The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-07-19 00:00:00

LOVE AND SUICIDE.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF ATTEMPTED
DOUBLE MURDER.
At the Winchester Assizes, before Mr. Justice Keating,
Robert Simpson (23), was indicted for wounding Sophia
Rowe, with intent to murder her, at Winchester.
Mr. Gunner prosecuted.
The circumstances of this extraordinary case formed
one of those recurring instances that " truth is
stranger than fiction." It appeared that Rowe, who
had been a domestic servant, is the daughter of a brick-,
maker, named James Rowe, residing at Stowmarket, in
Suffolk, -and on the 24th of last December, being
out of a situation; she went to the Painters' Arms, is
public-house in Sussex-street, Winchester, to assist the
landlady, who was in ill-health, and there she remained
until the morning of Saturday, May 12. Previously to
this she had become acquainted with the prisoner; the
Thursday and Friday nights preceding the 12th they
slept together ; and on the Friday morning the man
said he was tired of soldiering, he should cut his throat,
and requested that Rowe 'would obtain him a razor.
She told him that she would not borrow one, upon
which, according to the girl's account, he became so
unhappy that she gave him Is. 6d. to purchase a razor.
He bought one, returned to the Painters' Arms, and
remained'there for the rest of the day, giving the razor
to Rowe, who locked it up in her box. At night, when
they went to bed, at the prisoner's request Rowe took
the razor out of the box and placed it under the bolster.
Another girl, Rachael Welby, also got into the bed,
being accustomed to sleep with Rowe; she arose at
seven o'clock next morning and went down stairs.
About five minutes afterwards Simpson took the razor
from under the bolster, and Rowe desired him to cut
her throat. He replied that he had not power to do it,
and Rowe declared that if he did not cut hers he should
not cut his own. Simpson asked her to lay her arm
down for him to put his head on, and she then laid her
arm down and he laid his head upon it. At that time
he had the razor in his left hand, and with it he first
cut Rowe's throat and then his own. Mrs. Wathesi,
the landlady heard some noise, and on running up stairs
found them both lying on the bed with their throats
cut and bleeding. Rowe held out her hand, and said
"Good bye." Simpson said, "This is love," and Rowe
added, " I shall die happy."
Mr. Buckle, a surgeon, was called in, and on an exa-
mination of the wounds discovered upon Rowe a very
large incision in the neck, dividing a portion of the
trachea, attended with much hemorrhage. The priso-
ner's neck was not so seriously lacerated.
The Jury convicted the prisoner of the attempt to
murder.

His Lordship characterised the conduct of the parties
as a foolish and wicked act—an offence against morals,
religion, and law; and, ordering sentence of death to be
recorded against the prisoner, told him that he would
have to suffer a long term of imprisonment.

