The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-08-04

/S\ connected with the following
very remarkable case:
In the year 1861. John smith, | US,
fictitious namesl was indicted for tn,
murder OF Henry Thompson. The cas-,
was extraordinary. and the interest ex
cited by II was almost unparalleled
The accused was a gentleman OF con
siderable property. residing upon his
own estate. A person. supposed 10 be
an entire stranger 10 him. had late In
a summers day requested aud obtain
ed shelter and hospitality for the night.
He had. IL was supposed. after taking
some light r~efreshment. retired to bed
in perfect health. requesting to be
called at an early hour. When the ser.
want entered the room for that pur.
pose. the stranger was found quite
dead. and obviously had been 50 for
many hours. There was not the slight.
est mark OF violence, and the coun-
tenance retained the expression Il had
had during life.
Days and weeks passed. and little
was discovered. but rumor had not
been Idle. Suspicious were first wills
pered. and afterwards boldly express
ed. The precise object OF them was
not clearly indicated. some duplicating
u person. and some another. but they
all pointed to the master OF the house
as concerned In the death OF the
stranger. and. In fine. the magistrates
were Induced to commit Mr.. Smith FOR
trial. As II vas deemed essential 10
keep secret the evidence before the
magistrates. all the information Of
which the public were In possession
was that which I have narrated. Such
was the state OF things upon the morn
ing OF the trial.
The counsel for the prosecution open
ed the case to the jury In a manner
that Indicated little expectation for
conviction. He began by lmplorine
hem to divest their minds OF all that
hey had heard before they came Into
he box; he entreated them to attend
the evidence. and judge from that
llonc.
II would be proved that the deceased
lied by poison-pOison OF the most sub
lie nature. active In operation and pos
the wonderful and dreadful
OF leaving no external mark
- which Its presence could be detect.
d. The ingredients Of II were 80 soda
i've that instead Of the body on which
/ had been used exhibiting any marks
4 suffering. IL left upon the features
but the calm and placid ap
OF repose.
The prisoners family consisted Of
My himself. a bousekeeper and one
1an servant The nan servant slept
] an clubhouse adjoining the stable.
nd did so on the night OF I1.ompson's
The prisoner slept at one
nd Of the house. the h~Ousekeeper at
be other. and the deceased had been
ut into a room adjoining the house
1t would be proved by a person pass
~ the house on the night in question.
bout three hours after midnight. that
2 had been Induced to remain and
atch. from having his attention ex- ;
ted by the moving Of a light about {
lie house at that late hour. The per. Z
m would state positively that he $
'uld distinctly see a figure. holding I
Ie light. go from the room I'm which
prisoner slept TO the housekeeper's
ON. that two persons then came out '
the housekeeper's room. and the q
disappeared for n minute. wheth- .
the two persons went into Thomp- I
room he could not see. az the win b
w Of that room looked another way; Z
It in about n minute they returned. h
IssIng quietly along the house to n
nitb's room again. and in about five n
the light was extingulshed, a
ii he saw II no more. "
Such was the evidence upon which I,
g magistrate had committed Smith: @
d slngularly enough, since his com
Ittal the housekeeper had disappear 81
, nor could any trace OF her be dis c,
M
the last week the person who a,
d seen the light had been more par. n
uIarly examined. and In order to re- o,
ssh his memory had been placed at in
rk In the very spot where he had d,
-od that night, and another person
. placed with him. The whole scene. a,
he had described 1t. was acted over b,