Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-04-15

"Was tho closet, or cupboard, OF
whatever you call it, opened once OF
twice while it stood there p
A pause; no answer.
- will call it to your recollection
After Mr.. Smith had taken the meii-
cine ont of the closet, did he shut the
door. OR did it remain open?'
He shut it,
Then it was opened again for the
purpose of replacing the bottle, was
It?'
ut was."
do you recollect how long it vas
open the last time p
OF above minute"
| "The door when open would be ex-
actly between the light and the window
would it not ?"
/" 1t would
q forgot whether you said the
closet was on the right or left hand side
of the window"
" The left"
"Would the door of the closet make
any noise in opening it?''
"None."
Can you speak positively to the
fact? Have you ever opened it your
self. or seen Smith open it?"
81 never opened it myself"
did you ever keep the keys?
"Never."
"Who did?"
"Nr. Smith, always"
At this moment the witness cllancad
to turn her eyes toward the spot where
the prisoner stood, and the effect was
almost electrical. A cold damp sweat
stood upon his brow; his face had lost
all its color. She no sooner saw him
than she shrieked and tainted. The
consequences of her answers flashed
across her mind.
She had been SO thoroughly deceived
by the manner of the advocate, and by
the little importance he seemed to at
tach to her statements, that she had
been led on by one question to another
till she had told him all he wanted to
know.
During the interval (occasioned by
her lllness) as to the proceedings the
solicitor left the court. It was between
four and five o'clock when the Judge
resumed his seat upon the bench, the
prisoner, his station at the bar, and the
housekeeper's hers in the witness box
Tho court in the interval had rem aimed
crowded with spectators, scarce Que of
whom had left his place, lest during
his absence it should be seized by some
one else.
The cross-examining counsel then ad-
dressed the witness:
81 have very few more questions
to ask you, but beware that you answer
them truly, for your own life depends
upon a thread. Do you know this
stopper?'
II do"
"ro 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 a tray, watch, two
money-bags, jewel-case, O pocket
book, and a bottle of the same manu-
facture of the stopper, and having no
cork in it: The tray was placed upon
the table in sight of the prisoner and
witness, and from that moment no. a
doubt remained in the mind of any man
Of the guilt of the prisoner.
A few words will bring my tale to a
close. The house where the murder
had been committed was between nine
and ten miles distant. The solicitor,
as soon AS the cross examination had
discovered the existence of the closet
and its situation, had set off on horse.
back with two sheriff's officers, and
after pulling down part OF the wall Of
the house. detected the place Of con-
cealment.
The search was we'll 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 dis
covered, which the medical man in
stantly pronounced to contain the very
identical POISON which had caused the
death of the unfortunate Thompson.
The result is too obvious to need ex-
PLANTATION.
The case presents, perhaps, the un-
paralleled instance OF mau acensed OF
muir Ter showing such defense as to in
duco the judge and jury go concnr in n
verdict OF acqai tai. but gho persisted
i'll calling ). witness to make his limo
cence more emphatic, and was upon the
testimony Of that very witness convicted
and executed.