The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-04-20

ple assembled at Tho woman's dwelling.
The unhappy wretch Instantly turned pale,
and exhibited every sign Of guilt-first re-
fusing the officers admission forcing
herself between them snd the chimney, %
il eagcr to rotard investigation, but ssill 70
ciferously asserting her innocence. An
officer got bchind the chimney and picked
up q large knife, which together with the
floor around, was newly clotted with blood
but the woman continued insolcntly to de-
ny her guilt, and accuse her child Of lying
in revenge for having been whipped the
night before. This rash assertion instant.
" confirmed her guilt, for il is evident a
child five years old could never invent suct,
. story, and burst Of indignation sgains,
tho mother for her unnatural charge told
tho strong feeling that was already ava
kened against her. The girl was still ovor-
come with terror, and kept in awe by tho
moshcr's frowns-so that it required long
percussion and promises Of protection BE-
fore she would tell whore the money Was
hidden. At last she pointed 10 the spot,
md the sum Of thirty dollars was dug up,
the miserable smount for which female
demon had launched human being into
eternity.
The investigation wns continued; the
woman was placed 10 custody, and the
pond, about quarter Of q milo wide, was
dragged with graphing irons in every d.
rection, vet no body was discovered. Tbs
next day, the search went on with like sue
cess, and at length, when oil other efforts
seemed useless, il vas suggested that the
pond might bs drained dry, and by this
process, tho body must inevitably como to
light. This plan latter some further search,
10 which tho pole mentioned by tho child
was found, stained with blood, and with
some remnants Of apparel attached to is,)
was adopted by the authorities, and sluicc
was dug TO let tho watcr down tho hill side.
Tho operation occupied some time, end
whom 1T length vent wss opened, the i'm
pctuous rush Of water, swept away nearly
tho whole bank Of tho pond on tho hillside,
letting Oft the flood II o., bound, followed
by mass Of pitch black mud, dead logs,
fresh water turtles, cat fish, paddocks, cells,
wstcr-snnkce, and al tho strange tenants
of the pool. Skill the body did NOS appear,
and after thorough investigation Of the
black bottom of the pond, vague suspicious
Of some othor kind of rogucry hogan to be
entertained BY the crowd. The child was
again examined, tho pond again scrapcd,
and the ssintervale," over which the dark
sediment and filth Of tho pond now lay =
foot deep, was carefully inspected in all
directions, and still tho dreadful mystery
was not unravelled.
The evidence of tho child, the pole, the
money, tho blood, tho womnn's strong ap-
pcarancc Of guilt, Ill proved that hoart-
less and horrid human butchcrY had bcen
rerpetratcd, and the Ruthless search after
the body seemed but TO add new terror 10
the excitement. Who WINS the unfortunate
stranger? Evidently somo traveller from .
distance, for nobody in tho neighborhood
was missed. Why could not the body DO
found? Ten thousand conjcctures flew
around, each Of which added 10 the pcrplcx-
ing mystery. A strange uncortainty for.
ced itself upon tho miads Of tho people.
BY oil appearances, il appeared certain
that the murdered man had mover been
thrown into the pond u oil; yet shss tho
bloody desd had been psspotrased was, from
the evidence, conclusivcly established.
Thus tho affair continued, developed 10
darkness, and oil hope vas abandonsd Of
discovering the body. The woman could
not bo convicted upon tho evidence Of the
child, and that evidence itself could not bc
substan tiated without finding the body. So
whilo every person was Satisfied Of her
guilt, il was clear nothing but her own con-
fession would ever bring tho murdcrcss
within tho power Of tho law. She, With
unflinching obssinscy, continued to deny
I'll knowledge Of the murder, and at length
she was actually released from coo6ne-
meat, no possibility appearing Of ever b
inR able to secure her conviction.
A few months passed on, and tho "inter-
VALE" upon which the pond had been emp
tied, and which before had almost bson
worthless, now grew 70 he . hourishing
piece Of land, and people would remark that
the draining Of the big pool had as least
proved : good thing 10 tho Yankee tavern
keeper, who owned tho land below.
Now for the development Of this mystic
rious tragedy. A quarrel occurred be-
tween the heroine Of this story and the inn-
keeper Of the intervale. IL her cxsspesa-
ton, she came forward and threw blaze
Of LIGHT upon this blood-chilling myssery,
which 1t once opened oil Dyes With aston
ishment. A scheme was laid open, tho
cunningly devised wheels Of which could
never have besu ri tn motion but by .
genuine bred end born snd thoroughly Cd
ucatsd, son Of Ysakse land. The tssesn
keeper wanted Ne laad improved; b wsat-
ed The pond turned on 70 Il, end soon biz
c0~~ A. G.e.> a. - 49, - ~