Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-15
CIRCUMSTANTIAL
. EVIDENCE .
It Was All Right In
Theory. but Didn't Work In Practice

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Two sailors, johnson and Marft, met
at Portsmouth. England, for the first
timc in many years. They had formerly
smiled together and were great friends.
johnson, who had recently been paid OFT
after long ocean voyage, had in his
possession a considerable sum of money
In n leather bag. They went together
to an inn In Portsmouth. near the wa
ter. much frcqucntcd by seafaring men.
The room which they occupied opened
on gallery at the side of the building,
reached by an alley leading from tho
street. When they retired for the night,
they were sober, though they had drunk
glass or two OF grog just before.
The next morning when the potboy
went to call them he saw spots of blood
on the stairs and by the door leading
from the alley 10 the gallery. and. being
alarmed. turned back and informed the
landlord. The landlord, who was II eau.
tio'is man. sent for constable, and the
two went to the ro0ri occupied by the
two sailors. The spots of blood were dis
tinctiy visible. On trying the door they
found 1t open and entered the room
There were more spots of blood upon
the floor. Tho hand basin was half full
OF bloody wntcr. md on the wnshstnnd
Icy large knife such MS sailors carried,
which was stained with blood. Turning
TO the bed. they saw blood on the pill
lows and .ho sheets. mad only one OF the
sailors In bed. He was fast asleep. or, us
they supposed. pretended 10 lie. and
they had some difficulty In arousing him.
FINALLY he started up mad, AZ he gazed
around. manifested signs Of alarm.
What have you done with your
mntcY the landlord asked.
why, isn't he here" the man nsked.
Get up and dress" said the constable.
You're my prisoner"
The man seemed perfectly astounlcd,
and began n rambling. incolcrent story.
Better not talk" the landlord said.
"ltll be tinic enough when you go be-
fore the justice to answer n charge OF
murder"
Where's Johnson?' the man (who was
MariD asked, still apparently confused
aud alarmed.
"iou know best" was the answer.
Mariit arose and dressed. protesting
all the time and talking wildly md unin.
telligibly. The constable searched the
bed. Under the pillow on which Mar.
fits head had rested was a leather bag
containing money. Tho landlord identi.
fed the bag. having seen 1t In Johnson's
possession. Mnrtt was subsequently held
and indicted for the murder OF Johnson
He admitted that the bloody knife was
his and made statement of very rc.
marlsnble nature which was not credited
either by the magistrate who committed
him or the judge and jury before whom
he was tried. He was convicted and
hanged, protesting his innocence to the
last. This was the account which Mnr-
tit gave, coi0d from the ancient record
almost verbatim;
81 got into bed first and lny next to
the wall. Just before johnson lay down
he said:
'Malit, 1 don't fancy this window
here without catch to II. Somebody
might get into the room and rob us.
Take my bag and put II under your pill
low. for thief would then have to rench
over mo to get Mt 1t, and that might
awaken me-
"IIc handed me the bng, and l put
1t under my pillow. fell asleep and
was aroused by johnson getting out of
bed. ] said. What's upT and he said,
My nose IL bleeding and can't stop
IT,
"'Try cold water l snid. md I heard
him soon nfter splnshing the water.
After time he said:
"'It won't stop. It's bleeding as bad
as ever
"Take my knlfe-it's on the chair
and put tho cold blade ON the back OF
your neck. They sny thnt'll stop nose
bleed sometimes
SIN n minute or two he said: It's no
use. The bleeding won't stop
Then | heard him dressing, and 1
asked him what he was going to do.
"I'm going TO take walk In the cool
air. he said, Perhaps that may stop It,
""rhots u good idea. snid. Go
down on the pier where you'll catch the
breeze
Then heard him 80 out, and that is
all ! know about It,"
The theory OF the prosecution was that
MarGt Ind stabbed johnson In his sleep
aud carried the body In the dead of night
down 10 tho pier and thrown it into the
water ard that the tide had carried It out
to sea Drops OF blood were found at
Intervals along the alley TO the street,
nnA lGol; silk handkerchief, such ms
sailors then wore. all bloody aud torn,
was found on the pier near steps leading
10 n bont landing.
The sequel Of this came to light more
than year after thu last sentence OF the
law was executed on Marit. England
NJ the time was engaged In foreign
war. nad one day Johnson, alive aud
hearty, landed from frignts which had
jrgt anchored on Portsmouth. Tho frat
place ho went 10 was the inn at which
hc nnd hip friend had stopped ns already
narrated. Inquiry disclosed the trcsd-
ful fate OF MarHt, whoat story, johnson
nvowed. wNs true IN every particular.