West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1881-10-28
4 WESYERN ROMANCE.
ASi"rtling story Of Strange Crime
nnd Its rtecompcnsc.

- 6fIAtAl1fIs lCNls llst
sixteen years ago, James Baxter left Stone
County, Michigan, with his wife, intend
ing 10 emigrate TO Louisiana. Some place
along tie border he fell in with a man
Who gave hrs name ns Isaac Young, aud
who obtnined permission TO Join the Bax.
tiers, rs he claimed to be- travelling IN the
same direction they were going.
Young was abont 30, vely plausible.
and quickly ingra,iated himself in the
good graces of Baxter and his wife. He
conHied 10 his companions everything
concerning his financial resaurces and fu-
lure plans, AID Baxter, in return, made q
similar revelation. Among other things.
be Informed the young man that he had
sold his farm for 80 600, and that he car
ried the money, in $40 gold-pioces, in n
belt strapped around his waist.
Some time after this the emigrants
cGmpcd one night at a point between
Dykes Mills, La, end Magnolia, Ark.
The spot selected for a camp was at the
head OF a lonely glen, which was shaded
on either side by tall pines and carpeted
WIN iuxuriant grass. A spring of clear,
coId water pushed from q ledge Of rocks
hall. way down the glen, aud a number Of
FALLEN pine lugs furnished ample material
for fuel.
When a simple repast was prepared
and eaten Baxter lit his pipe, and saying
he would retnrn soon, strolled down the
g'en' Young and Mrs. Baxter remained
seated ly the blazing fire talking about
the incidents of the days travel.
An hour past. Baxter did not return.
Ills wife grew uneasy, and Young, TO
quiet her fears, as he expressed 1t, started
dowu the glen, Saying he would bring
bin back. The woman waited impatient
ly. One, two, three hours went by, vet
neither appeared. Mrs. Baxter was now
thoroughly frightened. She called loudly
for her husband, but received no responso
Only the echo of her W voice came
back TO her, borne ON the night wind.
which swept down the valley and through
The tops OF the swaying trees. She ven
tured down the glen, trembling, calling.
listening; but she neither heard nor saw
anything. Both her husband and his
companion had disappeared as complete
" as II The earth had suddenly opened
and swallowed them.
Almost distracted, she returned 10 the
camp, where she paced to and fro until
morning came; then, mounting one of the
horses, she fastened TO the nearest house.
and soon had q body of men securing the
country in search Of the missing men
The search was continued nearly q week
without huding any trace of Young or
Baxter, when it was abandoned. Tn.
men engaged in it told Mrs. Baxter blupt-
ly that the affair was ~prcconcsrted be
tween the two mon, and that her hus
band had hearllessly deserted her. The
wife 30 strangely bereft would not &c.
cept this theory. She insisted that her
husband had been murdered by Isaac
1Onng, and that time would show that
she was not mistaken.
Acting on this supposition the returned
10 her former home, and gathering all
her available means, Instituted a thorough
search. She advertised, employed detec-
tives, scattered hand-biIls with accurate
descriptions of her husband and YOUNG
but all to no purpose. Nothing came of
1t, and the affair sOemed a mystery which
no human skill could u%nrayel.
Years went by, and still she remained
IN her mountain home, hoping and draw
ing for tidings ofher missing husband, or
even a clew that would point to his fate.
The suspense 10 all these years had been
~ ing. Siace ttat memorable night she
had become an old woman. BY the sale
Of nearly all the effects which remaiped
to her after her husbands disappearance.
she had been enabled 10 buy "a little cabin
and a few acres Of ground and have mon
ey enough remaining 10 keep her, with.
close economy, from actual want. And
alone in that little but she waited for H.
dings Of the man to whom she had linked
her fate.
Last week startling news reached that
solitary woman in her mountain retreat.
1t came 10 the shape Of a letter written
only last June and dated at Melbourne,
Australia. The writer said he had that
day assisted TO bury q man of the name II
Saunders, but whose papers, which the
writer had been charged 10 examine
showed he was Isaac Young, an Ameri.
can, and WHO confessed 10 a horrible
crime. Then followed a detailed account
ct the night in the glen sixteea years
ago.
II seems Young had made mp his mind
10 rob and murder Baxter from the time
be learned that Baxter bad -. 900. He
followed him quietly down the glen, stole
upon him unawsres, and struck him a
blow with a stick Of wood which killed
him Instantly. 70 secure the o and
bury Che body under Tho loose earth ana
stones was the work Of q very few mo-
meuts, apd before Sire Baxter had start.
oj doun tle glen Young was miles away.
IT, FASTENED Co New Orleans. took pag-
cage % Australia, changed bis name, and
anec1IltcI with bis ul-gotten gains. lie
r~ro'p.rel amazingly, an', uEliko ihc trs
d,Iora. murderer died undecided sld
wealthy.