Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1865-11-30

. | dllu ptlOIc IL WIS CA tlilS uiSilcd, IL
had twice perceived some dark oh
| iect to intervene between tn
light and the window almos
. as large us the. surface Of til,
| window itself, and which he de
! scribed' by saying it appeared a
) if a door had been placed before tht
4 light. Now, in Smiths room
there was nothing which coult
account for this appearance, ant
] there was neither cupboard MOI
press in the apartment, which but
for the bed, was entirely empty.
the room in which he dressed being
a distance beyond it.
The counsel for the prosecution
here concluded what he had to
say. During his address, Smith
in no wise appeared to be agitated
or distressed, and equally unmoved
was he while the witnesses testi-
! fed, in substance, what the open
ing speech of the counsel led the
court and jury to expect.
Lord Mansfield now addressed
the jury. He said: "that in
his opinion the evidence was not
sufficient 70 condemn the prisoner,
and if the jury agreed with him
in opinion, they would discharge
him." Without leaving their seats,
the jury agreed that the evidence
was not sufficient. 'oafa9l
At this moment, when they
were about torendera verdict of ac-
quittal, the prisoner rose and adj
dressed the court. He said he
had been accused of a foul crime,
and the jury had said that there
was not sufficient evidence against
him. Was he to go cut Of court
with suspicion resting upon him,
after all?
This he was unwilling to do
He was an innocent man, and if
the judge would grant him the OPP
portunity, he would prove it. lie
would call the Lousekeeper, who
would confirm a statement which
he would now make. '''o'''
The hCusekeeper had not ap-
peared in court. She had con
cealed herself, or had been by
Smith. This was considered a
dark sign against him. But he
himself now offered to bring her
forward, and stated as the reason,
not that he was not willing that
she would testify, but, knowing the
excitement, he was fearful that
she would be br;bcd to give testi-
mony contrary to fact. But he
was now ready to relate all the
circumstances he knew. She
might be called and examined
If her testimony does rot confirm
my story, let me be condemned.
The request Of the prisoner ap-
pear d reasonable, and Lord
Mansfield, contrary to his prac-
tice, granted it.
The prisoner went on with his
statement. He said he wished to
go out of court relieved from he
that were resting
upon him. AS to the poison, by
means of which the stranger was
said to have died, he knew Meth
er the name Of it, nor the exist
ence of it, until made known by
counsel. Hecould call God to wit
ness the truth of what be said.
And then, as to Mr.. Thompson,
he was a perfect stranger to him.
How should he know what arti-
cles of value he had? He did not
know. If lie had such articles at
Hull, he might have left them on
the road, or, what was more prob
able, have otherwise disposed of
them. And if he died by means
of the fatal drug, he must have
administered it himself.
He begged the jury to remem-
Der that his premises had been re-
peatedly and minutely searched,
and not the most trltling article
that belonged to the deceased had
been discovered in his possession.
The stopper Of a vial had been
found, but of this lie could only
say, he had no knowledge, and had
not seen it before it was produced
in court. = 20! 's ,i
One fact had been proved, and
only one. That he would explain,
and bis housekeeper would con-
firm the statement. A witness
had testified that some one had
gone to the bedroom of the house