River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-12-27
THE SECRET CLOSET.

"For murder, though it bath no tongue, Will
speak with most miraculous organ"
In the year l8-John Smith Il use
fictitious names) was indicted for the vii.
full murder of Henry Thompson. The
case was one Of the most extraordinary
nature, and the interest excited by it was
almost unparalleled. The accused vas a
man of considerable property, residing
upon his own estate. A person, supposed
to 6e an entire stranger to him, had, late
in summer day, requested and obtained
shelter and hospitality for the night. He
had it was supposed, after taking some
Light refreshment, retired to bed in perfect
health, requesting to be awake ned at an
carly hour the following morning. When
the servant appointed to call him entered
his room for that purpose, he was found in
his bed perfectly dead and from the APP
pearance Of the body it was obvious that
be had been so for many hours. There
was not the slightest mark Of violence up
on his person, and the countenancc retain
ed the same expression it had borne
during lie.
Days and weeks passed on, and little
further was discovered In the meantime
rumOr had not been idle Suspicious were
vague, indeed, and underlined, and were ut
first whispered, and afterward boldly
expressed. The precise object of these
suspicious was not clearly indicated some
implicated one person, some another but
they all pointed 70 Smith, the master of
the house, as concerned IN the death Of
the stranger; and in fine, the magistrates
were induced to commit Mr.. Smith to Jail
20 take bis trial tor the wiltul murder Of
Henry Thompson, As i, was deemed es-
sental e. the attainment Of Justice to keep
secret the examination of the witnesses
who were produced before the ma gistrates.
all the information OF which the public
were in possession before the trial took
place was that which have narrated
Such was the state Of things upon the
morning Of the trial.
he counsel tor the prosecution opened
his case % the jury in manner that indi
Gated very httle expectation of a convie-
ton. He began by lmplOring them TO
dlvest their mil1s OF all that they had
heard before they came into the box he
entreated them 20 attend 20 the evidence
and judge from that alone.
Il would be proved beyond the possibiI.
ityof doubt that the deceased died by poi.
son--poison Of most sublle nature, most
active in us oper alton, and possessing the
wonderful and dreadful quality of leaving
no external mark or token by which its
presence could be detected. The ingre.
dents ct which it was composed were Of
50 sedttiye % nasure that, instead of the
body on which it had been used exhibiting
any contorton or marks of suffering, il
left upon the features nothing but the
calm and placid quiet cireposo.
The prisoners family consisted Of him
self, a housskeeE er and one man servant
TIE man servant SLEPT in an clubhouse ad.
joining the stable, and did so on the night
Of rhompsous death. The prisoner slept
at one end Of The house and the house.
keeper al the other, and the deceased had
been nut into room adjoining the house.
Keepers
Il would be proved by a person who
happened 70 be passing by the house on
the night IN question, about three hours
after midnight, that he had been induced
60 remain and watch, from having his at
teulion excited los the circumstances, then
very unusual, Of u light moving about the
house az that late hour. That person could
state most positively that he could distinct
Is see a figure, holding a light, 90 from
the room IN which the prisoner slept, 10
the huusckeepeg'S room, that two persons
theu came put Of the housckecper room.
and tie light disappeared for minute
Whether The Two persons went into
Thompsot room he could not see, ms the
window Of that room looked another way.
but in about a minute they returned, pas
sing quite along the house TO Smiths room
again aud IN about five minutes the light
was exuuguished and he saw no more.
Such was the evidence upon which the
magistrate had committed Smith and
singularly enough, since his conmittal the
housekeeper had been missing, nor could
any trace Of her be discovered
Within he las; week, the witness wkO
saw the light had been more particularly
examined. and ia order 10 refresh his
memory bad been placed at dark in the
very spu, where he bad stood that night,
aud 5uclher person YEAS placed with him.
JILL. NL,ly scene as be Lad described 10