Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-07-29
THE SECRET CLOSET.
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81 s a detective In England, l was
/3A connected with the following
very remarkable case:
In the year 1867, John Smith, use
fictitious names) was indicted for the
murder of Henry Thompson. The case
was extraordinary, and the interest ex-
cited by 1t was almost unparalleled
The accused was a gentleman of con-
siderable property residing upon his
own estate. A person. supposed to be
an entire stranger to him. had late in
Z summers day requested and obtain
ID shelter and hospitality for the night
He had, II was supposed. after taking
some light refreshment, retired TO bed
In perfect health, requesting to be
called at an early hour When the SER
pose. the stranger was found quite
dead, and obviously had been so for
many hours. There was not the slight
est mark of violence, and the coun-
tsnance retained the expression 1t had
had during life.
Days and weeks passed. and little
was discovered, but rumor had not
been Idle. Suspicious were first whis-
pered, aad afterwards boldly express
Cd. The precise object of them was
not clearly indicated. some duplicating
one person. and some another, but they
all pointed to the master of the house
ss concerned In the death of the
stranger, and. in fine, the magistrates
we're induced to commit Mr. Smith for
trial. AS 1t was deemed essential to
keep secret the evidence before the
magistrates, all the information of
which the public were in possession
was that which have narrated Such
was the state of things upon the morn
ing of the trial.
The counsel for the prosecution open
ID the case TO the jury In manner
chat indicated little expectation for
conviction. He began by imploring
them to divest their minds OF all that
they had heard before they came into
the box; he entreated them to attend
30 the evidence, and judge from that
alone.
1t would be proved that the deceased
Ced by poison-poison of the most sub
tie nature, active In operation and pos
sessing the wonderful and dreadful
quality OF leaving no external mark
by which Its presence could be detect
ID. The ingredients of 1t were so soda
tive that Instead of the body on which
1t had been used exhibiting any marks
Of suffering. 1t left upon the features
nothing but the calm and placid ap.
pearance of repose.
The prisoners family consisted of
only himself a housekeeper and one
man servant The man servant slept
In an clubhouse adjoining the stable,
and did 30 on the night of Thompson's
death. The prisoner slept at one
end of the house, the housekeeper at
the other, and the deceased had been
put into a room adjoining the house
keepers
1t would be proved by person pass.
ing 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 ex.
cited by the moving of a light about
the house at that late hour The per.
son would state positively that he
could distinctly see a figure, holding
the light so from the room IN which
the prisoner slept to the housekeeper',
room. that two persons then came out
of the housekeeper's room, and tht
light disappeared for minute. Wheth
sr the two persons went into Thomp
sons room he could not see, as the win
dow OF that room looked another way
but in about minute they returned
passing quietly along the house Il
Smiths room again. and in about i've
minutes the light was extingulshed
and he saw it DO more.
Such was the evidence upon which
the magistrate had committed Smith
and singularly enough, since his com
initial the housekeeper had disappear
ed, nor could any trace of her be dis
covered
Within the last week the person VIII,
had seen the light had been more par
dcularly examined. and in order to re
fresh his memory had been placed a
dark in the very spot where he ha,
stood that night. and another person
was placed with him. The whole scene
- he bad described 1t. was acted owe