Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-01-04

'AAhk AAiAAI VI Nht AltuNAul NilAlts
or the stopper which had been found, he |
dlsowned all knowledge declared most |
solemnly that he had never seen Il before |
IL was produced In court and be asked, |
could the fact of It's being In his house only |
few days ago, when hundreds of people /
had been there, produce upon an impartial |
mind even momentary prejudice against
himl One fact. and oBly one, has been /
proved, TO which II was possible Tor him
TO give an answer-the fact Of his having
gone to the bedroom Of his housekeeper on
the nieht In question.
He bad been subject for many years Of
his life 10 sudden fits of Illness he had
been seized With one on that occasion, and
bad gone To her TO procure her assistance
In lighting hre. She had returned with
him 10 his room for that purpose, he hay
lug waited for a mlnu,o in the passage
while she put on hcr clothes, which would
account for the momentary disappearance
Of the light and after she had remained
In hs room for few minutes, finding him
eelf better, he had dismissed her, and re-
TIRED again 10 bed, from which be had moi
risen when he was Informed of the death
of his gueet. II had been raid that, after
his committal to prison, his housekeeper
had disappeared. He avOwed that, find
ing his enemies determined, II possible, to
accomplish bis ruin, he bad thought II
probable they might tQmper with his SER
/ want he had therefore, kept her out Of
the way-but for what purpose Not TO
prevent her testimony being given, for she
was now under the care OF his solicitor,
and would in.tantly appear for the purpose
Of couhrmiDg,ss far as she WAS concerned
the statement which he had Just made.
Such was the prisoners address, which
/ produ, cd a powerful effect. 1t was deliv-
cred In hrm and impressive manner, and
It's simplicity and artlessness gave II an
appearance Of truth. The housekceper
was thon put In the box aud examined by
the counsel Of the prisoner. According TO
the custom at that time almost universal,
of excluding Witnesses from court until
their testimony was required, she had been
kept al house near at hand, and had not
heard a single word of the trial. There
was nothing remarkable In her manner or
appearance; she might be about thirty y'tlve
or little more, with regular thou.h not
agreable features, and an air perfectly freo
from embarrassment.
She rerested, almost In the prisoners
own words, the story be had t"ld OF MS
having called her up, and he having ae-
companied him TO his room, adding that
after leaving MIN she had retired to her
own room and had been awakened by a
man-servant In the morning with an &C
count of the travellers death.
She had now to undergo a cross-exami-
nation; and may as well state here, which
though not known to me TIL aiterward, ,
will assist the reader in understanding the
following scene. The counsel for prosccu-
ton had, in his own mind, attached con-
siderable importance TO the circumstance
mentioned BY the witness who saw the
I light, that while the prisoner and the
housekeeper were IN the room Of tue for
mer, something like a door had interviewed
between the candle and tho window, which
was totally irrcconcllable With the appear
ance of tho room when examined and he
had half persuaded himself that there
must be a secret closet which had escaped
the officers Of Justice, tho openugoi which
would account for the appearance alluded
, to, and the existence of which might dis
cover the property which had so mysteri'
ously disappeared.
HIS object, therefore, was 10 obtain from
, the housekeepor (tho only person except
the prisoner who could give any clcw IA
! this) such information as he could get,
, without alarming her by any direct inquiry
; on the subject, which as she should moi
, know how much or bow little the inquiry
had brought to light, and by himself treat.
, ing the matter as immaterlal be might lead
her to consider II also, and by thut means
unexpectedly dinw forth all she knew
. AZ CT some unimpottant questions, hf
asked her IN a tCnc and manner a'culai' Z
, rather to awaken confidence than 10 oNc.t'
: distrust:
> During the time you were in Mr. Smith
i room YOU stated that the candle stood ol
! the table in the centre of the room
Yes.
-. Was tho closet, or cupboard, or whateyo
o you call il, opened once OF twice while i
r stood tborel
T. A pause; no answer.
, vii. call il TO your recollection. Ate
y Mr. Smith had taken the medicine out o
2 the closet did he shut the door, or did itrc
Il main open
i. He shut II.
n Then it was opened again for tho puI
4 pose of replacing the bottle, was IL
= It was.
= DO yon recollcct how long it was orc
l. the last time !
n Not above a minute.
n The door, when opeu, would he exact
=. between the light aud the window, woul
5. ii not
N II would.
=, forget whether you said ihe Closet wa
{. on tue ilEub VI Nip ~" T'NN ~ ''
le dow ,
4. The left
,e Would the door of tic closet make an
Id noise in opening 1t
None.
N Can you speak positively TO the fac
II Have you ever opened il youiselt' OF sec
is Smith open III
ne never opened it myself.
n. Did you ever keep the keys
N. Never
N. Who did
ly Mr.. Smith, always.
~ AT this moment the witness chapeed
4 turn her eyes toward tho spot where q
n. prisoner stood, and the efl,ct was almo
in electrical. a cold, damp sweat stood up'
70 his brow his face had lost oil its colo
,1Sg She no sooner saw him than she Shrek
ai and tainted The consequences OF her a
IN sweIs flashed across her mind.
y. Sue had been SO thoroughly deceived
ma the manner of the advocate, and hy T.
IN / tile importance he seemed to attach
be her statement, that she had be- led on
he one question 10 another, till she had to
,or him all that he had wanted to know.
During the interval (Cccasioned by b
M ilness) as to the proceedings, the solicit
'e left the court II WAS between and
sre o'clock when the judge resumed his sc
nm upon the bench, the prisoner hle htallou
Iv the bar, and the housekeeper hers in {
20 wlness.box the court 10 the interval h
remained crowded with spectators, teal
aid one of whom had left his place, lest duri
his his absence, il should be stized by sol
ire. one elte
in The Cross-examining council then
ali dressed the witness
a have q vety few more questions TO
ac- Of you, but beware that you answer III
cal truly, for your own life depends upon
rye thread. Do you know this stopper
oie do.
ia To whom does il belong
,ad To Mr. Smith.
10 When did you ste /, last
On the night of Mr., Thompson dea
for AT this moment the solicitor for the
y secution entered tho court, bringing W
OF him, upon tray, a watch, two MOI
I'M tags, a Jewel case, pocket-book, and
i've bottle OF the came manufacture as
mo. stopper, and having no cork in il SO
tbe other articles thore were in II not mattel
a of TO my story. The tray was placed vi
lice the table 10 sight Of the prisoner and
,slv ness, and from that moment not do
an remained in the mind of any man OF
Z guilt Of the prisoner.
van A few words will bring my tale t
mn. close. The house where the murder
nor been committed was between nine and
ion. miles distant. The solicitor, ms soon
und the cross-examinatiOn had discovered
- all a.