The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1853-02-11

pressrted itself. My greek bodnet, my
gridlf, and my knife were missing, and |
could not feel certain whether | had LEFT
hen in the apartment, or los, them in
the s,reet during my confused fight
homt. twas most likely that tho first
was bo case, ank thereby should be
discovered rs a murderer. t
Al The accustomed hour opened the
shop. My neighbor camein as usual ,
for ,lie sake Of gossip. "
"Whal do you think Of the horrible
tragedy that occurred last nighl?' he
asked. ... .,
labpcared IS If I did not understand
him AS ifI knew nothing.
"Whal! no, know what all the town
knows? Not know that the beautiful
howG Of Flor encc, that Blanca, the
daughter Of the Governor has been assas.
sinul ID during the past night! saw her
only yesterday in all the glory of her
beauty, riding through the streets with
her bridegroom; for to-day her marriage
was 10 have been celebrated" ......
Every word wasa dagger into my heart,
and Itrembled for my own safety. Every
customer who came TO the shop repeated
the SAME story, and each successive one
made the tale more horrible than the
former. But truth that alone could tell,
was most horrible of ALL About noon an
officer orjusiice came to me, and demand,
ed a'privale audience. a
"Sgnor Zaleneos,' said be, exhibiting
the very articles which had lost, edo
these things belong TO you"
| besited a moment 10 consider wheih-
er | sh uld disown them or not. But
seeing through the balf open door my
landlord, who would perhaps witness
agains, me, determined not To make
matters worse by telling a lie, aud there .
fore answered the mn's question in The
affirmative. The officer then desired me
to follow him; and he conducted me TO a
large building, which soon recognized
as a prison. was then placed in
cell ill further orders respecting me were
issued.
My position was an awful one, and The
more / reflected oh it, the more terrible
i, did appsoL The idea Of committing
mu'dsr, though Internationally, weighed
heavily on my heart. and moreover !
conld no! conceal from myself that it was
the love of gold which hcd csptivated my
senses and caused me to fall so blindly
into the trap. After few hours impris-
onment, was taken from my cell, and
conducted below into large saluon.-
There on either side of long black
table, we're sitting twelve men, most of
them old. The other part of the room
were crowded with spectators, among
whom noticed many of the most infu-
e nlial men OF Florence. When had
approached the black table, there rose a
man Of melancholy countenance. II was
the G vernon. He said, that as father Of
The murdered girl, he could no. sit as
Judge bn the trial Of the murderer, and
he would therefore cede his place to the
Oldest of the senators A venerable old
man Of more than ninety years then took
the chair. His shoulders were bowed
down by age, and a few white hairs on
the temples were all that time had left him,
Bu, his eyes were still brilliant, and his
voice still strong, sonorous and 6rn. lie
asked me the usual questions, and | rela,.
ed to him all The particulars, as far SIS |
knew them relative 10 the melancholy
event. adding tina, the deceased had re-
ceved sleeping draught heloe retiring
TO bed. Whilst relating my tale, |
nni;ced tha, the Governor turned pale
and red alternately, and when 1 bad fin
isheu, he started Iu'iously up.
"Whal! wreichw he exclaimed 10 me;
''wiIl you burden another one with the
crime which you for mere ayaTice have
commii,ed?"
The judge rebuked lln, for his inter.
ruplon, and added that he was no, yet
proved, that avarice had caused the crime
to be perpolraled, as according 10 his
(rh6 Governor's) own testimony, nothing
had been stolen from tie deceased.
Some further details were gone into, and
letters were now requested from the
Governor, which related to the former life
Of his daughter. conceived new hopes;
perhaps snme connection would be dis
covered between her and the red cloak !
So, full Of confidence, | entered on the
following day, to The hall ofjuslice. Sever
al letters were opened on the table,
The Judge asked me if recognized the
hand Writing; tuld him they were in the
same handwriting as the notes | had re-
celved. The letters contained menaces
and threats to the deceased, and warn
ngs against the marriage she ives about
10 contract. Icoud see by the manner
N which Twas treated that day, hat the
Governor had been acting against me-
My answers were no believed; and as
The Letters bore the initial T., they we're
thought to have emanated from me-. All
hope had departed my breast, and when,
on the following day, ] was re-condncied
into the court, | was convicted of a pre-
tnedaied murder. Judgment was pro-