your word, my Lord Judge. Go it."
Swear that man." said the Judge, if he
has evidence to give
ANS right Folks hobjects to my swear
ing IN usual, but here goes 10
What have you to say?''
"AI's right, I'm tramp. Well, in light
Ing my pipe set aDlaze old Farmer ebSter' s
corn-stack, down by Mill Hill Lane; so as 1
knows poor fellow has no chances cuts and
runs, and hides top o. Muster Cattley's hay
stack; and stays there all day as snug as may
be, and goodish bit of the evening; and at
last chap he comes into the field, and he creeps
down by the bottom of the stack, and he SAYS,
says he, In DEATH says he, Il find ven
geance This hair from the packet in the cab
met, clutched in a dead mans hand will be
death to him This dagger is his. Farewell,
world hate; shall, perhaps, yet know Of
vengeance from the grave Arter that, gents
all, he gives sort of a howl and two shrieks
and then all was as still as smoke. That'sit '"
No sooner had Bill Simms ceased speaking
than Edward Cattley called out, :" 1 know the
mystery of the hair. Before I went to the
Mauritius L cut off my long hair, and now
recollect my mother took it, and said she would
preserve it in a cabinet. The villain Petrus,
during his residence in the house, has got at
it. 1t is clear to me now"
There was distinct clapping of hands in the
court at this.
The Judge looked at the Attorney General,
who at once said, 1.-The prosecution is aban-
doned, my lord -
Edward Cattley was free, and the body of
the suicide was buried where four roads met,
not far from old Hendon Church, at midnight.
And the strong case that circumstances got
up against Edward Cattley afforded another
instance OF how dangerous It is to jeopardze
lie and liberty upon an evidence, however ap-
parently conclusive, that admits of any posi-
BILE explanation consistent with innocence.