COOL AND LACONIC 1.- ..,ETIT.R.—On Monday the
Rochdale bench, on- the application of Mr. Hartley,
granted an order to protect the earnings of Mrs. Law,
who had acquired a beer-shop and its stock, fixtures, Sce.
from her first husband, and in June, 185 q,, married
Edward Law. During her subsequent pregnacy, under
medical advice, and with the consent of Law, she went to
her parents' house, where she remained live months, her
illness compelling it. In the meantime Law gradually
disposed of the furniture, and at length Cie goodwill
and all remaining, and on the 31st of July, 1857, Mrs.
Law received from Liverpool the first intimation of his
intention, couched as follows : " Nancy, I am for
17,000 miles, Edmund Law." Since that Mrs. Law
had heard nothing of him.
A HOUSE or COMMONS CHEER..—No persons under-
stand how to cheer like the country gentlemen. A
cheer in the House of Commons means the rapid pro-
nunciation of " Hear" so peculiarly that the stress is
laid upon the latter part of the word, and the sound, as
it is thickened by the multiplication of voices, very
nearly resembles "Tab, yah, yah, yell." A deafening
shout of " Tab, yah, yah " is raised as a song of
triumph over the opposite side of the House ; and when
it begins to subside again, the country gentlemen burst
forth in full cry, " Tab, yah, yah!" Etymologically,
indeed, the " Tah, yah " of the present day is identical
with the "Yea, yea " of the olden times, and with the
" 0 yes, 0 yes" whirh may still be heard in the courts
of justice. Only tae modern cry has it singular,
pugnacious, insulting sound, and when " Yah, yah "
comes in full chorus from the throats of innumerable
men, whose business it is to cultivate their lungs, great
is the excitement, awl the noise.—Blacktcood's Magazine.
GARIBALDI AND ST. ROSALIA.—A strange idea has
just sprung up in the minds of the Palermitans, and I
record it to illustrate the state of popular instruction
and national enlightenment where such things are pos-
sible. Here in Palermo all the world worships St.
Rosalia, the patron saint of Sicily. St. Rosalia has a
very splendid and very ancient temple on the Western
side of Monte Pellegrino—a temple in as great repute
throughout all Sicily as that of Diana of the Ephesians
was throughout all Asia Minor. St. Rosalia is believed
to work miracles upon miracles ; but these miracles she
will only work for the Sicilians, and her greatest mira-
culous feasts are confined to Palermo and its immediate
suburbs. For strangers and foreigners she does not
care a straw, and they may wear their knees out in ador-
ation, or exhaust their breath in entreaty;without being
one bit nearer the mask. The Palermitans say that she
saves Palermo from pestilence, anJ, war, and famine;
and that in the days of the bombardment she arrested in
their course 500 bombs, which otherwise would have
fallen in the city. St. Rosalia is supposed to he des-
cended from one of the petty chieftains that formerly
ruled in Sicily, tone of the Counts of Sinibaldi. On the
arrival of Garibaldi in Sicily the Neapolitan officers, in
derision, used to say that it was one of the old Sinibaldi
who returned to claim his own. The effect produced
was exactly the reverse of that intended. The story
spread like wildfire amongst the lower classes of Palermo
who affirmed, and who now believe, that the Dictator
belongs to the same family with St. Rosalia and that
the saint herself has laid on him the task of driving the
Neapolitans from the island.—Correspondent of the
Morning Post.

' Our readerei.have only to send their address to D. T. Bariy,
Esq.. 77, Regent-street, AV., London, and they will receive
gratis and free by poet The " INVALID'S OWN GUIOE "'or
Natural Restore r
without Medicine or ,expense, of perfec
digestion, strong nerves, sound lunar and refreshing sleep. to
the most enfeebled, inswing the removal of indigestion (dys-
pepsia). constipatio sickness at the stomach; epilepsy, pars-
lysis, nervonsnesSn,,
palpitation, cough, asthma, con-
sumption, dropsy, flatulency, diarrhoea, dysentery, biliousness,
fevers, sore thmats, catarrhs, colds, noises in the ears,
rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions, hysteria, neuralgia,
irritability, sleeplessness, acidity, palpitation, li,ertburri,
headache, despondency, cramp, spasms, sinking fits, brim-
shitis ; also children's complaints.
•. unquestionably the West Guide to health.."

GLEANINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS.

