South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-07-01
Romney, Hampshire County West Va, July 1, 1881.

10y saying it appeared rs if door had
been placed before the light.
! Now, in Smiths room there was
nothing which could account for this
appearance. Ills bedwas In a differ
eut part, and there was neither cup,
board nor press in the room, which,
but for the bed, was entirely empty.
the room in which he dressed being
at n distance beyond.
He wonld state only one fact more.
(said the learned COUNSEL and having
done his duty, it would be for the
jury to perform theirs.
Within few days there had been
found in the prisoners house the Stop
per Ola small bottle, of very singular
appearance it was apparently of for
elgn manufacture, and was described
by The medical men rs being used by
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 been
spelled, there was no evidence to
show.
Such was the address OF the counsel
for the prosecution and during its
delivery | had earnestly watched the
) countcnance of the prisoner, who had
listened, too, with deep attention.
Twice only did | perceive that it pro-
duced in him the slightest emotion.
, When the disappearance Of the house.
J keeper was mentioned a smile, as of
scorn, passed over his lips, aud the
notice OF tue discovery Of the stopper
obviously excited IN interest, and, |
thought, an apprehension, but itquick-
~ subsidized. | need not detail the
evidence that was given for the pros
ccutlon it amounted in substance TO
that which the counsel stated, nor was
1t varied in any particular. The stop
} per was produced and proved to have
, been found III the house; but no ut
tempt WAS made TO trace it to the pri5-
, oner's possession or even knowledge.
When the case WIS closed the learn.
ed Judge, addressing the counsel for
, the prosecution, said he thought there
was hardly sufficient evidence to call
upon the prisoner for his defense. and
II the jury were OF that opinion they
would ut once stop the case. Upon
: this observation from the Judge, the
, jury turned around for moment. and
then intlmated 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, Wien the prisoner adj
dressed the court. He urged the
t court 10 permit him TO state his case
to the jury and to call his housekcep-
or, with SO much earnestncss, and was
seconded so ably by his counsel, that
the learned judge, though very much
| against his inclination and contrary
. to his usual habit, gave way and yield
cd to the request.
The prisoner then addressed the
t jury and eltreatcl their patience for
, II short time. lie repeated to them
that he never could feel satisfied to be
acquitted merely because the evidence
, was not conclusive, and pledged him
t self III very short time, by n few
observations he should make, to OBJ
, tain their verdict upon much higher
| ground-upon the impossibiIty of his
beng guilty of the awful crime.
OF the stopper which had been
: found he disclaimed all knowledge :;
declared most solemnly that he had
never seen it before it was produced
in court :. and, he asked could the
fact of it being in his house only a
, few days ago, when hundreds OF pco-
! pie had been there, produce upon an
: impartial mind even q momentary
prejudice against him? One fact.
and only one, had been proved, TO
| which it was possible to give an an
swcr-the fact of his having gone to
, the room of his housekeepcr on the
: night in question.
lie had beer subject for many years
? ofhls life to sudden fits of illness, he had
b been seized with one on that occasion.
, and had gone to his housekccpcr TO
procure her assistance in lighting a
I fire. She had returned with him to
bis room for that purpose, he having
, waited for minute in the passage
, while she put on her clothes. which
, would account rthc mOmcntary dis
, appearance of the light; and after he
bad returned with her ID his room for
a few minutes he felt much better. he
had dismissed her and retired again
to- bed, from which ne had not arisen
when he was informed ofthc death of
his guest. It had been said that after
his committal to prison, his house,
. keeper had disappeared lie avowcd
} that, finding his enemies determined
if possible to accomplish his ruin. he
bad thought it probable that they
might tamper with Ills 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 So