The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-10-14


There lived ono. ga Switzerland rich bache
/ lor, about forty years 81 age, called Peter Gortz
~ho had the reputation ot being a very piOu-
but rather au-t,re ana thufiy nan. he kept
but one servant au orphan, whom, chiid.
he took Co Nair on him, and aferward taught
her 20 write and read, boasfing of her fidelity
aud indulgiug her a. II she Was his daughter.
He was her only friend. AT sixteen Caroline de
Burg was as comely girl as ewes need se~. with
the .aii of peac OK ard skin IKE nes milk
but from hcr silent, almost haughty disposition,
the young men called her piule, the young wo-
meu-i0Ol taOngb mothers even of les lovely
station, would point her out Go their own eiddy
geese and cry: q" Take pattern by poor Lima '
suddenly she appeared TO grow timorou- and
melancholy ana one day was seen 0Y neigh
Dor To hurry from her masters house, IA fearful
agitation. Peter Gortz pursued, but missed her;
the neig ghbOr sought with better fortune, and
overheard her mutteriug 70 herself. " The virgin
forbid should be so rash-yet anything rather
than that | can bear it no longer" This man
instantly seized and questioned her on the mean
ing Of those words, but, ~ she only trembled
bushed and wept, he forcibly led her back to
her master, who looked pleasant al her return,
and. on what She had said being repeato 70 him,
merely laughed ont, " ! vas too strict this NOR
ming perhaps; silly ~euch, don't quarrel with
thy second father Lima was about 10 retort
when Peter bade the other leave Them. Wat
this persons amaze, when, next morning
his wealthy ueghbor ran TO him, all alright with
tidugs that his house had been robbed Of gold
and plate 20 large amount, though no locks
were broken, aud his servsnt either murdered
aud concealed, Or carried of alive, which seem
ed most likely, as rything that had belonged
20 her was missing, and no signs OF contention
bad disturbed her master in the night. The
menaees she had used tempted their hearers al
once to suspect her, though the looser did not
She must it was supposed, have taken the road
to her native village. Officers OF justice pursu-
ed that route, and oveitaking a wagon, whose
driver looked alarmed at their appearance, insis-
ted on seeing 1t. There, indeed they found a
female answering the description given them,
hidden with her trunk, amid the straw. She
denied her name but a sheathed knife was found
about her, ON which it craven. We'll,
she cried, "a IL bewildered, "nO aw can force
nv return 10 him" Not needing her, they hit
ell out her box. "'Tis heavy enough" said
one. significantly. "Is it?" she screamed to
the driver. This appeal caused them 10 arrest
him also. Falling on his knees, lac swOre by all
the saints, that he only knew this girl as having
hired him, in the next town, To come privately
TO a certain house, for herself and baggage that
he had gone stolen IN, moved the box from her
chamber TO his wagon, where, by another brlbe,
she had induced him 10 conceal her. The lid
was forced. and AZ the bottom OF her wardrobe
sewed into some articles OF apparel, We're discov-
cred sum Of money, and several articles OF sill
yer, bearing the initials of Peter GOrtz. II
positive distraction Caroline shreked, i re-
| fused 10 be his wife and told him I would leave
him. Oh, he threatened TO punish me - You
had threatened too, said one of her captors,
" and now, of course would fain criminate your
| accuser.H Nav then, | am lost indeed" she
cried and was conveyed to the prison of the
town she had Just left, ac,id the execratious O
its assembled inhabitants, who had never before
heard % such a way as hers for requitng al
offer of marriage from a superior.
She was tried Immediately on her apprehen
sion. Who could bear witness il her favor
" hO knew her character so we'll a. Peter GOrt7
himself? He gave his evidence with extrem,
reluctance; everything tended TO prove bel
guilt She was condemned to die, without delay
yet the priest Who attended her could gain ne
/ avOwa of the theft; finding her 20 imDenitent
he tried all the power OF terror ON her SOUL viii
but the result of uunetviug her tor the awiu
tate she was 10 meet cauuot grace Inv stor,
with a word IN praise of her heroi-m. She beg
ged for tiue, she supplcated the Virgin to inter
]
at the feet OF her guards ber shreks anC
groans rung from the very scafold, she strug
gled with the executioner, till even he VAS ha!
overpowered by her pleading beauty.
At length her strength and reason failed, sh'
became iusensihle The fatal cord was adjusted
and the poor wretch left to hang for the usual,
appointed period
Her body. according to the sentence of th'
law, was given for dissection. II fell 10 the 10
of rising arafomi-f named EDerson, wh,
had it conveyed 10 the wOnted scene OF bi
scientific vigils. large arch cellar. beneath hi
house, chosen for - coolness; it, air was moi
some. and IL walls discolored; IL WAS hghte,
from he ceiling hv an antique lamp, whose ras
tell on the Instruments of his lsbOrs and tn
still more terrific looking preparations on whic
he had toed The operator was accustomed 4
attire himself. for these exper ments. in dar
dress winch rightly f.led his gigantic figure
and ef hi- lean arms bare. HIS fiery ewes an
ctdsverous sud strong features, st of by th
black locks which streamed over bis shoulders
must have rendered him a frghuul picture
Before him. ON bis table, lay the body Of Care
line. par a'l, covered with cloth, often betor
used ior "A similar purpose and here sn
there stained ffom the dead. Emerson, wh
had hitherto been constrained 10 study from sue
revolving remnants a. his elder might leave
their church vsrd spoils was gratiisd in affair
ing eutiie figure. 50 recentiT deprived of i'.
He had not attended Carohnes trial though h
had listened With a sad shudiering interest
the account of her early crimes and punishment
He commenced his examination The lint
were scarce yet rigid; and when he barred Oh
face, he observed thar the manner Of her deaf
had neither hlaekened 10, distorted il; for ti
first time ~as he aware Of her identity with or
he had seen walk the world IN maiden pride; O
had he ieit iuerned 70 ak the sourg thius
name. He knew il uow-aud half forgetting D
art, sighed forth " Had she been as good a. 81
is air, this l. not a breast that could lacerate
He rurd away to make some preparation
- his hOrrid work, when a heavy sigh which sesI
ed TO bear on its breath the word Mercy" r