Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-04-15
The Secret Closet.
A DETECTIVES STORY.

The Secret Closet.
A DETECTIVES STORY.
"For murder, though it have nc
tongue, will speak with most miracu
lous organ.'
In the year 49,, John Smith II use
fictitious names) was indicted for the
vilful murder Of Henry Thompson
The case was one of q most extraordi
nary nature, and the interest excited by
it was almost unparalleled. The ac-
cused was gentleman of considerable
property, residing upon his estate. A
person, supposed to be an entire
stranger to him, had late in q summers
sy requested and obtained shelter and
ospitality for the night. He had, i,
was supposed, after taking some light
refreshment, retired to bed in perfect
health, requesting to be awakened at
an early hour the following morning.
When the servant appointed to call him
entered the room for that purpose he
was found in his room perfectly dead
and from the appearance of the body it
was obvious that he had been so for
many, hours. There. was not the slight
est mark of violence upon his person,
and the countenance retained the same
expression it had done during life.
Days aud weeks passed on, and little
further was discovered. In the mean.
time runner had not been idle. Sus
picions we're vague indeed, and unde-
fined, and were at first whispered and
afterwards boldly expressed. The pre-
else object of these suspicious was not
clearly indicated; some implicated one
person and some another, but they all
pointed to Smith, the master of the
house, as concerned in the death of the
stranger, and, in fine, tho magistrates
were induced to commit Mr.. Smith to
Jail to await his trial for the wilful
murder OF Henry Thompson. As it was
deemed essential to the attainment OF
Justice to keep secret the examination
of the Witnesses before the magistrates,
all the information OF which the public
were in possession before the trial
took place wss that which I have mar
rated. Such was the state of things
upon the morning of the trial.
The counsel for the prosecution
opened this case to the jury in man
ner that indicated very little expecta-
tion of O conviction. He began by i'm
ploring them to divest their minds OF
all that they had heard before they
came into the box; he entreated them
to attend to the evidence, and Judge
from that l,ne.
Il wonld he proved beyond the posi-
bility OF u doubt thar the deceased died
by poison--poison OF o most subtle
nature, most active in its operation and
possessing the wonderful and dreadful
quality of leaving no external mark by
which its presence could be detected.
The ingredients of which it was COM
posed were Of SO sedative nature that
instead of the body on which it bad
been used exhibiting any contortions
or marks OF suffering, it left upon the
features nothing but the calm and placid
appearance Of repose.
The prisoners family consisted only
of himself, honsekeeper and one man
servant. The man servant slept in an
clubhouse adjoining the stable. and did
go on the night of Thompson's death.
The prisoner slept at one end of the
house and the housekeeper at the other
and the deceased had been put into a
room adjoining the housekeeper's.
It would be proved by person who
happened to be passing by the house
on the night in question. about three
hours after midnight, that he had been
induced to remain and watch from
having his attention excited by the cir
cumstance, then very unusual, of a
light moving about the house at that
ate hour. Theperson would state most
positively that he could distinctly sec q
figure. holding q light, 60 from the
room in which the prisoner slept to the
housekeeper's room, that two per-
sons then came out of the house
keepers room and the light dis
appeared for q minute. Whether the
two persons went into Thompson's room
he could not see, as the window of that
room looked another way; bat in about
q minute they returned, passing quiet.
" along the house to Smiths room
again, and in about five minutes the
light was extinguished and he saw it no
more.
Such was the evidence upon which
the magistrate had committed Smith
and singular enough, since his commit
tai the housekeeper had disappeared.
nor could any trace OF ner be dis
covered.
Within the last week the witness VINO
saw the light had been more particular
~ examined, and in order to refresh his
memory had been placed at dark in the
very spot where he had stood that
night. and another person was placed
with him. The whole scene, as he had
described it. was acted over again, but
it was utterly impossible, from the
cause above mentioned, to assert when
the light disappeared, whether the
parties had gone into Thompson's
room. AS it. however, to throw still
deeper mystery over this extraordinary
transaction, the witness persisted in add
ing new feature to his former state
ment, that after the persons returned
with the light into Smiths room, and
befo it was extinguished, he had