The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-09-24

Ossssus WOX0O ~ TUG OOUo0 VI y
relative Of Col. Sharpe. and. disguised
- negro. he lurked about the house
Ut his victim till he made sure be was
within. He then knocked, called him
to the door, showed his face, that be
might have the agony of knowing
Who his murderer was, and then
stabbed him tO the heart. The un-
fortunate man knew his assassin, but
~ sure had Eeen the blow, that the
only words he spoke were-"Pr,y,
Mr.. Beauchamp," at the sane time
trying TO throw his arms about his
neck. but no one heard the exclama-
ton, and Beauchamp had the satistac-
ton Of seeing that no such evidence
~ this could be brought against him.
He fingered near the house till he Was
seen BY Mrs. Sharpe. then vent back
to his lodgings. After having re-
sumed his own dress. and with q tran
quill aud satisfied heart. as he says
himself, he lay down tn sleep.
In the morning the whole town was
in excitement ut the horrid deed.
Beauchamps host suspected him, but
his calm demeanor died away all
suspicion, and he was allowed to leave
Frankfurt without molestafion. As
he drew near home. his wife, who had
been anxio"sly awaiting his return,
saw his approach. waving a red flag.
which had been the token Of success
agreed upon between them. She was
full Of j"y. like himself. at the fulfill
ment Of her just vengeance. as they
thought il. aud talked over all the de-
tails Of the crime with . fearful
satisfaction.
Besuchamp was sOon arrested. as he
expected be, but contrary to his ex-
pectation, he fOun., that all his pains
to destroy evidence had been fruitlese.
Circumstances-those fatal caves
droppers-bOre too sure witness. and
where link was wanting in the chain
Of testimony. it was easily supplied
BY exagyeration or perjury. He was
convicted on the 18th Of May. 1926,
and in spite Of the doubts If many
eminent LAWYERS, who maintained that
there Was no existing Law to punish
murder. he was executed on the 7th IT
July following. He had tried in vain
to throw the crime Oh s,me other
person. and to obtain pardon fram
Gov. Desha. who, tn he sure. had
pardoned his own son. twice convicted
Of murder and robbery.
These details NAV seem like those
Of q common murler-too Common in
these DAYS. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
their interest only from a morbid
craving 6r . knowledge IT such
horrors. But there Is a deeper reason
Why the atrocities NJ Beauchamp and
his wife stand forth in prominence ON
the sal calender Of crime. The feel
ing which impelled them was an in
sa.ia6le thirst for vengeance. it Is true,
but this finds some excuse in the
greatness Of their victims guilt; while
it exalted above the fury Of the ordi-
nary murder by the solemn fauaticism
which made them regard it ~ = duty.
and BY the tenderness Of their love for
each other. Nothing can be more
touching than the genileness and
reverence with which everywhere in
his confession. Beauchsmp speaks Of
his wifr, aud she. in tnrn. seems to
have felt the mnst enthusiastic ahec.
ton for him. He wss her chevalier-
her champion Of injured virtue every.
where. and in her steady refusal to
outlive him. she showed the conseaucy
Of . Roman matrOn. and died -
heroically - Brutus' Portan, OF the
more famous Lucretia.
After his oDnviction she spent much
time with him. and in tho hope OF
dying together they both took prison.
which, however, proved Intellectual.
They were then carefully guarded. but
in spite of this, on the morning Of his
execution. they contrived to stab them
selvesL Beauchamp was not MORALLY
wounded. but bin wife fingered only .
few hours after the execution. Az he
was carried to the gallDws. too veak
to sit on his c.,iiin in the cart, accord-
ing tn the barbasous custom, he asked
to be taken tn his wife. then lying IN
conscious from her wound. He laid
his hand On her face, and sought 10
vain to make her recognise him. then
bidding her the tenderest farewell,
and bowling to the ladies at the win
dows - be passed along the streets. be
went on to the sca&DId.
Il d said that thew buried the elf.
murdered wife and the executed hus.
band IN the same coffin, folded in each
others arms. Even 10 death they
vers not divided. Their grave = at
Bloomfield KY, marked By . modest
shaft. Before her death Mn. Beau
champ wrote the following epitaph
which Vas engraved on the tombstone
Of the misguided pair:
EAsombsd below 10 each Others arms
The husband and wil0 rep0se,
Safe from lies never ending storms,
secure from an thsir cruel foes
child Of ev,l hte she hved-
villains wiles her eco had crossed
The husband % her heart revived
The happiness she long hAA lost.
He heard her tale Of matchleoo Goa
And burning TOR revenge arose,
He laid her base 6etrayer lOw,
And struck dismay to virtus's foes.
Reader, u houors generous blood
Fer warmed thy heart. here drop tear,
And lee the sympeth-tic Good
Deep in thy mind ITS traces wear.
brother or . sis.er thou
RshOn0red yee thy sister dear;
Then turn and 50 the villaia loo,
And let fhll the grateful tear.
Dauehters % virtue grant The tear.
That love and noo0es tomb nay claim,
In your defence the husband hsre
Laid down 10 youth his life and A0s.
His wife disdained lifs forlom,
Ref from her hearts beloved lord.
Then. reader. hero their fOrtunes' mourn.
Who for their love their life bl00d poured.
The excitement over the fate Of
n