Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1872-02-02
The Most Singular Case of Circumsta n
tial Evidence on Record.

IL Is only within the present century tina,
,he law has required, ia case of murder the
hndng and Identification of tho victim. Pre-
vious to that, II II man disappeared and his
absence could not be accounted for, person
to whom circumslsntial evidence pointed as
ms probable murderer could be arrested and
hanged for the alleged crime. A most extra
ordinary case which occurred during the war
between England and France, at the beginning
OF Inc present century, first called particular
attention to the singular law, and was ulti-
nately the cause OF its being replaced by the
statute ms IL now stands The story is sub
| stanaly us follows:
Two Englishmen, uuce and nephew, took
up Their quarters alta well-known inn in Ports
mouth, close to the pier. They were well re-
eeived by The landlord, for they had plenty Of
money IN their possession. The uncle, whom
We VIII call William, suggested 10 his com-
| panion, who shall be called Robert, in tho
hearing of the landlord, that they should hand
their money to their host for safc-deeping
Robert objected, and proposed that they should
keep II on their person. This was agreed to-
AT night they occupied the same room and
the same bed. The inn was an old fashioned,
irregular building. From their bedroom the
TWO men could enter long passage which ran
along the end Of the house to the pier. They
went 10 their room together about IL o'clock
at night. Next morning Robert entered tho
landlord 8 room with hurried, anxious air,
ana asked the landlord wLeiher he knew what
mad became OF his uncle. The landlord said
he did not. At the same lime he observed TO
his horror that the hands of Robert wein
stained with blood. The landlord arose and
suggested that they should go 10 the bedroom
together. They did SO. On entering, terri
bic spectacle met the landlords gaze. The
clothes of the bed which had evidently been
occupied by two persons were stained all over
with blood, The pillow was saturated with
II. The wash-basn aud the stand were also
despatched with blood On the dressi ng-tablo
Jay large jockey or sailor knife, the han
die and blade all bloody Drops of blood
marked the floor from the bedside 10 the door
winch opened upon the passage referred to -
me landlord told Robert the case wnsa very
suspicious one, and that he must plnce il In tho
hands OF the authorities. He did forthwith.
robert was arrested. On bring searched, his
clothes were found to be bloody. Blood stains
were discovered in the passage from the bed
room door to the waters edge, where appa-
renily there bad been struggle. On Robert
were found the purse and papers Of The missing
man. 8a
Robert, who manifested GOODNESS aud pres
encc OF mind, told the following story After
his uncle and himself had been in bed short
time, the former, who luy on the outside,
complained that his nose was bleeding. Pres.
emily he got up and went to the washstand -
nc used water freely, but in vain. The bleed
ing continued, and so violently that The men
ootli became alarmed. Robert suggested the
application OF cold iron 10 the back Of his I'M
cle's neck. He took his jack knife ont of his
pocket and applied il accordingly In attend
ing his uncle his hands and shirt were stained
with blood As the bleeding still continued
William dressed himself and said he would pt,
inc cold morning afr. i3efofeo gu doing e p 80 H.
handed his pocketbook and purse TO his neph-
ew to keep until his return. Robert fen
asleep after his uncle left aud was astoundca
when he awoke in the morning to find tia. he
had not returned
Robert was indicted for murder All the
circumstances were against him The iury
believed thai William had been murdered and
his body carried down TO The water and flung
in. Robert was convicted and sentenced Il,
be hanged, and hanged he was accordingly in
a few days
Two years afierward The missing man re-
turned lie confirmed every word that his
nephew had uttered in his defence When
William reached the pier on the niebt of the
supposed murder. he turned to the left and
1ad only gone a few PAGES when he was poun-
ed upon by press-gang He was overpow
fed and carried to boat and in an hour
oond himself on board British sIoop of war
n Southampton waters. The vessel was get
ing under way. In her he remained for three
months without chance Of writing to hi.
riends Then the ship was captured BY Il
rench frigate, and William spent twenty
lon'hs 10 French prison. On his release he
etnrned to England to find TO his horror TINT
IS beloved nephew had been hanged as hi4
ssassln-~M y. Sunday Dtspatch