The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-09-24

| appeared as 8 6ultoI UetOTe tue
II am. like yourself, an Englishman, =
said he to the merchant Il am Of re-
spectable family and character. young
and wealthy. Give me your daughter
we love one another"
at is impossible" replied James Bax-
we'll. You belong to the dominant re-
ligion Of England, by which my fathers
suffered so much and so long You are
| Protestant, and my daughters a Cath
olic. Such union could not be happy,
nor will ever give my consent to it.
Elezia can never be yours"
The daughter, informed of this decla-
ration, threw herself at the feet of her
father, and endeavored to move him from
his purpose. Her lover did the same.
But Baxwell remained obstinate, and a
violent scene took place. Eiezia declared
that she would marry the object of her
choice despite all opposition; her father
declared that he would sooner kill her
with his own hand than see her carry
such a resolution into effect. As to
William Katt, who stood by, he kept
silence. What thoughts were revolv-
| inc in his mind it would be difficult to
| say.
Two days afterward an alarming noise
was heard to issue from cave immedi-
| ately adjoining the merchants house,
| and used by him for some domestic pur-
pose. The noise consisted of loud cries,
which gradually became fainter, and at
length altogether died away. The aud
itors looked at each other with amaze.
ment, and many were the conjectures as
to the cause Of the sounds. A solution OF
the mystery was not long in suggesting
itself. Elena had disappeared; she was
| no longer To be seen about her fathers
house After many low murmurs had
circulated the father was Intercepted
respecting his daughter He replied that
she was missing, certainly; but whittier
she had gone he knew not He had moth.
ing whatever to do, he said, with her dis
appearance.
This explanation was not satisfactory.
The whisper went about that James Bax-
well had assassinated his daughter to
prevent her marriage with William Katt
Finally. this conjecture was 50 forcibly
pressed on the attention of the public
authorities that they were compelled to
arrest Baxwell and inquire into the mat
ter The dwelling of the merchant was
examined, but nothing suspicious was
found The cave the cave is the
magistrates then descended into the
cave, and there, on lifting some loose
stones, they found portion of Elezia' S
dress. sprinkled all over with blood. and
small quantity Of her hair, clotted with
gore
BaXwell protested his innocence, but
the proof seemed strong against him, and
he was brought to trial. The result was
his conviction for the murder CT his
daughter, and his condemnation to
death
On receiving this awful sentence the
unhappy merchant seemed overpowered
He continued in state of almost total
insensibility during the interval between
his trial and the day of execution. On
the morning OF the latter day the jailer
came to announce to him that the mo-
ment was at hand. At this he was
seized with fearful trembling and
cried again-what he had reiterated to
all who saw him during his confinement
=" Before my Maker, l swear that am
guiltless OF my childs DEATH
They led him out to the scaffold.
There he found, among others, William
katt, who, it should have been said, was
the most important witness against him
at his trial, having repeated to the court
the threat Of death which Baxwell, in
his presence, had uttered to Elezia. No
sooner did the doomed merchant behold
Kat than he paused at the foot Of the
scatfold and solemnly said /" NV friend.
in one minute ! shall be in eternity
wish % die in peace with all men Give
me your hand pardon you freely the
I
Baxwell spoke with composure, but the
effect Of his words upon Katt was very
striking. He became pale as death and
could not conceal his agitation.
BaXwcll slowly mounted the steps of
the gallows and gave himself up to I'M
dergo death by the rope According to
the ancient custom of Gibralter, the ex-
ecutioner commenced his duties BY cry
ing, in loud voice, Justice is doing.
justice is DONE He then placed the
black bonnet on the head of the con-
demned, and pulled it down in front SO
as to cover the eyes He had Just done
this when he was stopped in his pro-
ceedings by a loud cry from the side of
the scatfold:
:" a Is 4 who an gutly-I olonei"
The cry came from William Katt. The
magistratn in attendance instantly called
him forward and demanded an explana-
ton. The young man avowed that he
had carried off Elezia, with her consent
10 be his wife. and that she was now re-
siding not far off in concealment But
TO her ne did not communicate the meas
ures he had taken to revenge himself on
her father. He had cut off portion of
her hair while she slept and clotted it
with the blood Of lamb-also sprink-
ling in the same way a part of her dress.
which he had purloined. These articles
he had placed in the cave and there
emitted personally those cries which had
borne 50 heavily against the merchant.
The generous pardon which Baxwell be-
slowed on him had awakened Che said)
remorse in his breast and compelled him
to avow the truth
The confession was partly made at the
scattoid and partly afterward AS soon
as Kat had spoken decisively the exc
cutioner turned to Baxwell to take from
him the insignia Of death. The mer-
chant, almost unobserved, had sunk down
into sitting posture The black bonnet
was drawn from off his eyes and head
and it was ound that he was corpse
Ne exertions had the slightest effect in
awakening in him the spark Of life. The
saying all that they could on
such subject, declared that he had died
from the effects Of strong imagination.
William katt was conducted to prison
amid the clamors Of the populace, there
to await judgment for his misdeeds, but
what this judgment was we are not told.
1t is added that Elnzia On laarn;po i or