River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-09-24

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the corridor close by the door lie arose
and listened. Some one was evidently
trying to open the door. The murder of
his sister and the attack ON himself at
once rose in his mind, and he hastily put
on his clothes.
After hestating for some time, he re-
membered that there was a secret pas
sage from his apartments to the mu'
sicians' gallery at the east end of the
large dining room. Removing picture
from the wall, he touched concealed
spring, and panel in the wainscot open
ed. Taking candle, he entered mar
row stairway which led down the outside
wall of the mansion 10 the gallery in the
dining.room below. The panel opening
on the gallery was easily removed, and,
leaving the candle on the stairs, he
stepped forth, descended the gallery
stairs to the room below, and proceeded
thence to the main hallway. Over the
grand staircase a lamp was burning, and,
keeping within the shadows, he placed
himself where he could see any one pass.
ing along the corridor at the head Of the
stairs. Presently he saw two men APP.
proach the head of the stairs and pause.
They wore masks on their faces, so that
they could not distinguish the wearcrs
Concealing himself in the shadow, he
crept round toward the western Sing of
the building, where the rooms of the SER
vant.men were situated. Passing up the
narrow stairway, he knocked at the door
Of the buffers bedroom, and succeeded
in arousing him. Young Leigh briefly
related the facts, and in few minutes
the four men.servants were armed and
ready to go forth and secure the intru-
ders. 1t was arranged that three of
them should go by what is known as the
west corridor to the gran stairway, and
and the other three to return to the foot
of the stair by the way taken by young
Leigh. A signal was agreed on so that
the intruders could be secured if they
were still in the building. Young Leigh
took charge Of the party at the foot OF
the stairs, and on reaching the door OF
the dining room signaled to bis compan-
ons to pause. There was a glimmer of
light inside, and Leigh, carefully opened
the door so as to admit his head, peered
in. The two men whom he had seen be-
fore were seen tapping the wainscot
around the room, evidently searching for
some secret door, Leigh beckoned his
assistants, and gave his signal to those
up stairs, who at once descended. The
next moment the six men rushed into
the dining-room. The two intruders
faced round, and one of them discharged
pistol. Young Leigh exclaimed:
| 81 m shot Sopnpo than oil Iay-
ards"
Then he dropped into chair. There
was rapid discharge of firearms, and in
few minutes the two men both fatally
wounded, were secured. Young Leigh
was next attended to, but it was to late,
for the bullet had penetrated his chest,
and he had bled to death in few sec.
onds.
The sequel of this dreadful story is
soon told. William Leigh had seduced
Jane Tuxoe, the daughter of the farmer
of Sherwood Forest before referred to-.
On her giving birth to a child and dis
closing the secret of her ruin, her father
and brother vowed vengence on her Sc
Queer. Toxue, in his younger days. was
employed at the hall, and had become
acquainted with some of the secret pass
| ages of the old baronial dwelling. The
attack on William Leigh on the highway
having failed to be fatal, they concocted
the dreadful outrage which was subse.
quently perpetrated 1t was designed to
ruin both Of the sisters of young Leigh,
but the ravishers were alarmed, and de-
camped before they could accomplish
their object. They gained admission to
the hall by secret passage, which led
from a summer house at the foot Of the
garden to suit of rooms occupied by the
girls, and effected their escape BY the
same means. The young bride of Will
liam Leigh was another victim of their
vengence, Entering the hall by the way
above mentioned, one of them made his
way to the chamber Of the young couple,
and introduced deadly poison into the
pitcher Of water which stood on the dress
ing table. The design was to poison both
husband and wife, but the latter only
drank.
The last attempt to dispatch young
Leigh was undertaken by the two sons Of
Tuxoe, with what result is known. After
making a full confession Of their crimes,
and rejoicing in their success, the broth
ers died. Tuxoe fed, and escaped from
justice for many years. He was finally
captured in Doncaster, to which place he
returned secretly ten years after the final
tragedy. He was tried for the crimes
which his sous confession had fixed upon
him, and was hanged in January, 1908.
From the time Of the murder Of vii.
liam Leigh the hall was deserted. The
rext Of kin, collateral branch Of the
family bearing another name, enclosed
the hall and part Of the garden and
grounds, and removing the furniture and
pictures, allowed the mansion to fall into
ruins. There it stands to this day. The
secret passage aud stairways can still be
seen, but the visitor will find il very diff.
ticult to induce any Of the villagers to &C.
company him near the spot and point out
to him the objects ofinterest. The place
is said to be haunted, and at night the
old hall is often to be seen brilliantly H..
Illuminated. and figures are to be distin.
guished passing back and forth. So the
villagers say.
A DOG STORY.
M n m n