--knew-kind of street-rail has recently been adopted
by the Broadway Railroad Company, Yew 'York, which
obviates the objections made to that in ordinary use, for
obstructing the free driving of waggons in the streets.
Mrs. S. D. Terrell, of Qlyde, Ohio, tried to get rid of
her husband a few days ago bysetting fire to the flouring
mill where she supposed he was at work. Fortunately
for him he was not in the building, and the amiable lady
was arrested on it ehatge of arson.
Jim Penny, a noted swindler, who is confined in the
jail at Rochester for some months, has for the last few
days refused to take any food, in conseqaence of an
alleged attack of the lockjaw. 'When Mr. Bascom, the
jailor, threatentd to' knock out two of his front teeth,
to allow the insertion of a pipe into his mouth, by way
of which food should be given him, the fellow yielded.
SINGCLA.R PHENOMENON.—During a thunder shower
at Providence, a short time ago, and simultaneously
with a sharp flash of lightning and a loud clap of thun-
der, all the gas-lights in the vicinity of Point and Rich-
mond-streets were extinguished.
USING TOBACCO IN EFFECTING A HIGHWAY ROB-
BERy.--Samuel Wardlow and Robert Thompson are
under arrest in Philadelphia for robbing an employe on
the Pennsylvania Railway before daylight one morning.
After saluting him in a friendly manner, one of them
threw a chew of tobacco directly into the eye of the un-
fortunate railroad man. The smart was excruciating,
and caused the pedestrian to raise his hand to the eye ;
as he did this, the ruffians closed upon him, drawing his
his watch from his pocket, and robbing him of his pert-
monnaie. They then ran away.
A HtSBAND THROWING VITRIOL TN HIS WIPE'S
Face.—Ap exciting case of vitriol-throwing occurred in
New York on Friday last. The parties were Mr.
William E Gaw, an actor, and his wife, who have only
been married a few months, but have separated on ac-
count of jealousy on the part of the husband. Mrs.
Gaw had being living in Franklin-street, and was met
accidentally by her husband, at the corner of Centre and
Leonard streets. After some angry words had passed,
Mr. Gaw took a viol of vitriol from his pocket, and
coolly drawing the cork, scattered the contents on his
wife's face and neck. Gaw was immediately seized by
the bystanders and taken to the Tombs. The lady was
considerably burned about the neck, and it was deemed
advisable to take her to the hospital. The officers
found a dirk in Gaw's possession, with which it is con-
jectured he meant to take his wife's life.
A DOGLAS NOON AT 4 YANCEY MIDNIGHT.--The
Baltimore correspondent of the Pkilade/phia fress says
a good mistake occurred at the Yancey meeting on
Tuesday. There being loud calls of "Toombs, Toombs,"
Mr. Noons, editor of the Cambria Mountaineer (Pa.),
who was near by, mistook the sound, and, wondering at
his sudden and extensive popularity, thought he was
called for. " Toombs, Toombs," amid the clamour, was
"Noons, Noons," to his ear. With feelings which can
he imagined better than they can be described, he made
his way to the front of the balcony, and, thanking his
fellow-citizens for their wise impartiality, proceeded to
make a strong Douglas speech. In vain did the Yancey
men strive to interrupt him. In vain was he pulled
by the coat-tail, nudged in the ribs, caught by the elbow.
The people, equally in the dark as himself, cheered him,
and more than overbalanced the attempts of the Yancey
men to cry him down. He continued in an emphatic
Douglas vein, and the whispered importunities of friends
and foes around him to desist, telling him that he was
in the wrong place, could not convince him. So he made
his speech, feeling that the people knew best.
STRANGE SCENE IN A BRITISH COLONY.—A scene of
an unusual description occurred in the Court of Queen's
Bench this morning in Quebec. Upon the court meet-
ing, an oil painting of Pius IX., in a large gold frame,
was observed in the most conspicuous place in the
Court-hall, and within a few feet of the judges. While
one of the members of the bar was addressing the court,
then compoied of Messrs. Lafontaine, Duval, and Mon-
delet, three French and Roman Catholic judges, and
but one. judge of old country extraction and a Pro-
testant—Mr. Justice Aylwin—the whole of the pro-
ceedings of the court were abruptly terminated by Mr.
Justice Aylwin, who said; "By what authority has that
picture been placed them ?" Receiving no answer, he
repeated the interrogatory in energetic language, and,
receiving no answer again, he said that he would not
sit there so long as the picture remained in that place.
He accordingly left the bench, and there being no
quorum, the whole business of the.court was stopped for
the day. It appears the picture was introduced into
the court-house with the permission of the three French
judges. So much for the exclusion of old country people
from the bench.--Afontreal Witness, June 13.
RESPITE AND CONFESSION Or THE Ray. J. HARDEN.
--Governor Olden, of New Jersey, has respited the
execution of Jacob S. Harden for one week and a day,
bringing it to Friday, the 6th day of July. It is stated
that Harden is even now writing his confession, and

