Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-06-15
THE HIDDEN CLOSET.

In the year 18-, John Smith q
use fictitious names) was indicted
for the Wilful murder of Henry
Thompson. The case was one of a
most extraordinary nature, and the
interest excited by it was almost
unparalleled. The accused was a
gentleman of considerable property,
residing upon his own estate. A
person, supposed to be an entire
stranger to him, had late in Sum-
mer's day, requested and obtained
shelter and hospitality for the night.
lie had, it was supposed, after TAX
ing some slight refreshment, retired
to bed in perfect health, requesting
to be awakened at an early hour the
following morning. When the SCR
want appointed to call him entered
his room for that purpose, he was
found in his bed perfectly dead; and,
from the appearance of the body, it
was obvious that he had been so for
many hours. There was not the
slightest mark OF violence upon his
person, and the countenanCe retain
cd the same expression it had borne
during life.
Days and weeks passed on, and
little further was known. In the
mean time rumor had not been idle.
Suspicious, vague, indeed, and un-
defined, were at first whispered and
afterward boldly expressed. The
precise object of these suspicious
was not clearly indicated; some i'm
plicated one person some another;
but they all pointed to Smith, the
master of the house, rs concerned in
the death of the stranger; and, in
fine, the magistrates were induced
to commit Mr.. Smith to Jail to take
his trial for the wilful murder Of
ed essential to the attainment of
justice TO keep secret the examina-
tion of the witnesses who were pro-
duCcd before the magistrates, all the
information of which the public
were in possession before the trial
took place was that which L have
here narrated. Such was the state
of things upon the morning of the
trial.
Lord Mansfeld's charge TO the
Grand jury upon the subject of this
murder excited good deal of at
tention. lie had recommended
them, if they entertained reasOna-
bic doubts of the suiliciency of the
evidence to insure q conviction, to
throw out the bill; explaining to
them most justly and clearly that,
in the event of their doing so, if any
additional evidence should, at q fu-
ture time, be discovered, the pris-
oner could again be apprehended
and tried for the Offense, whereas,
if they found q true bill, and, from
deficiency of proof, he was now ac-
quilted on his trial, he could never
again be molested, even though the
testimony against him should be
morally as clear as light. The
Grand Jury after, as we supposed,
very considerable discussion among
themselves, and, as was rumored,
by a majority of only one, returned
true bill. After the charge, it was
conjectnred that the proofs offered
TO the Grand Jury must have been
strong to authorize such n finding;
and strong impression in conse-
quence prevailed that there would
ultimately be a conviction.
The counsel for the prosecution
opened his case to the jury in man
ner that indicated very little expec-
tation of a conviction. lie began
by imploring them to divest their
minds of all that they had heard be-
fore they came into the box; he en-
treated them to attend to the evil
denee, and judge from that alone.
II would be proved beyond the
possibility Of doubt that the de-
ceased died 10y poisou-poison of q
most subtle nature, most active in
its operation, and possessing the
wonderful and drca tful quality of
leaving no external mark or token
by which its presence could be de-
tcctcd. The ingredients of which ii
was composed were OF so sedative a
nature that. instead of the body on
which il had been used exhibiting
any Cuntortions, or marks of suffer-
ing, il left upon the features 10th
ing but the calm andiplaeid quiet q
rhe prisoner' e .'tt,anily consisted
only of himself, l'house-keeper, and
one man-serYant. The man-servant
slept in an clubhouse adjoining the
stable. and did so on the night of
Thompson's death. The prisoner
slept at one end of the house and
the housekeeper at the other, and
the deceased had been put into .
room adjoining the housekeeper's.
1t would be proved, by q person
who happened TO be passing by the
house on the night in question, a
bout three hours after midnight,
that he had been induced TO remain
and watch, from having his atten-
tion excited by the circumstance,
then very unusual, of n light NOV
ing about the house at that late
hour. That person would state
most positively that he could dis
tinctly see a figure, holding 4 light.
go from the room in which the pris.
oner slept to the housekeeper's
room; that two persons then came
out of the housekeeper's room, and
the light disappeared for 4 minute.