Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-17
From the Winchester Republican.

Van Swea,ineen who murdered his wife in
Allegheny County, Md. IN Sept. last, has re-
Gently been taken near the Red river, in Ken.
lucky, together with Rae hazel Cunning ham, his
su.pec ted partner in he crime. It is said they
were apprehended by cavern keeper, (who is
also postmaster,) at whose house they had
passed the night. In an hour after their de-
psrture, the mail arriving with Gov. Kent's
proclamation describing Swearingen and his
paramour, suspicion was directed towards them,
and the postmaster collecting few neighbors,
went in pursuit and overlook them in two or
three hours.
From another source we have heard the fol>
lowing history of Rachael Cunningham, to
whom LilIo's Afll,Oood, in the tragedy Of George
Barnwell, cannot hold a candle.
She was brought up al Bedford, Pa where
she was probably early initiated into b. corr
ruptions Of that During the watering season.
fashionable and licsnlious place. or hei early
history, however, we have heard nothing, ex-
cept that her person wa, perfectly lovely, and
| that her countenance was a mirror in which
each winning grace s:rovr for pre-e minence.-
Possessing perhaps as great share OF person.
al beauty as was ever lavished on woman in
the most wanton freaks Of Natures workman
ship--rivalling perhaps the tabled nymphs OF
Cyprus--.he visited Franklin county, Pa. where
| the first act Of the drama may bt SAID TO have
opened. She there ensnared the affe c'ions OF a
Mr.. l., one Of The most wealthy and Thu
therto respectable merchants of that county,
| and cffec ed separation between himself aud
wife. Stung al,leng,h with remorse, he sum-
moncd sufficien courage 10 break the spell
which bound him, and by successful s'ra'a-
gem, effected through the aid of one oil his
clerks, he succeeded in exlricating himself.
The scene now shifts to Pitsburg, where the
heroine Of the dram, soon c'ptiva,ed wealthy
blac ksmi,h, the proprr' or also oil al extensive
livery stable, whose in6deli,y threw his wife
into frenzy, and caused her, in a moment Of
revenge and despei a,ion, to SET tire TO her hus>
bands possessions. by which his extensive sta
bles and forty horses were consumed hi. ell
fected The wife's desires, and the modern Mill
wood was again cast upon the world.
The scene next shifts 10 Harrisburg, the ca
pi,al Of Pennsylvania, where she soon contract
ed an amour with Judge F-,a maine foremost
in the lis, Of debauchees and profigatss in that
s,aid and exemplary state. The consequence
| al which was another matrimonial separation.
Her reason for leaving the Judge we do not re-
IN, mber, nor is il material.
Til. fourth &C, finds her in Hagerstown, Md.
where she speedily en'rapped in her tolls the
| sheriff of the county, George Van Swearingen,
who has frequently been heard TO say that he
never knew or felt the raptures OF love Until he
| looked upon this syren, and thathe never could
PAGE upon her without his whole frame being
wrou eh, up 10 the highest state OF bewi'drrins
excitement. To her he sacrificed every thing,
fortune, honor, fame; for her he became tel
lon. and for her he will probably die fslon's
DEATH