Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-12-26

mer, something like door, had interven-
ed between the door and the candle and
the window which was totally irreconcil.
able with the appearance of the room
when examined; and had half persuaded
himself that there must be secret closet
which had escaped the officers of Justice
the opening of which would account for
the appearance alluded to, and the exist
ence of which might discover the property
which had so mysteriously disappeared.
His object, therefore, was to obtain from
the housekeeper 0he only person who
could give any clue to this,) such nfor-
nation as he could get, without alarming
ner by any direct inquiry on the subject,
which, as she should not know how much
or how little the inquiry has brought to
light; and by himself treating the matter
as inmaterial, he lightly led her to con-.
slider 1T so, also, and by that means draw
forth all she knew. After some pnimpor-
tant questions, he asked her il a tone and
manner calculated rather to awaken con-
fidence than to excite distrust,
During the time you were in Mr.. Smiths
room yod stated that the candle remained
on the table in the middle of the room p
Yes.
Was the closet, or cupboard, or what.
ever you call it, opened once or twice
Will it stood there PA pause and no
answer.
| will call it to your recollection.
After Mr.. Smith had taken the medicine
out Of the closet did he shut the door or
did 1t remain open? HE shut it.
Then it was opened gain for the pur-
pose of replacing the bottle, was it?-It
was.
Do you recollcct how long it was open
the second time 2--not over minute
The door when open, would be exactly
between the light and the window, would
it not Pit would.
forget whether you said the door was
on the right or left side of the window ?
The left.
Would the door make any noise in open.
ing it 7-None.
Can you speak positively of the fact ?
Have you ever opened 1t yourself or seen
Mr.. Smith open it FL never opened it
myself.
Did you ever keep the keys ?-Never
w no llu NIL CHlllu
At this moment the witness happened to
turn her eyes toward the spot where the
prisoner stood, and the effect was almost
electrical. A cold. damp sweat stood up
on his brow; his face had lost all its color;
he appeared living image ofdeath. She
no sooner saw him than she screamed and
tainted. The consequences OF her answers
flashed across her mind
She had been 50 thoroughly deceived by
tie manner of the advocate and by the
little Importance he seemed to attach to
her statements, that she hid been led on
by one question to another till she had
told him all that he wanted to know.
During the interval (occasioned by her
illness) Us to the proceedings, solictC. for
the prosecution left the court. 1t was
between and o'clock when the Judge
resumed his seat ON the bench, the pris-
oner his station at the bar, and the house
keeper hers in the witness box the court
in the interval had remained crowded
with spectators, scarce one of whom had
left his place, lest during his absence, it
should be seized by some one else.
The cross-examining counsel then adj
dressed the witness: | have a very few
more questions to ask of you but beware
that you answer them truly for your own
life depends upon thread.
Do you know this stopper F.?
do.
To whom does it belong?
To Mr.. Smith.
When did you see it last ?
On the night of Mr.. Thompson's death
AT this moment the solicitor for the
prosecution entered the court, bringing
with him, upon u tray, watch, two mo-
ney Lags, a jewel case, pocket-book, and
Il bottle C the same manufacture as the
stopper, and having no cork in 1t; some
other articles there was In IT not material
to my story. The tray was placed upon
the table in sight of the prisoner and wit
ness, and from that moment not doubt |
remained in the mind of any man of the
guilt of the prisoner.
A few words will bring my tale to
close The house where the murder had
been committed was between niue and ten
miles distant. The solicitor, as soon as
the cross.examiuation had discovered the |
existence of the closet, aud its situation,
had set off on horseback, with two sherif's |
officers, and after pulling down part of the
wall Of the house, had detected this place
OF concealment.
The search was well rewarded, the
whole of the property belonging to MIR.
Thompson was found there, amounting IN
value to several thousand pounds; and to
leave no doubt, bottle was discovered
which the medical man instantly pro-
nouuced to contain the very identical poi !
son which had caused the death of the
unfortunate Thompson. The result is too
obvious to need explanation,