The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-12-16

parent. The blood Of the fiery south
coursed in the daughters veins, and
she declared that she w0tild marry the
object Of her choice, despite Of all op-
position. James Baxwell, on the other
hand, declared that he would sooner
kill her with his own hands, than see
her carry such an resolutoninto effect.
AS to William Katt, who stood by at
this scene, he kept silence. What
thoughts were revolving,in his mind,
it would be difficult to say.
Two days afterwards, an alarming
noise was heard by the neighbors to
issue from cave Immediately adjoin-
ing the merchants house, and used by
him for some domestic purposes. The
noise consisted at first Of loud cries,
, which gradually became fainter, and
at length died altogether away. The
auditors looked at each other with
amazement, and many were the con-
/ lectures as to the sounds alluded to.
y A solution # the mystery was not long
in suggesting itself. Elezia had dis
appeared; She was no longer to. be
seen about her fathers house, After
many low murmurs had circulated, the
father was interrogated respecting
his daughter. He said that she was
missing certainly; but whittier she had
gone, he know not. He had nothing
whatever to do, he said, with her dis
appearance. ase "
This explanation was not satisfac
TORY. The whisper went abroad that
I James BaxweIl had assassinated his
daughter, to prevent her marriage
with William Katt, and, ultimately,
this conjecture was so forcibly pressed
on the attention Of the public authori-
ties, that they we're compelled to ar
rest James Baxwell, and inquire into
the matter. The dwelling Of the
merchant was examined, but nothing
criminatoly was found. "The cave,
the cave is the place - cried some
oof the crowd. The magistrate then
descended into the cave, and there,
on lifting some loose stones, they
found a portion cf Elezia's dress
sprinkled ali over with blood. They
also discovered small quantity Of
hair clotted with gore, and that hair
was recognized by many, as having
been taken from the head of Elezia.
Baxwell protested his innocence.
| But the proof seemed strong against
him, and he was regularly brought to
trial. The result was his conviction
for the murder of his daughter, and
his condemnation to death.
On receiving sentence, the unhapl
py merchant trembled to excess, and
afterwards seemed utterly overpowel-
ed by the dreadful nature of his situa-
ton. He continued in state almost
of total ihsensibility during the inter-
val between his trial and the day ap
pointed for his execution. On the
morning of the latter day, the jailer
came to announce to him, for the
final time, that the moment of his
fate was at hand. The merchant was
seized again with fearful trembling,
and he cried, what he had reiterated
to all who saw him in his confne-
ment: "Before my Maker, swear
that | /, am guiltless Of my child's
death p q v
They led him out to the scaffold.
There he found among others, Will.
liam Katt, who, it should have been
said, was the NEST important witness
against him at his trial, having repeat
ed to the court the threat Of assassina-
ton, which had been uttered by James
Baxwell in his presence against Elegia.
No sooner did the doomed merchant
behold Katt, than he exclaimed at the
very foot Of the scaffold: "My friend,
in one minute shall be in eternity,
1 wish to die in peace with all men,.
.