Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-04
e. From tic Rssiern Argus Portland, MGns
MURDER AND AN ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE


the afternoon of Saturday last, John Morgan,
of thi. Town, in q paroxysm Of rage, stabbed
his wife Salome, in the heart with butchers
knife. and then attempted TO take his own with
the same instrument.
The circumstances which led to the bloody
transact ton, a. near as we can learn, are these:
Morgan is about 81 years Of age, and is by
occupation a Fisherman, lie had been mar
ried to the deceased six years, and had had by
her two children, both Of which were dead
The age Of the deceased was22 or Whereabouts
He sustained the reputation OF an industrious,
prudent and temperate man; and they lived
happily togther ill about eight weeks ago,
when he, for the first time, had convincing
proofs of " hat he had some time Suspected
her in6delity to his bed. Returning la:e one
night from a fishing voyage, he found one OF
those unprincjpled villains, who, trained in
gambling houses and brothels, are nightly ran
sacking the by streets and lanes Of our town,
deoauc hing such unprotected females as have
not fortitude 10 resist their arts and importuni
ties, in bed with his wife. The regard he had
for his beloved wife prompted the injured hus-
band TO let the miscreant escape, and to hush
the matter up-and by her solemn assurance
thar this was her first offence, and that it
should be her last, il he would forgive her, he
was lhduceQ 10 OVeIlOuk all tnat udu pdoSSu.-
Nothing further transpired to disturb his peace
until Monday last, when he returned from an
other voyage. On going to his house about | |
O'Clock in the evening, he found his vile alb
sent. In few minutes a carriage was driven
within few rods Of the house and two females
got out of il. Who the person in the carriage
was, he could not ascertain, as he Immediately
turned about and drove Of; but on approaching
the two females he found one of them to be his
wife, and the other a Mrs. Abbot, his next
door neighbour, a smooth-tongusd, mighty
good. sort-of. s.woman, about fory-6ve years
old. Mrs. Morgan refssed TO tell her husband
the name of The man who was in the carriage
with her--she said she had been out into the
country for a ride, and 10 relation along
with Mrs. Abbot and that nothing improper
had been done.s Mrs, A. also refused 10 give
the name of their gallant-contended il was
not Of the least importance who il was-they
had simply been out for a ride on a little excur-
sion Of pleasure into the country, and more
than insinuated that II was nobody's business
who had the politeness to wait on their lady-
ships. The refusal Of Mrs NJ. TO give her hus-
band any satisfaction in regard 10 her evenings
excursion, so enraged him tina, he struck her
several times with Ais hand, on which she
cried out, John, you have almost killed me-
TO which he replied am sorry tina, have hurt
you. | ought not 10 have done II. This part
Of he transaction was witnessed by one Of ,he
watch, who, sapposing all difficulties would be
adjusted by the parties themselves, left them.
But about o'clock he was sent for, and on
reaching the house OF Morgan he was al first re.
fused Ambulance, but the door was at length
opened, and he went In.
Morgan and his wife were sitting calmly by
L. h. ~-f
some OF the furniture II was evident violent
storm had preceded However, Mrs. M said
she was not afraid TO stay with him, and on re-
ceising assurances from both that they would
be peaceable the watch left them.
The following day they separated. He re-
moved his furniture 70. his boarding house, and
his wife took up her abode with the before
mentioned maironly Mrs. Abbot, who took the
innocent and unprotected lady in, purely out of
charity, Till she could make arrangements to go
to Boston. Here she remained until she re-
ceived the fatal visit Of her husband. Ut ap-
peared from the testimony before the Jury Of
inquest. that Morgan was very unhappy from
the time he left his wife-that he had written
10 her twice, proposing to forgive all that had
taken place on both sides, and 60 10 keeping
house again--lhst he was constantly talking a.
bout her, and said that she would not conduct
as she did, were it not for the advice of her as
sociares, sc. He seemed TO be resolved to live
with her, or not to live at all; and on one occa
sion he was heard to say, that if she would no,
make up and live with him again, one grave
should hold Them both. II was also stated that
he p.ucured the knife the day previous to that
on which the deed was done, and ground il;
aud on being asked what he was going to do
with H. replied ne was going to have some fun
with it, TO smother he remarked, he intended
to kill his wife with it, if she would not live
with him, and then kill himself. with other ex-
pressions OF sirsilar import. Wheo lie enter
ed The house where his wife was, he appeared
perfectly calm, aud expressed willingness 10
forgive herail pas' conduct, and his sorrow for
hsya !, II any way abused her; he wished what
had PASSED miga, be forgotten, and that she
Uooio oonsen, to live witA him again. To
~ ch she coidly replied, she would consider
IS ,nt LEI hilr know the next day. He told
rrr ,sn was the time for her to make up her
~ T., and insisted on her doing |, Immediately;