Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1827-02-24


Sharp, of Frankfort, Kentucky, by Jeromb o. Beau.
champ, in the month of November, 1926. II is
written in a forciblc but rude styie;-the author,
Beauchamp, seeming to have avoided all orna-
ment. in order to give clear detail Of one of the
most deliberate and horrid murders, recorded in the
calender Of crimes.
Beauchamp, it appears. was q man Of extra
ord mary talents, which were somewhat embsllish
ed by education. and possessed, strange as tn
assertion may seem, all Of the finer feelings
Known to our natures. His story is full of incl
lent and romantic dsnestions, and would afford
admirable theme for a novelist Of the school Of
Mrs. Radcliff and Miss OwensOn.
From his narrative. it appears that he became
enamoured with Miss Cooke, the unhappy and mis-
erabls partaker Of his crimes and sorrows even be-
fore he had seen her, and conceived an attachment
for her whilst a student at law in the Office of her
seducer the wretched Sharp, who paid at last in the
forfeiture Of his life for his Inconsistency and yany.
Whilst studying in >harp's Office, and attending the
courts at Bowling Green, he heard Miss Cooke
spoken of as yourg lady Of almost unequalled
charms. and possessing talents Of the highest o.
der. Her praises were the constant theme Of the
bar, and Beauchamp at last determined 10 become
acquainted with one lncomparaby beautiful
By friend he was introduced to her, when he dis
covered that her charms and mental endow nents
were not overrnted and ere he wa. aware of it, he
found himself attached to her by tie that was in.
dissolube. At length, when he knewnot Of hcr dis
grace, re made known to her his sentiments formal
ly avowed his love- and offered her his hand in we'd
lock. The offer was molestly rejected, and, as is
always the case, refusal only added strength to his
love, and renewed the fire that burned within him
Still, however. he persevered in his solicitations
when finding him inexorable, Miss Cooke candidly
told him, that she would gladly embrace his offer
were it not for obstacles which would forever pre-
vent her union with any one, and at the same time
assured him that he was not disagreeable 10 her. aid
that he had decided claim to her warmest friend
ship. The deep mystery that mantled her dcport-
men only excited his passions and curiosity and he
begged to be informed what were the impediments
TO which she alluded, and renar ked it was possible
that he could remove thetu. Finding him deter.
mined in his zeal and immovable in his deteruiina-
tons, Miss Cooke then frankly told him the story of
her wrongs, and of her seduction, and avowed that
she could not unite herself with any man, when in
doing so she would entail upon him and his offspring
the curse of infamy.
From that moment, hatred towards Sharp took
possession of Beauchamps heart; his soul painted
for vengeance, and be swore to redress the wrongs
Of "injured innocence and suffering virtue" His
attachments were renewed by the tale ofthe hapess
girl; he wooed her with redoubled arlour, and
finally became her husband hut ere she consent
ed 10 the union she told him that whilst Sharp, her
seducer, lived, she could not be happy, and that his
death was essential to their domestic felicity. By
her own hand it was her intention he should fall;
but her husband voluntarily undertook the office
Of assassin, and commenced the contemplation Of
plans to carry bis bloody design into execution.
They had not been long wedded when Beauchan up
repaired to Frankfort, with the intention ofassas,
mating his victim in the street, but after more re.
aection, concluded to give him an opportunity to
meet him in single combat. Accordingly with n
brace Of loaded pslos he repaired to his residence
and informing him that he had some private COM
muncations to make, the unsuspecting Sharp, ac-
companied him to secluded spot on the bank Of
the Ken lucky River, when he told him that he had
come to meet him equal terms, that he might
have at least an opportunity Of redressng the
wrongs Of the wife of his bosom. The moment
that Sharp heard him pronounce the name Of Miss
Cook, he fell upon his knees and impored her for
giveness. and the pardon other husband and beg
gej that he would not kill him. Beauchamp Of
fered him pistol to defend himself, which the sup.
plant wretch declined accepting, and only sued for
mercy.
Scornins to take the life Of one SO cowardly,
Beauchamp spurned him from his presence, bidding
him 60 home, and drag his life OUT and reflect upon
his infamy. Immediately after he fastened home,
the transaction forgotten by Sharp, and sup
posing that time had appeased the angry feelings
of Beauchamp and family, to attain 4 private end
no bs,ely attempted to prove that the child the
deludsd girl bore him, was not his--ssd that il was
a mulatto. This attempt at further injury, soon
reached the ears OF Bssuchamp and wife, and they
resolved upon his immediate destruction. l;aus
devised by the midnight taper, calashes, masks,
deadly weapons and all the utensils Of the assassa
e. H. r A.