Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-04-15

Ing ne lat'ef express SOh't ilV''NS' 'F.''Ao
bout the disappearance OF Seyas and bis PROB
able fale.' This was all liz knew
The las, witness, Claude Maurice, was cal.
led AS he stood upon the stand, he turned
partly round, and fixed his eyes for momen,
with peculiar mranng, on the prisoner. The
latter, as he encountered their significant ex-
preston, was observed TO turn very pale, and a
Slight though visible tremor passed over his
iaee."For The love Of mercy, if no, for the fear
Of Goa he said, in voice quive'inE with
such excess Of emotion as 10 betray conscious
presage Of the nature Ct the YET unut!ered tes-
timony, "destroy not an innocent man and his
unfortunate family, let not the soul perish: that
a di abulica! passion may triumph" "Silence!'
said the Judge, whose notions Of decorum were
shocked al the improperly Of this appeal, "be
you in such terror ofjustice, that you call upon
the syinpathes Of your accLsers?
"lf am bartering my soul as the price Of
vengeance" said Claude calmly, laying a
slight emphasis on the last word, "that Is my
business, not yours
600 ON, 90 on" exclaimed NJ. Rave impa>
lientIy. $40 you think 81, here TO listen 10
your di4Ioeues?"
A little after night>fAll, or the 10Th Of Feb
ruary, Maui ice began, he was in the klln-room,
where he usually worked, when his master, the
prisoner, came hurricdly in. He seemed rests
less and disturbed, bu, supposing the excite.
ment against Scvos had not yet subsidized, wit
ness wa, retiring, when he was struck with the
unusual disorder in his masters dress. Look
ing at him more atlentively, he saw spots of
blood upon his clothes The prisoner seemed
uneasy under his scrutiny, FOR he asked me
barshly, said Maurice, if had ever seen him,
bcfurc' Witness left the room Immediately
for that in which he slept, but the unpleasant
impression produced by The singular conduct
Of the prisonfr, together with vague & unde>
Unable apprehension, kept him awake. 1t was
after midnight, when he thought he heard q
step in the kiln room, and rising softly looked
through the crack in the door, where he saw
sight that fixed him to Tie spot with terror. a
man had lain upon the ground dead body, for
it neither stirred nor could he hear ii brcathe,S
then came cautiously tothe door Of Claude's
room The latter hid behind it, and his mas
ter pushed it half way op,n who appearing
to listen very at,entively an Instant retired
apparently satisfied with his examination. The
kiln was burning preparatory 10 putting in tho
Plates The prisoner took up the dead body,
and with some fort, thrus, it into the blazing
furnace.
Gan exclamation Dfhorror escaped me, said
Claude, "and in an instant before / had
time 10 fly, or even 10 think, the prisoner he'd
a long bladed knfr nr poinard, for in my fright
| | could not tell which, close 20 my breas'.
"Execrab!c spyn' he said "you have pried
into the las, secrat excep' one, you shall ever
know. IT yoa have prayer, say it quickly, for
you hall bear yonder miserable TOOL company,
whose fate you have taken such pains to wit.
ness"
The witness fl upon his knees, begging his
life, protesting the secre, should never pass
his lips, and forgetting his prudence in the
- --~--,;.... al 10 ..... l--.-'-'SH q cruz u
Of the favor he bad done Cape when the latter
was examined after the death of Antoine Du.
2lcx. in conccaling himself, tha, his master
should not be prciudiced by his testimony
If he persisted in his purpose, he would be
made account able, for he was already suspect
ed.
Whether he relentpd from motives Of CONS
passion or policy, or from the computations
horror Of double murder, witness did not
know The prisoner told him 10 rise, and
com pclling him to take The most horrid aud un-
natural oaths TO secure his silence, lief, him
with menace, that if he knew how TO pardon,
he knew also, how 10 avenge.
"rhe weight Of This horrible secret, my
Lord" continued Claude, "became an intolcra-
bic burlien. started at my own shadow.
was wasting away with lcverish anxiety,
and had half resolved 10 make confession 10 a
magistrate, when Antoine De Lorme came
few days sine TO the kiln and by his questions
relative TO The unaccountabr Fate Of Scvus, de-
termincd me in my better resolutions"
He hal nothing 10 ado, save That during the
former examination of the prisoner, he heard
man say tina, he knew enough 20 hang Cape,
but had conscientious scrupes about volunteer
ing his testimony. Casting another look upon
Cape, which he seemed 10 sustain with Difficult.
", the witness left the stand.
The prisoner was rcmanded 10 his dungeon,
to be brought out in the morning to hear his
sentence.
The mex, day, the Hal of Justice was throng-
ed with an indignant and enrageG populacr the
furious rabblr loading the miserable victim
with every epi,het of opprobium and execra,
TONS as be passed along; and when the Judge
rose to speak, SO eager were the spectators, that
the Hall was ins'antl: hushed into deep and
unnatural silence.
"Jean Cape" said he, permitting his words
10 fall slow and distinctly upon the ear Of the