The morning call., 1890-11-10
A QUEER TRAGEDY.
An Instance of the Uncertainty
of Human Testimony.

Many years ago, in England, gentleman
died possessed of very considerable for
tune. which he left to his only child. a
daughter, appointing his brother to be her
guardian and executor of his will The
young lady was then about 49,; and if she
happened to die unmarried, or if married
without children, her fortune was to go to
her guardian or TO bis heirs. AS the interest
of the uncle was now Incompatible with the
life of the niece, several other relations
limited that it would not be proper for them
to live together. Whether they were willing
to prevent any occasion of SANDER against
the uncle in case of the young lady's death,
whether they had any apprehension of her
being in danger, or whether they we're only
Disconnected with the fathers disposition Of
his fortune and therefore propagated
rumors to the prejudice of those who pos
sessed it, can not be known; the uncle how
ever, took his niece to his house near Epping
Forest, and soon afterward she disappeared.
Great inquiry was made after her; and it
appearing that on the day she was missing
she went out with her uncle into the forest,
and that he returned without her, lie was
taken into custody. A few days afterward
he went through a long examination, in
which he acknowledged that he went out
with her, and pretended that she found
means to loiter behind him as they were re-
turning home; that he sought her in the
forest as soon as he missed her, and that he
knew not where she was or what was be-
come of her. This account was thought i'm
probable, and his apparent interest in the
death of his ward, and perhaps the petulant
zeal OF other relatives, concurred to raise
and strengthen suspicious against him, and
lie was detained in custody.
Some new circumstances were every day
rising against him. 1t was found that the
young lady had been addressed by a neigh
boring gentleman, who had, few days be-
f,rG. In mi artlfr mt
TO the north, and that she had declared she
would marry him when he returned; that
her uncle had frequently expressed his dis
appreciation Of the match In very strong
terms; that she had often wept and re-
preached him with unkindness and an
produced who swore that ON the day the
young Lady was missing, about IL o'clock in
the forenoon, she was coming through the
forest, and heard woman's voice expostu-
lating with great eagerness, upon which
she drew near the place, and before she saw
any person, heard the same voice say,
Don't kill ME, uncle-don't kill mep' upon
which she was greatly terrified, and imme-
diately hearing the report of fire-arm very
near, she made all the haste she could from
the spot, but could not rest in her mind till
she had told what had happened
Such was the general impatience to pun
ish man who had murdered lis niece 10 in
herit her fortune, that upon this evidence he
was condemned and executed.
About ten days after the execution the
young lady came home. 1t appeared, how
ever, that what all the witnesses had sworn
was true, and the fact was found to be thus
circumstanced:
The young lady declared that, having
previously agreed to go off with the gentle
man that courted her, he had given out that
he was going on journey to the north, but
he waited concealed in a little house near
the skirts OF the forest till the time appoint
ed, which was the day she disappeared; the
man having horses ready for himself and
her, and being attended by two servants,
also on horseback. That as she was walk
ing with her Uncle he reproached her for
persisting in her resolution to marry man
nf whom he disapproved, and, after much
alteration, she said, with much heat, II
have set my heart upon it; if l do not marry
him it will be my death; and don't kill Inc,
uncle-don't kill meP That just as she
frearm discharged very near her, at
which she started, and she Immediately
afterWard saw man come forward from
among the trees with wood pigeon in his
hand which he had just shot. That coming
near the place appointed for their rendez-
vous she formed pretense to let her uncle
go on before her, and her sutton being in
waiting for her with horse she mounted
and Immediately rode off. That instead of
going into the north they retired to house
in which he had taken lodgings, near Wind
sor, where they were married the same day,
| and in about a week went on a journey OF
pleasure to France, and when they returned
they first heard of the misfortune which they
had inadvertently brought upon their uncle
so uncertain is human testimony. even
when the witnesses are. sincere, and SO
necessary are cool and dispassionate in
quiry and determination with respect to
crimes that are punishable with death.-N.
Y. Ledger