Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-01-06


81 knew" she cried, "that he had
gone to see his wife, perhaps to re-
turn with her, and 1 watched daily |
for his coming back. Constantly |
alone in these watches, managed to
get one of Johns pistols from his |
room, and this / carried with me,
but only forself-defcnce. I met them |
that Sunday afternoon, and my soul
was in a tumult of emotions as John
accosted me and introduced me to
his wife. His wife! Yes, knew it
was she before he told me. had
known for months Of his secret mar
rage. Suppressing my feelings as
much as ! was able, / endeavored to
be calm. We had met just beyond
the path which leaves the main car
riage road and cuts off about a mile
of the distance to the house. AS we
could not all ride, l suggested that
she and l should walk through By
the path, while John drove around
by the road. John strongly objected
to this, but she seemed anxious to
accompany me, and he at last reluct-
ly consented.
81 had no idea Of hurting her. The
wish was strong in my heart that
God would strike her dead, but had
no intention of raising my own hand
against her. AS we proceeded, talk
ing as we'll as my state Of mind would
allow, we came to the spot where her
body was found. The path became
so narrow that we had to 60 singly,
and it SO happened that she stepped
before. 1t flashed upon me like
lightning from hell! The place was
desolate and lonely. There she was,
only step or two in front Of me,
all unconscious, and at my mercy.
1t was mad impulse, but in a mo-
ment I drew the pistol and fired!
She fell, but attempted to rise. !
sprang upon her in frenzy OF ex-
element, and kicked, beat, choked
and bit her until she lay quite still
dead"
"My child" said her father, pale
and trembling, "these are but the
distempered fancies OF fever. You
have brooded over thisunhappy mat
ter until 1t has quite upset you. No
doubt you wish to save John--so do
we all-but it is folly for you, or any
of US, to seek to become a substitute
for him. My child: take our assur-
assurances that all this circumstan-
tial account of your killing that I'M
fortunate woman is the mad work of
disordered mind. Calm yourself.
In q few days you will be better, and
will have forgotten all that you now
so vehemcntly assert"
"Ah! father" she exclaimed, "it
may suit your purpose to argue that
l am mad. Perhaps ! am. But /
know my guilt, and will no longer
conceal it. You all know 1t, too.
Who, that fatal evening knceled to
the furious and distracted John and
besought him to silence? Whose en-
treaties prevailed on him to adopt
the course which has brought him to
the scaffold? To save me, you will
allow him to be sacrificed! ! have
been deceived long, but 1t is not yet
too late. will proclaim nay guilt to
the world; Twill take his place on
the gallows! Loose mcv'
But her cries and struggles were in
vain. Thus she raved of her real or
imaginary part in the horr!d tragedy,
giving now coherent version, as
plausible rs it was astounding, and
anon a confused and silly tumble Of
impossibilities that awakened naught
but pity and incredulity.
The scafFold from which John Ran
dali had been launched into eternity
was still standing In the Jail yard,
when one night, close on the stroke
of twelve, the guard I'm terror beheld
the noislcss approach of a form ar
rayed in white. Awed to silence by
the apparition, the guard watched
its movements with breathless atten-
ton. Entering the yard, it proceed
ed at once to the scafrOId and mount
ed it. In few moments the staring
guard beheld the figure suddenly
sink through the platform to the
shoulders, where after some conyuls-
i've motions 1t remained stationary.
To the guard 1t was the ghost of Ran
dali, and he fell faintiDg with alarm.
In his fall his musket was discharged,
and this bringing the jailer and 9TH
ers on the scene, 1t was discovered
that the ghost was woman.
Eluding her guardians, and pro-
viding herself with cord, Indiana
Randall followed the man she had
loved through the same exit he had
taken.
Was he alone guilty?
Or was she alone guilty?
Or were they both guilty?