The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-12-04

ever, remained positive, and so dol.
"Well, all was now changed. A vii
was produced, executed tw9 days before
the decease Of the testalor, beqqcathing al
his property to Alice Sharpe, and no, one
word was said about Miriam. People talk
ed loudly, but the heiress needed nothing
she took possession Of the property, married
her cousin, George Sharpe, (the man who
made the will,) sent Miriam TO the work
house, and opened milliner's establish
meht.
"Wheels roll within wheels; Mr.. Sharpe
was now a large rate-payer, and once OF
twice ovcrseer, and when his wife applied
TO the parish officers, Offering to take Mi
riam Lyndon as un apprentice without pre-
MUM, those functionaries found it convent
ent to forget her previous cruelty to ths
child, extoled her lberali,y to the skies
and, without consulting the poor girl
bound her instantly.
"The life she led in that house was hor
rib!e. No African slave ever worked hard
er or was more cruelty treated; bu, she
never repined; she had learned endurance
from infancy. aud the practice was familiar
At last, however, she had another and
greater trial TO bear; her beauty attracted
the evil eye Of her wretched mister, and
her misery was complete. The persecu
,ion she underwear, from him, the jealousy
OF his wife, mode existence burden to her
an! many night she hns gone 10 sleep
with prayer of death upon her lips.
Zone right, (,hat named in the indicl
ment,) Miriam was occupied in pressing
some straw bonnets, when her master en-
tered the apartment, and after great dea
of imper,incnce attempted some familiafi
ties. She resisted, and the noise Of the
struggle and her cries brought her mistress
to the room; while the cowardly assailant,
IS soon as he saw his wife, SUNK away
leaving the poor girl alone to bear the
storm Of her ungovernable' rage. Blows
oa,hs, md everv description Of abuse were
heaped upon Miriam, by the infuria'ed
woman. nnd she left her with a dreadful
VOW 10 be revenged. Five hours after. in
he dead OF the night, the honse was aiscov-
cred to he on fire, the fire originating il
! Mgiam's room, from which she was absent
She was, however, soon found in smal
clubhouse at the top Of the garden, where
| ,hewas al work; as she SAYS by the order d
| her mistress, but which that woman denies
| She was given into custody, and is prose
cutcd with remorseless zeal that would d,
honor 10 a fiend. A subscription has been
raised to defend her, and BY Gods help shc
shall be saved"
"llave YOU seen herr" asked after lis,
ening lhoughlfully TO his history.
"Yes, several times; she has been IN
prison nearly four mouths"
.'And she persists in her innocence?"
"Yes, but there is little necessity to as
severate what to every Que who sees her
mus, be 50 plain"
"Your suspicion then lies"
Upon the prosecutors wife, Alice. Ant
more than this, am inclined to Suspect
her Of using unfnir means with her late
master, and Of holding his property unjust
ly.r
.lIow?"
81 cannot exactly tell; bu, firmly be
lievc Mfiams's assertion that the old man
gave her packe, previous 10 bis death
and that he called her his niece; and al.
so believe tha, in some way or other Alice
Sharpe has become possessed OF the secret,
aud deeper motive than even jealousy
urges her 10 destroy her victim"
"But the will,--if that was fairly exc
cu,ed, she need be under no apprehension !
so it seems. Still my suspicious OF
foul play are very strong. Now let US &c
hronuh the evidence. You see the prn.
cipal witnesses are Alice Sharpe, Ann
Jackson, the servant-sirl who discovered
the fire, Edward Harris; the constable who
apprehended the accused, and Louisa Jones,
al apprentice, who swears that she heard
Miriam vow 10 bo revenged upon her mis-,
tress."
We perused carefully the evidence Civ
en- before The committing magistrate: that
of the servant was no collision or decep.
ton there; both spoke to facts within their
own knowledge without prejudice or ex'
agpera,ion. But ii struck mo upon a sec.
ond examination that the testimony OF Mrs
Sharpe and Louisa Jones were not genu
inc, there were several points that ! die
not like; and tho language ofbo,h betrayed
great acrimony and i!l.ieeling.
.Yon can make something otthat," "sng
pes,ed Mr.. Paget, as he saw me muslne
upon the matter.
| II don't know. It's very strange they
don't call the husband"
.Yes, and therefore ! have served h'nl
with Crown-office subpoena, which has
frightened them, and put them on wrong
scent, think"
SIS tho letter found with the prisoner
when she was left at the surgeons door in
exislence?"
Il don't know, why?"
"No,hing--a vague idea as TO the indics
mont, that's all. But thiuk if il is posi-
bic il will be as well TO have ii. BY the by
wha, brothers aud sisters had this old doc
l,or? How could this girl have been hi,
Iniecew
"Nobodv knows. He came here abou
thirty wears since, bot hetnever visited
and 80 far as know never said where he
came from. Alice Sharpe followed him i'm
mediateIy."
"a should like to read my brief over n
lone, and see you upon j. nlterwards-to
night if you are not engaged"
"What time will suit you!''