Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-01-20

L S"'AA'
time his utter surprise, that should hav
been guilty of such foul deed, that all sus
picion was turned aside from him. He alst
condoled with Carrie, promised to see that
wanted for nothing, and brought messag,
frsm her to my prison; and when she re-
quested his opinion as to my guilt he re.
piled that he hoped might be able to es
tablish my innocence, but sadly feared 9th.
erwise, as there was so little room to doub,
my guilt.
81 engaged eminent counsel, but they gave
me little encouragement, expressing, how
ever, their willingness to do all that hamsn
skill or ingenuity could accomplish in my
behalf, and then left me to the loneliness o.
my prison.
Carrie, still true and unwavering in her
| attachment to me, managed to send me a
letter by tho laborsr, in which she declared
her belief of my innocence, notwisbstandin
appearances were so strongly against me.
She bade me trust in just God, and be as
sured of her undying affection; and Oh,
how those loving words cheered and sus-
tanned my sinking soul amid the gloom of
my prison-a suspected murderer-aban-
doned bv all Others and encircled by chain
of circumstances too intricate for human
ingenuity to unravel or explain away.
replied to her letter assuring her of my in
nocence and unalterable devotion, but ex-
pressing strong doubt of being able to vim
dicate myself to the satisfaction of a jury.
At length the day of my trial arrived and 1
entered the court house securely guarded,
but with sad and fainting heart. Not
that feared to die; but to die murdsrer's
death to have my name and memory
scorned by all good men, and leave her
whom | so deeply loved, was too dreadful
to endure.
Imagine my surprise to find myself ac-
quilted on some informality or Aaw in the
indictment which had been found against
me MY counsel had taken advantage of
the carelessness of the prosecution, and
was free Free But alas who believed
me innocent? It was generally thought
that Justice had been cheated of victim
by the skill of my lawyers, and met cold
glances ard scorn wherever went. Under
these circumstances, determined to leave
that neighborhooI and seek some new 10 sal
ity. But how could leave Carrie How
resign her love, and say farewell forever
Her stern father knew would never consent
to wed his daughter to one he deemed
murderer! for he had said that he would
rather attend her funeral than see her united
to me. But determined to see her once
more Mt all risks. and then forever abandon
the scene of my trials. She met me at
night, by appointment, short distance
from her fathers residence me-the sus-
pected murderer! the despised and forsaken
homicide! Yes, with all woman's tender
ness and love, and spake to me in soothing
tones, and still bidding me trust in God and
hope for the best, declared her willingness
to fly with me; to forsake home, parents and
spotless name, and link her fate with ons
whom the world believed stained with human
blood How blest her for her noble he
roism, and strained her to my bosom as we
parted to meet the coming evening, never
to seperate again.
"True to the pledge she had given, the fol-
lowing night she was at the appointed spot,
equipped for the journey. ! assisted her
into the carrisge, and soon we were borne
many miles from the place which had been
the scene of my happiest and saddest hours.
The next morning we were welded, and she
Immediately wrote to her father, informing
him of her marriage with me, declaring her
conviction of my innocence, which she
knew time would make manifest, and en-
treating his forgiveness for having diso-
beyed his wishes. She then became quite
cheerful; expressed the utmest confidence
in her fathers generosity, whom she knew
loved her too well to refuse his pardon. An
answer soon came, and watched Carrie as
she broke the seal and read the contents.
The letter dropped from her hand and she
burst into flood of tears. ! picked it up
and read as follows:
"sYou are no longer my daughter. You
have irrevocably bound yourself to mur-
derer. My curse rest upon We both and
may blight and misery ever attend your
pathway! EDWARD MlrcHEL.'
"It was heavy blow for Carrie; she did
not long survive it, but pinsd away daily,
writhing under fathers curse so much
mental agony bore too heavily on frame
delicate and frail. rapid consumption
seized upon her, which hurried her to
premature death in less than six weeks from
our marriage! end as stood by her pale,
cold form, "beautiful, even in DEATH" and
pressed her icy lips to mine for the last
time, what a feeling of utter desolation and
dispair stole over my soul! felt that was
alone on the earth, forsaken, despised, and
condemned, and oh how earnestly prayed
for death, for the privilege to lie beside my
lost CARRIE that the same green sod should
cover US both-the same flowers bloom
above us, and the same autumn breeze sigh
its mournful requie m above the tomb that
sheltered us from the calumnies of mis-
judging world. But such boon was de-
MED me; was still to struggle on in a
world where had met with contumely and
oh M 1,ya "a H. Il