Year: 1873

which was totally irreconcilable with
the appearance of the room when ex-
amined; and he had half persuaded
himself that there must be a secret
closet which had escaped the officers
of justice, the opening of which would
account for the appearance alluded to
and the existence of which might dis
cover the property which had so mys-
teriously disappeared.


His object, therefore, was to obtain
from the housekeeper (the only person
except the prisoner whocould give any
clue to this) such information as he
could get, without alarming her by any
direct inquiry on the subject, which as
she should not knoy how much or
how little the inquiry had brought to
light and by himself treating the mat
ter as immaterial he might lead her to
consider it also, and bythat means un-
suspectedly draw forth all she knew.
After some unimportant questions, he
asked her in tone and manner calcu-
lated rather to awaken confidence than
to excite distrust:


During the time you were in Mr..
Smiths room you stated that the can
die stood on the table in the centre of
the room?


Yes.


Was the closet, or cupboard, or what
ever you call it, opened once or twice
while it stood there?


A pause; no answer.


I will call it to your recollection
After Nh. Smith had taken the medi-
cine out of the closet did he shut the
door, or did it remain open?


He shut it.


Then it was opened again for the
purpose of replacing the bottle, was it?


It was.


Do you recollect how long it was
open the last time?


Not above minutes


The door, when open, would be ex-
actly between the light and the win
dow would it not?


It would.


| forgot whether yoa said the closet
was on the righto or eefp 1ffaifdi' side of
the window?


The left.


Would the door of the closet make
any noise in opening it?


None.


Can you speak positively to the fact.
Have you ever opened it yourself, or
seen Smith open it?


I never opened it myself.


Did you ever keep the keys?


Never.


Who did?


Mr.. Smith, always.


At this moment the witness chanced
to turn her eyes toward the spot where
The prisoner stood, and the effect was
almost electrical. A cold, damp sweat
stood upon his brow; his face had lost
all it's color. She no sooner saw him
than she shrieked and tainted. The
of her answers flashed |
across her mind.


She had been so thoroughly deceived
BY the manner of the advocate, and by
5he little Importance he seemed to at
5ach to her statement, that she had
oeen led on by one question to another,
ill she had told him all that he want
ID to know.


During the interval (occasioned by
Ter illness) as to the proceeding, the
solicitor left the court. It was between
[ and o'clock when the Judge resum-
ID his seat upon the bench, the prison
II his station at the bar, and the house
keeper hers in the witness box; the
court in the interval had remained
crowded with spectators, scarce one of
whom had left his place, lest, during
lis absence, it should be seized by some
me else.


The cross-examining counsel then
addressed the witness:


I have a very few more questions to
ssk of you, but beware that you an
'wer them truly, for your own life de-
oends upon a thread. DO you know
his stopper?


do.


To whom does it belong?


To Mr.. Smith.


When did you see it last?


On the night of Mr.. Thompson's
leath.


At this moment the solicitor for the
entered the court, bring
ng with him, upon tray, watch,
jwo money bags, a jewel case, a pocket
book, and bottle of the same manu-
'acture as the stopper, and having no
cork in it: and some other articles