The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-09-16
PoRTSMOUTH, o. .MONDM EVENING sEPTEAIBER Is $50.


distant, aud had.tleft, for home late in
the evening, and was seen no more, But
the same day these Investigations were going
on, Hayward's horse was found half dead,
cut IN several places with knife, and lying
IN a swamp. Then suspicious of foul play
arose-the tattle and iun of an elopement
became mixed up with the alarm of foul
murder, and the community turned out in
numbers to investigate The next link in
the case was finding. ofpa Spanish pistol,
concealed, benestha small bridge, near. the
swamp where Hayward's horse was found,
some two miles above D'Costa's plantation.
The pistol underwent general examination
1.-The pecuhariiy of its make and finish
made il an object once seen not to be forgot
ten. A lawyer Of the village recognized The
pistol as having been exhibited to him by
D'Costa few months previous, while on
business at DCosta's plantation. This led
20 the recollection Of the encounter between
Hayward and. D'Costa at the vendue, the
oaths Of vengeance uttered by D'Costa, and
all the train of subsequent events up TO the
night Of the disappearance with the fracas,
also, that Hayward had with D'Costa's ne
groes, in the road. The only conclusive link
to complete, Of course, The chain of murder
OF Hayward, was the absence of any decid-
ed proof that he was dead. And this link
was soon oblained. Hayward's body was
rooted up by some hogs from the leaves and
earth OF cedar swamp. abouta quarter OF
mile from the road over which Hayward
must have passed on his way home. The
murder was esta blished. A ball had passed
through Hayward's side, and out at the
shoulder blade, evidently fired by person
concealed by the oad-side, who must have
known OF the oyerseer's returning home the
night in question, and way laid him.
( Nobody hesitated to say that D'Costa wa,
the murderer But be had fed, and with
him the merchants daughter. This inyesti
CATION lasted over month. The means O
giving notoriety to such matters in those
times, some twenty odd years ago, were MOI
SO iacile as now-a-dsys. Some time elapsed
before the news OF D'Costa's transaction
reached Mobile, where his friends mostly re.
sided, and where also he kept his funds
And from ID 'Costa's banker the FIRST intelli
gence was received by the parents OF the
Young lady, that D'Costa had drawn on hin
for lunds to considerable amount at New
York, had apprized him OF his elopemen
with Miss -, their marriage, and deter
mination to sail to Europe, on tour, in tn,
course OF few days; SO D'Costa was be
yond pursuit, and every thing bore the in
dellible stamp Of his crime. The friends o
Hayward We're numerous, and they espous
ed his Cause with yigor and discrimination
but were Obliged to let the matter rest, 70
a time.
In the course Of few months, D'Cost
was heard from. He addressed letter I
hs agent, expressing general unhappinest
wishing some things done could be ,undone
and a2prizing his agent that he should b
home IN course OF u very short time. A
these Snatters were whispered about, an
D'Cests, before hs.. made his appes ranc
again. was tried, condemned, and execute
BY the force OF public opinion. The mo
ment the planter arrived at home he wa
arrested, but he evinced 10 surprise; he ha
heard OF the charge against him long befor
his getting home. lie asked to arrange hi
papers, and some Of his affairs which claim
ed his Immediate attention, and few hour
delay was thus allowed, by the courtesy Q
bis captors. Shutting himself up in hi
private room, or study, he remained bus
and alone for several hours.
/ D'Costa had sprung from high and hon
orable Spanish family, who had been tn
first to settle in the south as planters. II
had always been honorable in his associt
tions with his fellow men, and bore, in ger
eral, an unble mished character in the con
munlty. But he returned from abroad l
Pdejected spirits, morose, and suffering appt
rently from the effects OF dissipation. ID
Was an evidently changed man. The pans
OF a guilty conscience, said the people, wa
gnawing bis heart-strings, and the poor plaI
ter was cut off from all sympathy. His Wi
had Immediately set off for the home OF h'
parents, after reaching D'Costa's mansion
apparently as miserable and detected as h'
husband. ~
4 D'Costa having finished his business, can
out quite cheerful, 12l.rs1
/" Now gentlemen Lam at Jour service. ;
j Arriving at $780,, great assemblage
people had taken place. DCosta recognize
and familiarlyaddressed several ofhis friend
and then submitted himself to examinatic
on the charge Of the murder Of Hay war
The evidence was ample to commit him
iail. D'Costa arose, calm and dignifed, al
I asked the assembled throng if there was OF
! man in that court, who would for momel
5 suppose him guilty of so base and coward
an act, as that OF secret murder? No o.
q spoke the crowd was as ,hushed as death
"None 2" said d. Costa, inquiringly.
uNo one8 Ofhar ca,,ses Than the cotyal