A Unique Case.

305

she had not been in court, she could not sooner saw him than she shrieked and know how much or how little the inquiry fainted. The consequences of her answers flashed across her mind. She had been so had already brought to light; and by him self treating the matter as immaterial, he thoroughly deceived by the manner of the might lead her to consider it so also, and advocate, and by the little importance he by that means draw forth all that she knew. had seemed to attach to her statements, After some few unimportant questions, he that she had been led on by one question to asked her, in a tone and manner calculated another, till she had told him all he wanted rather to awaken confidence than to excite to know. A medical man was immediately directed to attend her; and during the in distrust : — "During the time you were in Mr. Smith's terval occasioned by this interruption to room, you stated that the candle stood on the proceedings, the solicitor for the prose the table, in the center of the room?" cution left the court. In a short time the gentleman who had attended the witness re — " Yes." "Was the closet, or cupboard, or what- turned into court, and stated that it was im ' ever you call it, opened onee or twiee while possible that she could at present resume her place in the box; and suggested that it it stood there? — A pause; no answer. "I will call it to your recollection; after would be much better to allow her to wait Mr. Smith had taken the medicine out of for an hour or two. It was now about the closet, did he shut the door, or did it twelve in the day; and Lord Mansfield, having directed that the jury should be ac remain open?" — "He shut it." commodated with a room where they could "Then it was opened again, for the pur pose of replacing the bottle, was it?" — "It be kept by themselves, adjourned the court for two hours. The prisoner was taken was." "Do you recollect how long it was open back to gaol, and the witness to an apart ment in the gaoler's house; and strict the last time?" — "Not above a minute." "The door, when open, would be exactly orders were given that she should be allowed between the light and the window, would it to communicate with no one, except in the presence and hearing of the physician. It not?" — " It would." "I forget whether you said the closet was was between four and five o'clock when the on the right or left hand side of the judge resumed his seat upon the bench, the prisoner his station at the bar, and the window." — "The left." "Would the door of the closet make any housekeeper hers in the witness-box; the court in the interval had remained crowded noise in opening?" — "None." "Can you speak positively to that fact? with the spectators, scarce one of whom Have you ever opened it yourself, or only had left his place, lest during his absence it seen Mr. Smith open it?" — "I never opened should be seized by some one else. it myself." The cross-examining counsel then ad "Did you never keep the key?" — dressed the witness — "I have very few "Never." more questions to ask of you; but beware "Who did?" — "Mr. Smith always." that you answer them truly, for your own At this moment the witness chanced to life hangs upon a thread. turn her eyes towards the spot where the "Do you know this stopper?" — "I do." prisoner stood, and the effect was almost "To whom does it belong5" — "To Mr. electrical. A cold damp sweat stood upon Smith." his brow, and his face had lost all its color; "When did you see it last?" — "On the he appeared a living image of death. She no night of Mr. Thomson's death."