Washington telegraph., 1854-07-19
strange Trial at Gibraltar,

In lne year 1911, dt JlDraltar, tnere Oc-
Cured one of those extraordinary cases,
which shows how Intellectually the romancist,
even when his imagination is strained to the
utermost, can portray the extremes of pas
sion of which human nature is susceptible
A communication bearing date February
Doth, from the rocky-built fortress which
England keeps as key to the Mediterran-
can, relates the following particulars
A respectable merchant, named James
Baxwell, born in London, had removed in
early life to Gibraltar. induced partly by
the circumstances of his being of the same
religious persuasion to which the people of
his adopted country belonged. For many
years he occupied small dwelling near the
base of Mount St. Michael, so renowned for
its caves and crystalzations He carried
on a successful traffic in all the articles of
British manufacture introduced into Spain.
He acquired, in truth. a very considerable
fortune in this way All the country knew
that he had large amount of treasure lay
ing by him, not to speak of the capital be-
longing to him which was embarked in COM
merce. His name was one of credit in all
the principal houses Of exchange in Europe
James Baxwell had daughter, an only
daughter, aged seventeen, and of remarka-
BILE beauty. Her countenance and figure
combined in the most agreeable manner the
peculiar charms of the English woman with
the soft and languishing characteristics of
the Spaniard Young as she was, she had
been for some two or three years an object
Of devoted admiration to all the youths
around Gibraltar. At church they devour-
ed her with their eyes, and many, many
one thought TO himself that happy above all
men would be he who would win the smile
of Elezia Baxwell But Eleza bestowed
her smile upon no one She seemed to those
whose involuntary sighs she excited, to carry
maidenly modesty to freezing coolness-
At mass her eyes were ever on her book,
regardless of all the gances cast upon her
by others.
Such was at least the case till shortly be-
fore the events to be narrated At length,
however, Elezia did see one who awakened
in herself soue of the emotions which she
had caused in Others At mass one day,
she observed the eyes Of a stranger fixed
upon her with an expression of admiration
and respect To her he seemed being su-
peror to all the young men she ever yet be-
held. From that moment her calm and self
possessed demeanor left her forever
Abroad and at home she was restless and
uneasy. But, ere long, the stranger found
an opportunity Of being introduced to her,
and mutual avowals of love followed at no
very great distance of time.
Assured of the affections of Elezia, the
young stranger presented himself to Mr..
Baxwell- Il am named William Katt,"
said he to the merchant Il am like YOUR
se.f, an Englshman, | am of respectable
family and character, young and wealthy
Give me your daughter-we love one anoth-
err
Never :" said James Baxwell, to whom
the position and circumstances of the Young
man were not unknown; never! You be-
long to the dominant religion Of England,
by which my father suffered so much and so
long. You are a Lutheran and my daugh-
ter is Catholic. Such a union could not
be happy nor will | ever give my consent
to it. Elezia shall never be yours" The
daughter, informed of his declarations, threw
herself at the feet of her father, and endeav-
ored to move him from his purpose. Her
lover did the same. But the father remain
ed obstinate, and violent scene took place
between Elezia and her parent The blood
of the fiery South coursed in the daughters
veins, and she declared she would marry the
object of her choice, despite of all opposi-
ton. James Baxwell, on the other hand
declared he would sooner kill her with his
own hands, than see her carry such a reso-
luton into effect AS to William Katt, who
stood by at this scene, he kept silence
What thoughts were revolving in his mind
1t would be difficult to say.
Two days afterwards an alarming noise
was heard by the neighbors to issue from
the cave Immediately adjoining the mer-
chants house, and used by him for some do
mestlc purpose. The noise consisted at
hrst of loud cries, which gradually became
fainter, and at length died altogether away
The auditors looked at each other with
amazement, and many were conjectures as
to the cause of the sounds alluded to. A
solution OF the mystery was not long in sug
costing itself. Elezia had disappeared;
she was no longer to be seen about her faith
ers house. After many low murmurs had
been circulated, the father was interrogated
respecting his daughter. He said that she
was missing, certainly; but whittier she had
gone he knew not. He had nothing what
ever to do, be said, with her disappearance.
~, The explanation was not satisfactorily
The whisper went abroad that James Bax-
well had assassinated his daughter to pre-
vent her marrying with William Katt and
ultimately, this conjecture was so forci-
bly, pressed on the attention of the public
authorities that they were compelled to ar
rest James Raywall apd ipou,,o into tho