The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-01-17
JANUARY II, 1862.

screams, and they hurried in the direction oI
the sound, which led them to the room in
question. Mrs. Seaton was found lying in
sensible in the doorway. The prisoner ai
the bar was sitting up in bed, and much
dsfgured on her hands with blood. The
body Of the child. Ernest, was found between
that bed and the wall. with knife in 1t,
heart. Now, gentlemen Of the jury, thesC
are prominent facts but there arc some col
lateral ones, which 1t is my duty to mention
The landlady of tho Wheatshcaf will depos'
that rs she was passing the door of the roou
occupied by the two sisters she heard then
conversing, and, with an incidental curios
ity, she paused to listen, when she heard thu
prisoner say, al shall 60 to the wall, and no
get husband, all on account Of your littl'
Ernest, when I intended to make Uncle Ralpt
take to me, and make me his fayorite, ant
leave me all his money" These, the landla
dy will tell you, may not be tho exact words
used; but she will swear to you, US she ha'
already sworn to the justice, that they ar'
very near, and contain the sentiment tha,
was uttered. Collateral fact the second
then, my lord and gentlemen Of the jury, is
that the knife which did tho deed belonged
I, the prisoner, and was bought by her al
Columbo, in Ceylon. Gentlemen, God helE
and aid us all to get at the truth Of this mat
ter. have nothing more to say
The encouragement SIT down not adding
ono word to the bare statement Of these facts
ON which the case rested.
A cold pespiration sat on my brow. How
fearfully strong was the case and what had
to rebut it with? Nothing-nothins! Wha
If Brown had absconded What If Brown
had been swallowed up by an earthquake
His absence or presence would make hut lii
tic account IN such u case. He had only seer
what Others saw-ho could add nothing Il
the evidence of tho landlord and landlady o.
the inn.
I felt as II my very heart palcd, as / saw
tn, blank. half terror.stricken countenances
Of the jury. and fancied that in every whis'
per they indulsod into each other the word
guilty might bc found.
The junior counsel for the prosecution now
rose, and called Jacob Wills
There was slight hustle and the landlord
GOT into the witness box. He merely depos
ed TO the coming of the sisters and child Il
the Wheatshaaf and the alarm in the night
and the findingof the dead body Of the child
as stated. .-.-l..
The attorney. general then glanced at mo
and rose to cross-examinc.
'Ilad you any other guests at the Wheat
sheaf, on the night in question?
'Yes sir; Mr.. Brown
when did he come"
About an hour after the ladies'
WAS he stranger to you|
Quite, SIR
Where did he slcepH
AT the end of the gallery, about Fifty pa
ccs of tho ladies ROOM
You can go down now, but | shall wan
you again.
Yes, sir
Martha Willis, the landlady, was the mex
witness examined. and she confirmed wha
tho encouragement had stated. Her nc
count of what Anna had said, make strong
impression upon the jury, and when ros
to cross-sxamine her. felt that that WIS th,
point to attend to.
.Now Mrs. Willis said "you have sai'
many thing in jest to your husband, an'
you to him, no doubt
lord bless you yes, SIR
'And meant no harm?
Not the least, SIR
sOf course not. Now, can you recollec
anything you may have said to him, or o
him, in that harmless way, latclyT
.Oh, dear, yes, sir! When he takes
drop too much am very apt to say that
hope the next thing will choke him, but
no more meant It than you do, SIR
sAnd of course, by the tone in which yo'
say it, he kuows it is only joke"
TO bc sure
you speak It in something of the tone o
the prisoner at the bar, when she said sh
should never get q husband"
'Just 50, SIR
THAT will do. You can 60 down.
Mr.. Brown was the next witness called
and no one appeared. I was resolved Il
make the most could in favor Of the pris
oncr, out of this disappearance Of Brown
| although | feared II would not DO much bu
| il was not then time to take notice OF it.
Tho name of Brown roverberated through
the court, and the passages, and the adjacent
strcct-but no Brown appeared.
Tho general then arose md said
1T is my most painful duty to call MIS-
Rachel Seaton. 1t Is duty would have
fain avoided, If possible. for no man can feel
moro scnsibly than ] do how sad to her must
bc the task of being summoned for the Pros-
ecution in this case but it cannot 10 helped
and therefore call Mrs Seaton.'
With slow and melancholy step the poor