Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-07-15
SECRET MURDER.
An Episode In Deteotive's Export.
0nCos
From tho New Orleans piravuno

An 6pas0oo aM Detooltve'a Expori.
ETom tho New Orleans Picayunc.
II once arrested a man," said Mr.. f..
accused of killing his wiie2 Although, con-
victed, have always been doubtful if>his
sentence were just He came here o strari-
ger. silent and repellant in his manner.
making no acquaintance and stunning 40
ciety. He was a foreigner, too, speaking
our language but impsIfectly, and relyiu0
solely for sympathy and confidence on the
beautiful woman whose warm, sunny love-
Illness seemed chilled by the cold. rigid
manners of her husband. She was very
young, too, aud those who knew them best.
from seeing them most, declared that her
glad 9tterances were often trozen-her
childish laughter stilled-by q gloomy
look or stern command. He seemed man
at war with mirth, and brooked no ioy in
his allenated sympathies. She feared him,
too; for those who saw how the young
creature gladdened when the sunlight
hung Its beauty around her; when the
flowers bloomed in her way, or Nature an
swered back her smiles; saw, too, her fur
tive glances to see if no noted tho tran
sient Joy she felt, and saw her sadden at
the frown she met
One night the people Of tho house OF
which they staid heard her scream in ter
ror, but the mans gloomy nature had made
them fear to enter his room, unless invited
and several minutes elapsed before they
summoned courage to ascertain the cause
OF her alarm. When, at last, servant
opened the door, the young wife lay dead
upon the floor, stabbed to the heart. The
man was gone. MIR. L. and myself were
sent for at once, and came Immediately.
The window fronting the street was open
a leap of nearly twenty feet to the ban
quette-but through this, it was certain, the
man escaped. The knife that still pierced
her heart was Spanish dagger, and usual
~ lay upon the mantle-its sheath was
had been snatched up in sudden passion
to do deed of blood.
1t was late at night, and the woman had
was stained red with blood, and chung to
the beautiful frame like winding sheet.
But the face shone ashen in the gas light
with fear. There was horror in the stony
outlines, and the parted lips seemed open
for cry of despair. shuddered as
looked at the spectacle. So young, so
lovely. so full Of witching graces, one
could hardly think being so beautiful
could die. Only the day before had seen
her, with eyes flashing like the sunlight,
a form Of beauty. and laughter rip
ping like the song of waters on her lips,
looking, indeed, ''like thing of beauty
and joy forever" And now she lay dead.
I noted we'll each mark essential in the
search I had to make, and then, sick at
heart, turned from the place to look for her
murderer.
At the threshold met her husband. I
laid my hand on his shoulder:
"You are my prisoner !"
''Sir |" he Indignantly exclaimed, show
dare your"
The tears were yet in my eyes; the hor-
ror of his deed still before my vision. I
could scarcely retain my patience, but I
did.
II arrest you, sir, for the murder ofyour
wife r.
His cry was like that Of some wild animal,
as he sprung by me up the stairs and dis
appeared in his room. The people stood
grouped around the dead body, tender
hands washing of the blood-stains. These
he flung aside, and knelt with cry at her
side-a cry like that of dispair might wiring
from courage when hope had fed and life
was at its ebb-a cry like that ''of some
swimmer in his agony" or such as virtue
gives Wien uOuOT b ueu. OODDluS, Crying,
calling her name in accents piteous and
tender, he at last sunk back, fainting, and
we carried him away.
1t seemed so certain that he killed her
that none could believe him innocent, yet
his manner showed no guilt. It may have
been insanity, or another may have done
the deed; but jury said he did it. As the
years go by, the mystery may be cleared;
but my heart acquits him now of the law
less deed done years ago. 1t robbed him
of the only sunlight his manhood knew-it
took from his path the only flower that
gave to him it's incense and perfume. But
he never denied it-only looked at you
when he was spoken to, in an aimless,
wandering way, as if the shock that had
deprived him of the only being he loved,
destroyed his reason.
Long years have passed since then, but
the memory of that horrid night fingers
in my mind, an episode SO sad and wretch
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