The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-03-23


Now, In Smiths room there was moth
ing which could account for this appear
ance: his bed was in u different part,
and their was neither cupboard nor press
In the room, which, but for the bed was
entirely empty, the room In which he
dressed being at distance beyond.
He could say only one fact more-sald
the learned counsel-and having done
this duty, 1t would be for the jury to
perform theirs.
Within few days there had been
found In the prisoners house the stopper
of a small bottle of very singular APP
pearance. 1t was apparently of foreign
manufacture, and was described by the
medical men as being used by chemists
to preserve those liquids which are most
likely to lose their virtues by exposure
to the air. To whom it belonged, or to
what use it had been applied, there was
no evidence to show.
Such was the address of the counsel
for the prosecution, and during its de-
livery l had earnestly watched the coun-
tenance of the prisoner, who had lis
tened, too, with deep attention. Twice
only did 1 perceive that it produced in
him the slightest emotion. When the
disappearance of the housekeeper was
mentioned, smile, as of scorn, passed
over his lips, and the notice of the dis
covery of the stopper obviously excited
an interest, and, thought, an appre-
hension, but it quickly subsidized. l need
not detail the evidence that was given
for the prosecution; it amounted in
substance to that which the counsel sta
ted, nor was it varied in any particular.
The stopper was produced and proved to
have been found in the house ; but no
attempt was made to trace 1t to the
prisoners POSSESSION or even knowl-
edge.
When the case was closed the learned
Judge, addressing the counsel for the
prosecution, said he thought there was
hardly sufficient evidence to call upon
the prisoner for his defense and if the
| jury were of his opinion, they would at
once stop the case. Upon this observa-
ton from the judge, the jury turned
round for momentand intimated their
acquiescence in his Honor's views of
| the evidence. The counsel folded up
| their briefs, and verdict of acquittal
was about to be taken, when the prison
er addressed the court. He urged the
court to permit him to state his case to
the jury and to call his housekeeper,
| with so much earnestness and was Sec
onded SO ably by his counsel that the
learned judge, though very much against
| his inclination, and contrary to his u.s.
ual habit, gave way, and yielded to the
request.
The prisoner then addressed the jury,
and entreated their patience for II short
time.
He repeated to them that he never
could feel satisfied to be acquitted mere
ly because the evidence was not conclu-
sive, and pledged himself in very
short time, by the few observations he
should make, to obtain their verdict up
on higher grounds-upon the impossi-
bility of his being guilty of the awful
crime.
OF the stopper which had been found
he disowned all knowledge declared
most solomnly that he had never seen it
before it was produced in court /; and he
asked, could the fact of its being in his
house only a few days ago, when hun
1rodc nf, ,Naa,,1a had hao,,
upon an impartial mind even moment
airy prejudice against him ? One fact,
and only one, has been proven to which
it was possible for him to give answer
| the fact of his having gone to the bed
room of his housekeeper on the night
in question.
He had been subject for many years Of
his life to sudden fits of illness he
had Deen seized with one on that occa-
sion, and had gone to her to procure
her assistance in lighting fire. She
had returned with him to his room for
that purpose, he having waited for a
minute in the passage while she put on
her clothes, which would account for
the momentary disappearance of the
light; and after she had remained in his
room for few minutes, finding HIM
self better, he had dismissed her and re-
tired to bed, from which he had risen
when he was informed of the death of
his guest
1t had been said that after his COM
initial to prison his housekeeper had
disappeared. He avowed that, finding
his enemies determined If possible to ac-
complish his ruin, he had thought 1t