Middletown transcript., 1876-05-27

Some show the errors into which justie
may fall in following the path indicate
by this kind of proof; others demon
strate the overwhelming force wit
which single thread of circumstanti.
evidence sometimes crushes an accuse
person otherwise shielded, by his ow
running or by fortunate accidents, fror
the detection Of his deed Of the forme
sort was case of mistaken identit
which occurred many years ago j
Paris. 1t may be here said that th
failures of justice have often resulte
from fatal mistake in persons. An oil
woman kept small shop in square O
the left side of the Seine. 1t was gen
orally thought that she had hoarde'
considerable money in the course Of be
trade. She lived in a room back of th
shop. quite alone; but she employed
boy, who lived in the fourth story o
the building where the shop was. Thi
boy kept the shop, which he regularl.
locked every night One morning th'
shop door was observed to be open be
fore the customary hour
The curious neighbors peered in
seeing nobody stirring, they finally
penetrated to the old woman's bedroom
There they found her lying dead in bel
bed. She had been stabbed severa
times, and bloody knife lay on the
floor in the shop. This knife. it was
easily proved, belonged to the hired
boy Not only that, but in one of the
dead woman's hand was elapsed lock
Of hair and in the other necktie. The
necktie was also fully proved to belong
to the boy the hair, as far as could be
judged, was exactly like his. 1t was
found, moreover. that the front door
had not been broken open. but quietly
unlocked Now the boy, and he alone
as far as anybody knew, had key that
fitted the lock. He suffered the penalty
Of death Not long after boy who
was employed in a neighboring shop
fell ILL., Being told that he was on his
death bed, be declared that he murdered
the woman for her money. He had been
in the habit of dressing the hair Of the
boy who was executed had collected
locks of it as be had an opportunity !;
had put the hair and the cravat into the
dead woman's hands; had taken wax
Of the lock, and thus pro-
cured another key; and, having got
possession of the other boys knife. had
with it inflicted the fatal wounds.
In this case there seems, indeed, to
have been a complete chain of circum-
stantial evidence, sufficient to indentify
the hired boy as the assassin. Motive
was present in the boys supposition
that bis mistress had boarded money.
Opportunity was present in the fact
that he held the key Of the shop. An
belonging to him, which had
undoubtedly been used for the crime
was at hand. Yet justice was deluded,
and the innocent suffered.
A very singular case of judicial
error, in which there was fabrication
If evidence similar to that just de-
occurred in England about a
century ago. 1t was in the romantic
out dangerous days of masked high
waymen, when many moor and heath,
md even many high road leading
rom English towns, was infested by
hese marauding gentry A gentleman
vas travelling to Hull. Within few
niles of the town he was stopped by
nan in a mask, and politely but firmly
deprived Of bag of twenty guineas
which be was carrying with him. Re-
'civing no other injury from the en-
counter, be proceeded on his way, and
n due time safely reached cosy inn
outside of the town. He loitered in
be kitchen while his supper was being
and there related to group
f curious listeners the story of his ad-
enture, adding that he had, for pre-
aution's sake, takenaeare to put upon
ach- guinea peculiar mark Supper
vas soon ready, and he sat down to it
nth a relish. While he was satisfying
lis hunger. the landlord came into the
lining room, and begun to make rather
ager inquiries about the robbery. On
earning the facts, and especially that
he guineas were marked, the landlord
t once declared that be could give
lew to the robber. II have a waiter,
ne John Jennings" said he, "who
as latterly been very flush of money
nd recklessly extravagant in his ex-
enditures This evening about dusk
sent him out to change guinea for
,e He has only just returned and
ays he could not get it changed. On
eturning me the guinea I observed
nth surprise a mark upon it which was
OF upon that which. I entrusted him.
should have thought no more of it,
owever, had l not been told of the cir
umstances Of your robbery and your
,arked guinea pieces. Unluckily,
efore hearing of it, paid away the
uinea to a man who lives at a dis
ance."
The landlord had sent Jennings, who
as drunk, off to bed 1t was now
greed between him and his guest that
ne mans room should be searched -
n his pocket was found purse with
xactly nineteen guineas, which the
uest recognized as those of which he
ad been robbed. Jennings was, Of
purse, arrested and accused of the
rime Denial was useless; every fact
tied to the charge against him. Tried
the assizes. the jury found him
uilty without leaving their seats, and
e was executed.
Yet Jennings was as innocent of the
,bbcry as a babe. A year had not
apsed before the landlord was arrested
r a robbery committed on guest at
le inn. The proof in this case, at
asst, was too clear for doubt. The
ndlord was convicted and sentenced.
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