Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-01-06

ut no great distance of time.
Assured ofthe affections of Eliza, the Young
stranger thcnp-esented himself to Mr.. Baxwell
III am named William Katt,o said he to the
merchant 81 am, like yourself, an English
man am of respectable family and charac-
ter, young and wealthy. Give me your daugh-
ter-wc love one another.
"Nevcr" said james BaXwell, to whom the
position and circumstances of the young man
were not unknown, "ncver! You belong to
the dominant religion of England, by which
my fathers suffered so much and so long. You
are Lutheran, and my daughter is a Caiho-
hc.-Such an union could not be happy, nor
Will ever give my consent to it. Eliza shall
never be yours" The daughter, informed of
TINS declaration, threw herself at ,he feet Of
her father, and endeavored to move him from
his purpose. Her lover did the same. But
the father remained obstinate, and violent
scene took place between Eliza and her pa
rent. The blood ofthe fiery south coursed i'm
the daughters veins, and she declared that she
could marry the object of her choice, despite
of all opposition. James Baxwell, on the 9TH
er hand, declared that he would sooner Kill
her with his own hands, than see her carry
such resolution into effect. AS to William
Kat, who stood by at this scene, he kept 81
lencc. What thoughts were revolving IN his
Two days afterwards, an alarming noise
was heard by the nelghbors to issue from
cave Immediately adjoining the merchants
house, and used by him for some domestic
purposes. The noise consisted first of loud
crles which gradually became fainter, and at
length died altogether away. The auditors
looked at each other with amazcment, and
many were the conjectures to the cause of
the sound alluded To. A solution of the mystic
ry was not long i'll suggesting itself Eliza had
| disappeared; she was no longer to be seen
| about her fathers house. After many low
murmurs had circulated, the father was inter
| rogated respecting his daughter. He said that
she was missing, certainly but whittier she
had gone, he knew not. He had nothing
whatever to do, he said, with her disappear
ance.
This explanation was unsatisfactory The
whisper went abroad that James Baxwell had
| assassinated his daughter, to prevent her mar
riage with William Kait, and, ultimately, this
conjecture was so forcibly pressed OH the at
tention of the public authorities, that they
were compelled to arrest James Baxwell, and
inquire into the matter. The dwelling of the
| merchant was examined, but nothing crmina.-
ing was found-"The cave, the cave is the
place" cried some of the crowd. The ma
gistraes then descended i.,to tIu cave, and
here, On lifting some loose stones, they found
portion of Eliza's dress, sprinkled all over
with blood. They also discovered small
quantity of hair. clotted with gore, and that
hair was recognized by many as having be-
! longed to the head of Eliza
| Baxwell protested his innocence. But the
proof seemed strong against him, and he was
regularly bro't to trial. The result was his
conviction for the murder of his daughter, and
his condemnation to death
On receiving sentence, the unhappy mer-
| chant trembled TO excess, and afterwards SEEM
ed utterly overpowered by the dreadful nature
of his situation. He continued i'm a state al
most of total insensibiliiy during the interval
between his trial and the day appointed for
| his execution. On the morning of the latter
day, the jailor came to announce to HIM, for
! the final time, that the moment of his fate was
at hand. The merchant was seized again with
fearful trembling, and he cried what he had
reiterated to all who saw him in his confine-
ment, "Bcfore my Maker, swear that | am
gutless of my child's dealh.''
They led him out to the sca1old. There
he found among others, William X att, who, it
should have been said, was the most impor-
tant witness against him at his trial, having re-
peated to the court the threat of assassination
which had been uttered by James Baxwel in
his presence against Eliza. No sooner did
the doomed merchant behold Katt, than lie
exclaimed,at the very foot of the scalfold, .smy
friend, i'll one minute shall be in eternity
i wish to die in peace with all men-Give
me your hand pardon you freely for the
injury your evidence has done to me'' Bax-
well said this with some composure, but the
effect Of his words upon Kat was very strik-
ing. He became pale as death, and could moi
conceal the depth of his agitation.
Baxwell mounted the steps Of the gallows
slowly, and gave himself up to the hands OF
the executioneT, to undergo death by the rope
According to the ancient custom Of Gibraltar
the executioner commenced his last duties by
crying iii a loud voice, "Justice is doing JUS
tlceis donew He then placed the black bonnet
on the head of the condemned merchant, and
!; pulling 1t down in front SO as to cover the eyes
lie had just done this, when he stopped in his
: proceeding at loud cry from the side OF thu
scafiold-"N is 1 ,0ho am gmilty!-( aloncp
This cry came from William Kat. The
} magistrates iii attendance instantly called hin
! forward, and demanded an explanation. TIL,
! young man avowed that lie had carried off Eli
, "a with her consent, to Re his wife, and tina
! she was now residing not far of, i'll conceal
ment. But to her he did not communicate
$ other measures which he had taken, chiefly L
? revenge himself for the scorn of her father
: He had contrived to cut Ola portion Of he
!, hair while she slept. He had clotted it witt
the blood of lamb, and had also sprinkled il
the Same uay q r,art of Etixo5s Irpes Iybicl