Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-08-25
Circumstantial Evidence.

Circumstantial Evidence.
In the year 1893 young man who was
serving his apprenticeship in London to a
master sail-makcr, got leave to visit his
mother to spend the Christmas holidays.
She lived u few miles beyond Deal, 10 Kent
He walked the journey. On his arrival at
Deal, in the evening, being much fatigucd,
and also troubled with bowel complaint, he
applied to the landlady of public house
who was acquainted with his mother, for a
nights lodging. Hor house was full and
every bed occupied, but she told him that
If he would sleep with her uncle, who had
lately come ashore aud was boatswain of an
Indianman, he should be welcome. Ho
was glad to accept the offer; and after
spending tho evening with his new comradc
they retired to rest.
In tho middle Of tho night he was at
tackled with his complaint, and wakeping
his bcdfcllow ho asked him tho way to the
privy.
The boatswain told him to 60 through
to open tho door in tho yard, tho latch
being out of order, he desired him to take
knife out of his pocket with which he
could raise the latch.
Tho young man did as he was directed
and after staying half on hour 10 tho yard,
returned to bed, but was much surprised to
find his companion had risen aud gone.
Being impatient to visit his mother and
friends, he also arose before day and pur.
sued his journey and arrived at home at
noon. The lady, who had been told of his
Intention to depart carly, was not surprised;
but not seeing her uncle she went to call
him.
She was dreadfully shocked to ind tn Q
bed stained with blood aud every inquiry
after her unolc was in vain.
The alarm now become general, and on
further examination marks Of blood we're
traced from tho bedroom into tho street,
and at intervals down to tho pier head.
Rumor was Immediately busy and suspicion
fell of course upon the young man who
slept with him, that ho had committed
the murder and thrown the body into tho
sea.
A warrant was issued and ho was taken
that evening at his mothers house.
On being examined and searched, marks
Of blood were discovered on his shirt and
trowsers and in his pockets was knife and
remarkable silver coin, both Of whioh the
landlady swore positively were tho unclo's
property, and that she saw them in his
possession on the evening he retired to rest
with tho young man. On these strong cir
cumstances tho unfortunate youth was
found guilty.
He related all the above circumstances
in his defence, but as he could not account
for the marks Of blood on his person un-
less he got them when he returned to bed,
nor could ho account for tho silver coin
being in his possession, his story was not
credited.
Tho certainty of tho boatswain's disap
appearance; tho blood at the pier, traced
from his bedroom, were too evident signs
of his being murdcred; and even the judge
was SO convinced OF his guilt, that he
ordered the execution to take place in three
days.
At the fetal treo the youth declared his
innocence, and persisted iu it with such af.
footing reservations that many pittied him,
though mono doubted tho jdstness of. his
sentence.
The executioners Of those days wcro not
80 expert at their trade as modern ones, nor
were props and platforms invented. The
young man was very tall, his feet souIc.
times touched the ground, and some Of his
friends who surrounded the gallows con-
trived to give the body somo support as it
was suspended. After being cut down
those friends bore it speedily away in q
coffin, and in the course of few hours
animation was restored and tho innocent
saved. When ho was able to movc, his
friends insisted on his leaving tho country
and never returning. Ho accordingly
travelled by night to Portsmouth and en-
tered on board man-ofwar, on tho point
Of sailing to distant part Of the world; ond
as bo changed his name and disguised his
person his very melancholy history was
never discovered.
After few years Of service, during
which his exemplary conduct was the cause
of his promotion through the lower grades
he was at last made masters mate and his
ship bong paid off in tho West Indies, he
with few moro Of the Grew were trans.
fcrrcd to another man.of-war, which had
just arrived, short of hands from q differ
ent station. What wore his feelings oi
astonishmentssa and then of delight and &C.
stacy, when almost the first person he saw
on board his new ship was the identical
boatswain for whose murder ho had been
tried, condemned and executed five years
beforo
Nor was the surprise Of the old boat.
swain much less whom he heard tho story
AN explanation of oil the mysterious cir
cumstances then took plaoo.
Il oppearod TINT fho hoatnyvain had hoor