The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-08-25
TRAGEDY IN THE FOREST.
1T GEORGE G.. MAXWELL.

IT GEORGE G. MAXWELL.
The family of Cliffhurst were sitting
at breakfast, when Gresham, the district
attorney, drove up to the door.
"Come with me to the forest" he
said to Mr.. Mordaunt, in some excite
ment.
"There has been a terrible murder
committed there, and want your ad-
vice."
Mr.. Mordaunt was a retired lawyer,
who had been particularly celebrated in
mers at the estate he owned, called Cliff
hurst, few miles from Berkton.
"Willingly," he said. 81 confess
still take an interest in all difficult
cases."
When we were seated safe in the car
riage. Mr.. Gresham said:
81 was not more explicit before the
ladies, because the accused is one they
know-Miss Stray. She has killed her
father"
Impossible" cried Mr.. Mordaunt in
an accent of horror and incredulity.
$50 said, when I first heard of it.
But the proof is unanswerable. She is
now in Berkton jail"
81 don't believe word of it" retorted
the other. "We know her slightly, yet
well enough to make me sure that there
is some mistake about it. No, it can't
be-"
His companion shook his head. "I
fear you are too sanguine. But you will
see and judge yourself. There is to be
an inquest at the Locks.
The Locks, as the name implied, were
on the canal There had always been a
small settlement there, but since the
railroad had been built, depot, followed
by postoffice, the hamlet had grown
considerably. Close by was a gap in the
South mountain, which led to what was
called the forest, wild stretch of wood
land, from five to ten miles wide, run
ming between nearly parallel hills, and
extending for some thirty miles from
northeast to southwest. The name was
well deserved, for excepting few small
houses, scattered here and there, the
whole district was covered with its orig
inal growth of oak and chestnut, with
here and there grim hemlocks and pines.
The settlers were principally of German
descent, their ancestors having come
from the Palatinate century and a half
before. They retained, in remarkable
degree, the manners and customs of the
fatherland. Their houses were generally
of stone, frequently with overhanging
stories, and often with stone staircases
built outside.
In one of the widest parts of this
forest, high up on a spur of the sand
stone hills, lived, or had lived, old Viii
helm Stray, a usurer, miser, the
cruelest of creditors, it was said, and a
tyrant to his family and all under him.
He was supposed, however, to be the
| richest man in the county /; and it was
his only child who was now accused of
his murder.
cit seems" said the District Attor-
ney, "that his daughter has been CLAN
destinely meeting young man, and that
her father hearing of it fell into rage
and threatened to turn her out of doors.
There was nothing against the lover,
unless it was his poverty. His father,
Colonel Wolcott, was once a member of
Congress for the adjoining district, and he
himself rising young lawyer. The girl
had first met him at the house of an old
school-mate. She was at Mrs. Colling-
woods boarding school, as perhaps you
know. Stingy as old Stray was, he ap-
pears to have wished his only child to
be brought up like lady. What passed
in the interview between father and
daughter is not fully known. The ser
want girl overheard angry words, but
could not distinguish their purport; she
was sure that just before the alteration
was over, the father threatened to disin-
herit the daughter. Shortly after, the
the old man left the house to walk to the
Locks, where he intended to. take thu
train to Berkton. Almost immediatel,
Miss Stray followed. Within twenty
minutes, forgeman, going home, came
on her in the gap, standing over the
dead body of her father. Her agitation
on being detected was, he says, con
elusive Evidence of her guilt But thi
is only opinion. The damning facts art
the quarrel; an intelligent motive for the
deed; blood on the linen cuff of hel
right hand and the finding of an orien
tai dagger, which she had long used TO
q paper cutter, in thicket close by, q
If flung there when she heard the forge
man coming. The dagger was still we
with the crimson stain, by-and-by whel
found"
"What does the daughter say?"
"Oh she denies it of course. Say
she had just discovered the body, ant
that she was Mortified at the sight,
horror which the forgeman mistook TO
proof of guilt. The dagger, she declares
was last seen by her that morning on he
table. The blood on her cuff she ex
plains by saying she had stopped to Sc
if her father was really dead, and 8
stained the linen"
. UWall holiaua har -
"That's because you know her an
pity her. Who else could have done tn
deed? Who had any motive? Really
you are too old man, too experienced
lawyer, to let sentimental motives clou
your Judgment. The best that can b
said of her is that she did it in fit {
sudden passion-they say her temper
high; she was goaded to it, perhaps
| Another Beatrice Cenci."
"God forbid" said the other. "Br
/ come, we'll say no more until we hay
seen for ourselves.
The two gentlemen first visited th