Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-12-03

young and wealthy. Give me your daughter
we love one ano her"
: Never" said james Bnxwel, to whom the
position and circumstances of the youny man
were not unknown; "nevcr! You belong tc
the dominant religion Of England, by which
my fathers suffered so much and so long
You are Lutheran and my daughter is a
Catholic. Such a union could not be happy
nor Will ever give my consent to it, Elezia
shall never be yours!" The daughter inform.
ed of this declaration threw herself at .he fee,
! Of her father and endeavored tc move him
from bis purpose Her lover did the same
But the father remained obstinate, and vio-
lent scene took place between Eleza and her
parent. The blood Of the fiery South courscd
IN the daughters vens, and she declared that
she uomd marry the object Of her choice,
despite Of all opposition. Jams Baxwell, on
the other hand, declared be would sooner Kill
her with his own hands, than see her carry
such resolution into effect As to William
katt, who stood by at this scene, he kept 81.
Icnce. 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 n
cave Immediately adjoining the merchants
house, and used by Linn for some domestic
purposes. The noise at first consisted of loud
cries which gradually became fainter, and at
length died away. The auditors looked at
each other with am izement, and many were
the conjectures as to the cause Of the sounds
alluded to. A solution of 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 in
terrogated respecting his daughter. He said
that she was missing, certainly; but whittier
she had gone, he knew not He had nothing.
whatever, he said, to do with her disappear
ance.
This explanation was not satisfactory. The
whisper went abroad that James Baxwel had
assassinated his daughter, to prevent her mar
riage with William Katt, and ultimately this
conjecture was so furcibly pressed on the at
tenuon OF the public authorities. that hey
were compelled To arrest James Baxwell, and
inquire into the matter. The dwelling Of the
merchant was examined, bat nothing crimi-
natory could be found.
"Thc cavc the cave is the place." cried
some of the crowd The magistrates then
descended into the cave, and there, on lifting
some lose, stones, they found po ton of Elc
zas dress sprinkled all over wi blood. They
also discovered small quantity of hair, clot-
ted with gore, and that hair was recognized
by many as having been taken from the head
OF Elezii.
Baxwell protested his innocence. But the
b,f l.
regularly brought to trial The result was
his conviction for the murder OF his daughter,
and his C nIemnaliOn to death
On receiving sentence, the unhappy mer-
chant trcmblcd to excess, and afterwards
seemed utterly overpowered by the dread ul
nature OF his sltuat on. Ne continued in
state almost Of total insensibility during the
between the trial, and the day a1poin-
ted for his execution. On the morning Of the
latter day, the jaier came to announce to him,
for the final time, hat the moment of late was
at hand. The merchant WAS seized again
with fearful trembling, and he cried what
lie had reiterated to all who saw him in his
confinement:
Before my Maker, swear that am guilt
less of my child's dcath!"
They led him out TO the sca(rold. There
he found among Others William Kat, who,
it should have been said, was the most impor-
tant witness against him at his trial, hay NJ re-
peated at the court the threat Of assassination
which had been uttered by james Baxw ell in
his presence against Elez a. No sooner dil
the doomed merchant behold Katt, than he
exclaimed at the very foot Of the scatfold -
"Aly friend, in one minute shall be in
eternity. | wish to die in peace with all men,
Give me your hand-I pardon you freely for
the injury yoar evidence has done me-"
BaXwelI said this with scme composure
but the effect OF his words upon Kat were
very striking. lie became pale as death, and
could not conceal the depth of his agitation.
Baxwel mounted the steps of the galiows
slowly, and gave himself up to the hands of
the execution, to undergo death by the rope
According to the ancient custom Of Gibral Tar,
he execuloner commenced his last duties bv
crying in loud voice Justice is doing; JUS
lice is done!" He then placed the black cap
the head Of the condemned merchant, and
pulled it down in front SO as to cover the eyes !
lie had just done this, when he was stopped
n his proceedings by a loud cry from the side |
'i the scaliold. III is / @ho an gaity-I
HoneP
This cry came from William Kat: The /
magistrates in attendance instantly called him
urward and demanded an explanation. The
'oung man avowed that he had carried off
tlezia, with her consent, to be his wife, and
hat she was now residing not far off in CON
ealment. But to her he did not communi.
ate other measures which he had taken,
hichy to revenge himself for the scorn of her
ather. He had contrived to cut off portion
# her hair while she slept. He had clotted
t with the blood Of lamb, aud had also
prinkled in the same way part of Elezia's
ress, which he had purloined. These art-
les he had placed in the cave, and there. al
0, he had emitted personally, those cries,
'hich had borne So heavily against the mer-
hant Tbs generous pardon which the mer-
hant had bestowed on him at the scaffold,
ad awakened (the young man said,) instan- c
Ineous remorse in his breast, and compelled
i'm 10 avow the truth. j