Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-08-25
INTERESTING MISCELLANY.
A CRIME AND ITS PUNISHMENT.
FROM THE GERMAN.


the care of the landlord, dried his clothes
at the fire, and as soon as his supper was
ready sat down to the table with the host
and his family, who appeared to be decent
people.
During supper the traveller was asked
where he came from, and on his answering
from Vienna, they were all anxious to hear
some news from the capitol. The horse
dealer told them all he knew The landlord
then asked him what business had taken
him TO Vienna, to which he replied that he
had been there to sell some of the finest
horses tlat had ever before appeared in the
market.
At these words the landlord looked very
Significantly to the young man who sat
opposite to him, and who appeared to be
his son.
His expressive glance did not escape the
observation of the traveller, who however
took no notice oft; yet he very soon after
wards had cause to regret his want of eau
ton. Being in want of repose, he begged
the landlord, as soon as the supper was fin
ished, to show him to his room. The
landlord took lamp, and conducted the
traveller across yard into a detached bull
ding, which contained two tolerabIy neat
rooms. bed was prepared at the farther
end of the second.
AS soon as the landlord had retired, the
traveller undressed himself, unbuckcled a
belt contained considerable sum in gold,
and took out his pocket book, which was
full of Austrian bank notes.
Having convinced himself that his mon
ey was right, he placed both under his pill
low, eXtinguished the light, and soon fell
asleep, thanking God and all the saints for
the success of his journy. lie had slept
but an hour or two when he was suddenly
awakened NY the opening of the window,
and Immediately felt the night air blow up
on him.
Startled at this unforeseen circumstance,
the traveller raised himself up in bed. and
perceived the head and shoulders of a man
who was struggling to get into the room; At
the same time he heard the voices of sew
eral persons who were standing under the
window.
4 dreadful terror seized our traveller,who
gave himself UP for ost;lnd scarcely know
ing what he did, he crept under the bed rs
quicel ~ as possible. \ moment afterwards
a man sprang heavily on the floor. and stag
eered up to the bed, supporting himself a.
gaInSt the wall.
COMPOUNDED as the horse dealer was. he
nevertheless perceived that the intruder was
lnebrlatcd. The circumstance, however.
gave him Ittle hope, for he had probably
got intoxicated in order to summon up
courage for the contemplated crime; besides
this. the traveller had heard the voices of
persons outside, so that the mur. erer IN case
ofrcsistancc could countuponl he assistance
oihis comrades.
But how great was his establishment
when he saw the unknown person throw
his coat upon the floor and stretch himself
upon the bed he had just quilted! \ few
moments afterwards he heard the intruder
snorc, and his terror began gradually 10
give way TO reflection, although the whole
affair was quite mcomPrehenSb'o 10 him.
He was Just preparing to quit his hiding
place in order 20 wake the inmates OF the
house, and ask another bed IN place Of that
from which he had been so uncercmon'-
ou>y expelled, when a new incident occur
red.
He heard the outer door carefully OPEN
cd, and on listening, the sound OF cautious
footsteps reached his ear.
In few moments the door Of his room
opened, and two figures, those of the land
lord and his son, stood on the threshold.
keep the lamp back muttered the ia
Their in a suppressed voice.
WHAT have we to tcar!' said the Young
wan: 1--WE are two against one; besides he
has only n small knife with him, and he IS
sleeping soundlv; hear how he snores.
DO what | tell you,sir," said the father
angrily. "Do Won wish to awake him
would YOU have his cries alarm the neigh
borhood!
The horse dealer was Mortified with the
scene. lie remained motionlcss under the
bed, scarcely daring to breathe. The son
shuttle door after him,and the two wretchcs
approached the bed on tlptoe.
An ins ant afterwards the bed was shook
hv a convulsive motion. and stited cry
of pain confirmed the lorebodlng that the
unhappy man in the bed had had his throat
cut. After a short pause of awful silence
the landlord said
at is all over now; look for the money.
Il have found it under the pillow" said
the son; 1T is in leathern belt and peck
ct book"
The murderers disappeared.
Every thing now quiet, the traveller crept
from under the bed, jumped out of the win
dow. and FASTENED to the adjoining town
to inform the authorizes of what had hap
pened.
The mayor Immediately assembled the
military. and in less than three quarters of
an hour the inn was surrounded by soldiers
who had been summoned 10 arrest the muir
derers The whole house seemed buried
in profound silence, but on approaching the
stables, they heard noise.
The door was immediately broken in,
and the landlord and his son were seen bus
lily digging pit. As soon as the murder
derers saw the horse dealer they uttered 4
cry Of horror, covered their faces with their
hands and fell TO the ground.
This was neither from repentance nor
the fear of punishment but they thought
they saw before them the ghost of the muir
dered man, Notwithstanding they heard
him speak. There was some trouble IN
H. Al,