hat he has communicated certain portions of it to the

jailor and one or two others. The administering of the
poison to his wife commenced on her return to Ramsey's,
and it was given to her while sitting on his knee, even
during the endearments of an apparently loving wife.
He kindly invited her to partake oran apple on which
he had spread arsenic. She unsuspectingly ate it,
remarking that it appeared to have something gritty on
it. He replied that it was "nothing." There are
statements said to have, been made by the prisoner
involving his criminality with others who shared his
affections. His purchasing the arsenic at Easton, and
his using that which was about the house, are confirmed
by Harden's own words. What is most astonishing is
the statement that in the perpetration of these enormi-
ties Harden does not seem to have hai the slightest
compunctions. He did them without for once thinking
that he was doing anything very dreadful.

ANTI-SWEARING SOClETY.—Profane swearing is a
violation of divine command and a breach of good
breeding. To wash one's lips with an oath is a dirty
trick, an act of folly, and an abuse of language. A
number of our residents impressed with the force of the
above truths, and probably "pricked in their con-.
sciences," met the other day at Dr. Hoffman's drug
store, and pledged themselves never to utter a profane
oath again under penalty of 12) cents. for every viola-
tion of the pledge, the proceeds to be paid in to Dr.
Hoffman for the benefit of the Masonic Charity Fund
of Honolulu. Sixty members have already signed their
adhesion, but the amount of reals dropped into the
treasury box during the first few days evinced not only
the struggle with which a bad habit is relinquished,
but also the honest sincerity of the signers. Swearing
is a pet vice, and practised in so many ways that the
swearer himself is often the only witness against himself.
Success to all good things, and this among others! The
foregoing is from the Polynesian- of Honolulu. The
formation of a similar club in Panama would be
desirable.—.Panerma Herald.

ANOTHER TRAGEDY IN MTStiISSIYEI.—We copy the
following from the Vicksburg Sun, of the 30th ult. :
Early on Tuesday morning, we learned that the little
town of Warrenton had been the scene of one of the most
bloody tragedies ever enacted in the state. Dr. I. N.
Selser, a fe days past, had sent a polite message, by
request of the female portion of his family, to Dr. T. G.
Bell, informirig hire that his visits to the ladies referred
to were not agreeable to them, and insinuating their
wishes that such visits should be discontinued. In a
short time after Dr. Bell transmitted a note in reply, to
Dr. Selser, which was deemed by Dr. Selser as personally
abusive and insulting. A concert was given at War-
renton on Monday night. Dr. Selser attended in corn-

piny with his brother-in-law, Mr. William De Griffin,
a young painter, living opposite in Lluisiana. On

leaving the concert they fell in with or overteolkDr.
Bell. Dr. Selser approached him and asked for an

explanation of the note which had been sent to him.
In a moment, as stated by the witnesses, Dr. Bell drew
a bowie knife, or dirk, and made a blow at Dr. Selser.

The knife entered the neck to the depth of five inches,
severing the carotid artery, and inflicting a ragged gash
near seven inches in length. The left wrist was also

nearly severed by another blow. Mr. Griffin stepped
tip and immediately caught Dr. Bell by the arm, in
order to protect his brother-in-law, when he, too, received
from Dr. Bell a stab in the left breast, which penetrated
to a considerable depth, entirely severing the left lung.
Dr. Selser died almost without a groan, and Mr. Griffin
fell immediately. The physician had no hopes of his
recovery. The wound inflicted in the neck of Dr.
Selser was of so ragged a nature as to induce the belief
that the knife was wrenched around before being with-
drawn, proving most fatal immediate >,