Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-07-27
MYSTERIOUS ASSASSIN.

The family Of Clinhurst were sitting
at breakfast when Gresham, the district
attorney, drove up to the door
"Como with mo to tho forest" he
said, to Mr. Mordaunt, in somo excite.
ment. "Thero has been terrible mur.
der committed there, and ] want your
advice"
Mr.. Mordaunt was n retired lawyer,
who had been particularly celebrated in
criminal cases, and who spent his sum
mers at the estate he owned, called
Cliilhurst n few miles from Berkton.
"Willingly," he said, 81 confess ]
still take an interest in all difficult
cases."
When they were seated safe in the
carriage Mr.. Gresham said:-
81 was not more explicit before the
ladies, because the accused is ono they
know-NIiss Stray. She has killed her
tather|
"Impossible |" cried Mr. Mordaunt,
IN an accent OF horror and dincredulity,
$50 / said when / first heard OF it.
But the proof is unanswerable. Sho is
now in Berkton jail"
"I don't believe word of it," retorted
the other. "We know her slightly, yet
we'll enough to make me sure that
there's some mistake about it. No, it
can't be-"
His companion shook his head
81 fear you are too sanguine. But
you will see and Judge for 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 sett ement there, Int since the
railroad had been built and station,
followed by a post-olllce, tho hamlet had
grown considerably.
Close by was a gap in the South
Mountain, which led to what was called
the forest, q wild stretch Of woodland
from five to ten miles wide, running be-
tween nearly parallel hills and extend
ing for some thirty miles from north
east to southwest.
The name was well deserved, for ex-
cepting few small houses scattered
here and there the whole district was
covered with its original growth of oak
and chestnut, with here and there grim
hemlocks and pines. The settlers were
principally of German descent, theiran-
cestors having come from the Palatinate
century and half before.
They retained in q remarkable degree
the manners and customs Of the father
land. Their houses were generally of
stone, frequently with overhanging
stories, and often with stone staircases
built outside.
In one of the widest parts of the
forest, high up on a spur of the sand
stone hills, lived, or had lived, old Will
helm Stray, a usurer, miser, the cruel
lest of creditors, it was said, and tyrant
to his family and all under him. He
was supposed, however, to be the richest
man in the country, and it was his only
child who was now accused of his muir
der.
at seems" said the district attorney,
"that his daughter had been clandes-
timely meeting young man, and that
her father, hearing oft, fell into great
rage, and threatened to turn her out OF
doors. There was nothing against the
lover unless it was his poverty. His
father, Col. Wolcott, was once member
of Congress for the adjoining districts
he himself is rising young lawyer.
The girl had first met him at the house
of an old schoolmate. She was at Mrs.
Collingwood's boarding school,, as per-
haps you know, for stingy as old Stray
was he appears 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 servant girl overheard angry words,
but could not always distinguish their
purport. She is sure, however, that
Just before the alteration was over, the
father threatened to disinherit the
daughter. Shortly after, the old man
left the house on foot, to walk to the
Locks, where he intended to take the
train to Berkton. Almost Immediately
Miss Stray followed. Within twenty
minutes forgeman going home, came
on her in a gap, standing over the dead
body of her father. Her agitation on
being detected was, as he says, conclu-
sive evidence of her guilt. But that Of
course is only opinion. The damning
facts are the quarrel, an intelligent
motive for the deed, blood on the linen
cuff of her right hand, and the finding
of an oriental dagger, which she had
long used as a paper.cutter, in thickei
close by, as if flung there when she
heard the forgeman coming. The dag
ger was still wet with the crimson stain
by-the-bye, when found"
"What does the daughter say%
"Oh, she denies it of course. Says
she had Just discovered the body, and
that she was Mortified at the sight, hor
:ror which. the forgeman mistook fol
proof of guilt. Tho dagger, she de
/ clares. was last seen by her that morn