The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-05-08

Judge "tbis woman, who Is being assassl-
mated on the edge of we'll have you
also imagined her?''
Certainly"
"You have never seen her y
Never -
= Van Sprecdal rose up as if indignant !;
then sat down again, and in low voice
consulted his confrere.
Their two dark profiles, sharply defined
in the dim light which entered the win
dow at the back of them, the three men
standing behind me, and the silence of
the hall, made me shiver.
"What do you want of me! What
have done 2" / murmured.
Van Spreckdal suddenly exclaimed to
the men who had brought me there:
"Reconduct the prisoner to the carriage
We start for the Metzerstrasse; then
addressing me, he added: christian
Venins, you are in deplorable situation.
Recolleet yourself, and remember that if
mans justice is inheXible, Gods mercy
still remains for you. You can deserve
it by confessing your crime"
These words fell upon me like clap of
thunder. fell backwards with my arms
extended and cried out:
What fearful dream
tainted away.
y When / came to myself, the vehicle was
proceeding slowly through the streets,
another one was preceding US. The two
police agents were by my side One of
them, while on the way, offered his CON-
panion a pinch of snuff. mechanically
extended my fingers towards the tobacco
box He drew it quickly back.
The blush of shame mounted to my
cheek and turned my head away to con
ceal my emotion.
IF You put your head out of the win
dow" said the man, I'VE shall be obliged
to put the handouts on you"
THE deuce take you" thought to
myself. The vehicle stopped. One of
the policemen got out, while the other
held Inc by the collar; and seeing his
companion ready to receive me, he push
ed Inc rudely out.
These extraordinary precautions for
my personal security augured nothing
good for me. was very far from realiz-
ing the gravity of the accusation which
hung over my head, when terrible cir
cumstance opened my eyes and threw me
into despair.
They had pushed Ae into q narrow
passage, the pavement of which was I'M
even and broken; a yellow substance
Oozed from the walls, exhaled f9ti2
odor. walked in the midst of darkness,
followed by the two men. BY and by
appeared the obscure light of covered
courtyard.
As | advanced, fear more and more
took possession of me. 1t was not nat
ural feeling; it was the horror of night
mare. / instinctively recoiled at every
step.
Come, come" said the agent of police,
pushing me by the shoulder; go on
But what was my horror, when at the
end OF the passage saw the courtyard l
had sketched the night previous its
walls garnished with hooks; its heaps of
rubbish, its bird-cage, and its rabbit
hutch. Not window, not single de
tail had been omitted.
stood thundcrstruck ut this strange
revelation.
Near the wall stood the two Judges,
Van Spreckdal and Richter At their
feet, reclining on her back, was the old
woman, her long gray hair scattered
about, her face blue, her eyes staring
wide open, and her tongue firmly fixed
between her teeth.
1t was horrible spectacle.
well" said Van Spreckdal, In a sol
emn accent, what have you to say?"
made no reply.
DO you acknowledge to have thrown
this woman, Theresa Becker, into this
well, after having strangled her and rob-
bed her OF her money!"
NO" cried, 81 do not know this wo-
man; have never seen her. God is my
witness"
THAT is enough" he replied, in court
tone; and without adding another word
he left the place, accompanied by his
confrere. The policemen now thought
it their duty to put ON the handouts
They reconducted me to the Raspelhaus
in state of profound stupidity | did
not know what to think My conscience
wastroubled and asked myself if l had
not assassinated the old woman In the
eyes Of the world I was already con-
demnsa, GIt1 IA $3.50 .'.s
While ! thus stood gazing on the ami.
mated scene, butcher passed by, with
his back bent, carrying an enormous
quarter of beef on his shoulders; his
arms were bare, his elbows i'll the air,
and his head bent down. His streaming
hair concealed his face, and yet at the
first glance trembled
1T is he" cried
All my blood flowed back to my heart.
! descended to the prison floor, trembling
to the very ends of my finger nails; my
teeth chartered and g6ostly pallor
spread over my face, and I murmured in
astiilsd voice:
at is he, then; and am about to try
to expiate his crime oh, God. what can
I do-what can ] do2"
A sudden idea, an inspiration of Hea-
ven, animated me-. thrust my hand in
to my coat pocket-my pencil case was
there. then rushed so The .whitewash-
edwsll aald sfsced the scene Of the muir
der with extraardinary correctness. No
more uncertainty no more groping I
knew the man; saw him; he stood be-
fore me, ii * IL "
Al ten O'clock the TAILOR entered the
dulge0hs HIS iinpassible countenance
assumed q Took q admiration. s1s,q y
il possihle!. he. cried, a. he stood