Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-08-09
CircumStantial Evidence.

That circumstantll evidence cannot al
ways be relied on, is proved by the mclan-
choly fact that innocent men and women
have been legally murdered in England
witness Eliza Fcnniug, Ambrose Gwynett,
and many other casrs.
THE BHoTuERs.-Who has not heard Of
" the story of the two brothers 7" Twenty
different versions exist, many of them equal
ly incorrect. They travelled TO a seaport
town together an argument, vociterously
conducted, cnsued after dinner they slept
in double bedded room one of the broth.
ers rose at three o'clock, Of fine summer
morning, and wandered to cliff He was
siezed by smugglers. whom he detected in
burying .puncheons of spirits. They were
TOO amable to murder him, and merely put
the West Indies. Meanwhile his brother,
who, after his Port wine and alteration,
la slept the cam sleep of innocence,
awoke in the morning to find his brothers
pillow covered with blood. and his brother
missing. 1t can be ca lily believed ihit
when he raag the bell AMI summoned
the landlord, his protestations of innocence
were fruitless, and he was soon in the hands
of the myrmidons of the law. Stains of
blood were traced from the bedroom 10 the
cliff where marks of scufile were found.
He was indicted for murder, and defended
by the ablest of counsel. Every effort was
made to save his life. but ali in vain. The
interest Of this terrible drama is enhanced
by the fact that the unfortunate man was
engaged to a beautiful young girl, who was
present at the trial, believed TO the last in his
innocence, and left him, after heart rend-
ing interview, in the condemned cell.
In those good old days, men were not
hanged in front OF country jails, but on an
adjacent common considered suitable for the
spectacle. The victim, in this instance,
was taken to the place of execution, and
constructively strangled. When the laws
I last vengeance had been wreaked, asher herd,
wandering near the spot, heard low moan,
and cut down the pendant, half-choked man.
He terminated in his rude way, this crea-
ture whom Prov idence would seem to
have saved by means miraculous as ever
such interposition could be. He assisted
his escape, and communicated with his now
still more frantic betrothed, whose relations
supplied the necessary money for flight
He was placed on board vessel in the
channel bound for Barbados and the
first man he met in Bridgetown, was the
brother for whose murder he had been
wholly convicted and half hanged. Their
interview NAV be imagined. Ernest had
left Walter asleep he had been seIzeo
with violent fit of bleeding at the nose
which would account for the blood upon the
pillow, and for similar stains which as
have stated, were traced to the cliff. How
he fell into the hands of smugglers has al
ready been narrated. This, of course, well
authenticated, but rather improbable story
proves the fallibiity of the twelve intelli
men," 1t is human to err, and it is human
gent TO err on the side of mercy.
4 THE ELoPEMENT.-About forty year'
ago gentleman was tried and convicted
upon circumstantial evidence, OF the mur
der of his niece. She was heard to ex
calm, Don't kill me, uncle don't kill me I!
and at that instant a pistol or fowling-piec'
was fired off. Upon these circumstances
, the gentleman was convicted and executed
Near twelve months after, the niece wh'
had eloped, arrived in England and hear
ing of the affair, elucidated the whole trans
action 1t appeared that she had formed
/; an attachment for person of whom hel
uncle disapproved. When walking in the
fields, he was earnestly dissuading her iron
the connection, when she replied that she
was resolved to have him, or IT would bt
) her death and therefore said, Don't xii
me, uncle don't kill me p At the moment
she uttered these words, fowline-piece wa:
discharged by sspt rts-man in neighborins
field. The same night she eloped from her
uncle's house and the combination of these
suspicious circumstances occasioned his ig-
nominious death.