The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-04-18
Translated from the Frsneh
THE MYSTERIOUS MURDER.

My terror was no longer instructive, when
l saw before me the court which l had
sketched the night before; its walls gar
nished with hooks, the wood pile, the ladder,
the rabbit-hut, the hen.coop etc. Not a
sky-light, great or small, bigh or low, not q
cracked window-pane, not single detail ,
had been omitted. | was thunderstorm at
this strange revelation.
Near the well were the two judges. At
their feet was the old woman, lying On
her back, gray hair struggling over her form,
her lace livid, her eyes unnaturally wide, her
tongue between her teeth. Il was horrible
spectacle
"Welr' said Van Spreckdal, in a solemn
tone, "what have you 70 sayf"
l was silent.
"Do you confess that you threw this
woman, Therasa Becker, into this well, after
having strangied her, that you might steal
her money -
'No,' cried, "no do not know this
woman. have never seen her. May God
help me ~
"That is enough" be replied, 10 0 dry
voice, and departed with his companion.
was carried back to the prison in state oi
profound stupidity. knew not what to
think. Ny conscience, even, began to
trouble me- asked myself IL | had not
really assassinated the old woman. passed
a wretched night OF doubt, bewilderment,
dispair.
With the dawn some Of my black thoughts
disappeared. felt more confluence in my
self, and at the same time desire to see
| what was going on 10 the world without
Other prisoners before me had climbed to
the narrow aperture. They had dug holes
in the wall, that they might mount more
easily. l climbed there in my turn, and
when, stretching my neck forward, saw the
crowd, the life, the movement, tears flowed
abundanuy down my cheeks. thought nc
longer of suicide. experienced the strong
est desire 10 live. They Right condemn one
to the hardest labor, might attach a cannon
ball to my leg, If they would only let me-
live I; to live was to be happy.
The old market opposite my window, with
its roof like an extingusher resting on heavy
pillars, offered q fine spectacle. The ole
women, seated by their baskets ofvegetables
their cages Of poultry and baskets OF egg
behind them the Jews, old clothes dealers
with faces the color Of lockwood thu
butchers, with naked arms, chopping mea
at their stalls; the peasants, with large fel
hats planted on the nape Of their neck, theil
hands behind their backs, and smoking tran
GULLY their pipes then the noise, the tn
multi Of the crowd, the tones Of the voice
the expressive gestures, the unexpected at
titudes, which betray at distance the pro
gress OF dispute, or paint the character o
an individual-all this captvated me; ant
in spite Of my sad position, felt happy t
be in the world.
While ] was looking on, . man passed
with his back bent, bearing an enormou
quarter Of beef on his shoulders. His arm
were naked, his elbows in the ar, and hi
head inclined on his breast. His hoatin
hair. like that Of Salvatnr's "Sicambre," con
cealed his face and yet ut the first glance
q thrill ran through my veins.
ssIt is bet" / exclaimed.
The blood rushed to my heart. | d
scenced into my cell. Ny whole fran
trembied.
. eft is he 70 / stammered, with hali
' choked voice. "He 10 there-there--sn
am about to die to expiate his crim'
!. What shall doi what shall | dol"
A sudden thoaght from heaven inspire
}. me. i put my hand into my pocket-m
, crayons were there. Then, springing to Ii
|. wall. began to trace the scene Of the nun
der with almost supernatural energy. n
more uncertainty no more hesitating e
periments. l know the man. had see
him. reproduced him before me.
At len O'Clock the jailor appeared in m
cell. His owlish stupidity gave place TO "
. mirstlen. M Fs
ssIs,it possiblsp hs cried, standisg Z
the threshold y sa4.
SEQ. seek my judges,p ! said, pnrsuiz
II my work with increasing exultation.
@They are waiting for you in the eflmin
hs1i,n be replied. #
II III wish xssml1s soms FsvelationS 60
Y tinued, pntiing The last tcach 10 s6e myzl
y rious parsonage.
In . few minutes the two judges can