The Sun.
London, England, 1827-09-18 00:00:00

THE SEW4EANT'S WIFE.

The Drama of this name, though taken from one
of the O'Hara Tale's, is founded, as well as the tale
itself, on an occurrence which took place in 1813, in
Ireland, rAnil which is thus described in the confes-
sion Of the assassins, who were convicted and at
etited in that year:—

The discovery of this murder, as decreed by the
Almighty, was made by Margaret Armstrong, the
wife of Sergeant Armstrong, of the 27th Itegiment
of Foot, on the recruiting service in Athlone. She
was going to her husband, when she was overtaken
by this dealing man. He asked her how far she was
going—she answered to Athlone, to her husband,
and said as it was getting late, and being scarce OF
money, she would make good her way than
He then replied, " my poor woman let 'not that
hurry you, I am going to Athlone mysuJ' and there
is a lodging at the next cross at wh;.ch I mean to
stop, be advised, and go no farthPje to-„ight, and I
will pay your expenses." I'v.ifien they came to the
house, be asked fer a bed for himself and another for
the woman, and for supper; When that was
over, he paid tt'ie bill, and taking out his pocket-
book, he coruited 150/. which he gave in cha'rge to
George Smit},, and retired to bed; the vrOman
wise ‘Ver:d; to her's, the family "ftt up till twelve ;
after. when the matt Was fast asleep and all
lv.e.S silent, we (the three Smiths) went into the
loom where the man lay ; we dragged him out of
bed, and cut his throat from ear to ear; we saved
Lis blood in a pewter dish, and put the body into a
laxseed barrel, among feathers, in which we covered
it sip. Take care and do the same with the woman,
said our. mother. We accordingly went to her bed-
side, and saw her hands extended out of the bed :
We held a candle to her eyes.but she did not stir
during the whole time, as God was on her side ; for
bad we supposed that she had seen the murder com-
mitted by us she would have shared the same fate
with the deceased man. Next morning when she
erase, she asked was the man up ? We made
answer, that he was gone two hours before, left six-
pence for her, and took her bundle with him. " No
matter," said she, " for I will see him in Athlone."
When she went away, I (George Smith) dressed
myself in my sister's clothes, and having crossed the
fields, met her. I asked her how far she was going ?
She said to Athlone : I then asked her where she
lodged ? She told me at one Smith's, a very decent
house, where she met very good entertainment.
"That house bears a bad name," said I. " I have
not diet to say of them," said she, " for they gave
me good usage." It was not long until we saw a
sergeant and two recruits coming ti,i) the road ; upon
which she cried out, " Here my husband coming
to meet me; he knew I vas coming to him." I
immediately turned off the road, and made back to
the house. When site met her husband she fainted,
and on recovering site told him cf the murder, arid
how she escaiied with her life. The husband went
immediat,;iy and got guards, and had us taken
prisowrs; the house was searched, and the mangled
bo",iy found in the barrel. The three monsters were,
it is mentioned, ordered for execution from the dock.
—Mirror.