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

/ WINDOW, aim - IS large as the sur!HC
of the vii DIV i;sr!f, and which lie d,
sclibed 10y saying it appeared as ii
door had hecn placed before Il!
ll4h.
Now in Smiths room there W.
nothing which could account for hi
appearance; his bed was in t'ifI-ren
part, and there was neither cuphoar
Dor press in the room, which, hut 70
the bed. was entirely empty. tie rool
III which lie dressed being at dis,auc
LeyoLd.
He would state only one fact NOR
(said lie learned counsel), and, Lavin
zone hi. Guty, it would be COR the jur
To peri, I'm theirs.
Within a few days there had beef
found in tie prisoners house tn
stopper IF small bottle of yer,
singular appearance. 1t WIS described
by the medical mcn as being used b,
chemists TO preserve those liquids
which are most likely to lose their vir
tues by exposure to the air. To whom
it belonged. or to what use it had beer
applied, there was no evidence t.
| show.
Such was the address of the counsel
for the prosecution, and during its de
livery l had earnestly watched the
coHntenance of the prisoner, who had
listened, too, with deep attention.
Twice only did I perceive that it pro-
duced in him the slightest emotion.
When the disappearance Of the houee-
keeper was mentioned smile, as OF
scorn passed ever his lips, aad the no.
tice of the discovery OF the stopper
obviously excited Nm interest, and, /
thought, an apprehension, but it quick
ly subsi1ed. 1 need not detail the
evidence that was given for the prose-
cution; it amounted in substance to
that which tho counsel stated. nor vas
it varied in any particular. The stop
per was produced and proved to be
found in tho house, but no attempt was
made to trace it to the prisoners pos
session or even knowledge.
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 opinion they would at
once stop the case. Upon this observa
ton from the judge the jury turned
round for moment, and then intimated
their acquiescence in his honor's views
of the evidence. The counsel folded
up their briefs, and q verdict of ac-
qaittal was about to be taken. when the
prisoner 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 seconded so ably by his coun-
sci, that the Judge, though very much
against his inclination and contrary to
his usual habit, gave way and yielded
to the request.
The prisoner then addressed the Jury
and entreated their patience for o short
time. He repeated to them that he
never could be satisfied to be acquitted
merely because the evidence was not
conclusive, aud pledged himself in
very short time, by the few observations
he should make to obtain their verdict
upon much higher grounds-upon the
impossibility of his being guilty of the
awful crime.
OF the stopper which had been found
he disc wned all knowledge; declared
most solemnly inst he had never seen
it before it was produced in court, and,
he asked, could the fact of its being ia
his house only few days ago, when
hundreds of people had been there.
produce upon an impartial mind even a
moments pref 1dice against him? One
fact, and only one, had been proved, to
which it was possible for him to give
an answer-the fact of his having gone
to the bedroom 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 been 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
minute in the passage while she put on
her clothes, which would account for
the momentsry disappearance of the
light, and after she had remained in his
room for few minutes, finding himself
better, he had dismissed her, and re.
tired again to bed, from which he had
not risen when he was informed of the
death of his guest. 1t had been said
that, after his committal to prison, his
housekeeper had disappeared. He
aSowed that. finding his enemies de-
termined, if possible, to accomplish his
ruin, he had thought it probable that
they might tamper with his servant; he
had therefore kept her out of the way
but for what purpose? Not to pre-
vent her testimony being given, for she
was now under the care of his solicitor,
and would instantly appear for the pur-
pose OF confirming, as far as she was
concerned. the statement which he had
just made.
Such was the prisoners address,
which produced powerful effect. It
was delivered in firm and impressive
manner, and its simplicity and srtless-
ness gave it an appearance Of truth.
The housekeeper was then put in the
box and examined by the counsel Of
the prisoner. According to the custom
at that time, almost universal, of ex-
Guiding witnesses from the court until
their testimony was required, she had
been kept at house near at hand, and
had not heard q single word of the trial.
There was nothing remarkable in her
manner or appearance; she might be
abont thirty five or q little more, with
regular though not agreeable features,
and an air perfectly free from embar