Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-03-10

against lilli' Ohe ihct, hiid only one
had been proved, to which II was prob
able Tor him 10 give an answer-the
tact OF having gone TO tho bedroom
Of his housekeeper on tho night IL
question,
IIo had been subject for many year,
Of his life to sudden fits Of Illness hC
had been seized with one on that oc-
casion, and had gone 10 hertoproeurC
her assistance in lighting q fire. She
had returned with him to his room
for that purpose, he having waited for
q few minutes in the passage while
she put on her clothes, which would
account fer the momcntary disappear
apce Of tho light aud after she had
remained IN his room n few minutes,
finding himself better. he had dismiss
cd her aud retired again TO bed, from
which ho had not risen when ho was
Informed Of the death Of his guest,
II had been said that after his commit.
tai 10 prison, his housckecper had
disappeared. lie avowcd that finding
his enemies determined, II possible,
to accomplish his ,uin, he had thought
IT probable that they might tampcr
with his servant /; he had therefore
kept her out Of the way but for what
purpose 7 Not to prevent her tcs'
tlmopy being gwen, for she was now
under tho care OF his solicitor, and
would instantly appear for the cpurposc
OF confirming M far asshc was con-
cerned, tho statement he had made.
Such was the prisoners address,
which produced a powerful effect. 1t
was delivered in firm and Impressive
manner, and its simplicity aud ar'lcss-
ness gave it an appearance OF truth
The housekeeper was then put IN the
box and examined BY the counsel for
the prisoner. According to the custom
at that time, almost universal, Of cx-
cluding witnesses from court until
their testimony was required, she had
been kept at house near at hand, and
had not heard n single word OF tho
trial. There was nothing remarkable
in her maner or appearance, she might
be 35 or n little more, with regular,
but not agreeable features, and IN air
perfectly free from embarrassment.
She repeated almost in the prison.
er's own words, the story he had told
of her having accompanied him to
to bis room, adding that after leaving
him she had retired to her own room
and had been awakened by the man
servant in the morning with an ac-
count of the travellers death.
She had now to undergo cross
examination; and may as well state
here, which, though hot known TO me
until afterwards, will assist the reader
IN understanding the following scene {:
The counsel for the prosecution had
10 his own mind attached considerable
Importance to the circumstance men-
toned by the witness who saw the
light, that while the prisoner and
housekeeper were IN the room of the
former, something like door had in.
tervened between the window and the
candle, which was totally lrreconcil-
able with the appearance of the room
when examined ; and he had half per-
suaded himself that there must be a
secret closet which had escaped the
officers of justice, the opening (which
would account for the appearance al
luded to, and the existance of which
might discover the property which
so mysteriously vanished.
His object, therefore was to obtain
from the housekeeper (the only person
except the prisoner who could give
any clue to this) such information as
he could get, without alarming her by
any direct inquiry on the subject which
as she should not know how much or
how little the inquiry had brought to
light, and by himself treating the
matter as immaterial, he might lead
her to consider it in the same light
and by this means draw forth all she
knew. After some unimportant ques.
tious, he asked her in tone and man
ner calculated rather to awaken con.
fidence than excite distrust.
During the time you were in Mr..
Smiths room you stated that the can
die stood on the table in the center of
room ?"
eyes"
"Was the closet, or cupboard, or
whatever you may call it, opened once
or twice while it stood there =
A panse, no answer.
81 will recall your recollection. At