Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-12-01
UNNATURAL, MARRIAGE

This community has been excited 10 q mosts
extraordinary degree during the whole week.
by the report Of a man, whose manic We for
bear mentioning at present, living In town.
having married bis own sister. On Tuesday
the sister was arrested and brought before
the mayor, and after patient hearing Of an
the evidence. she was admitted to bah In the
sum Of one thousand dollars, 10 appear at tho
next mayors court The brother. against
whom warrant was also issued, is under-
stood to have LEFT the city The evidence to
the parties, is believed to be this: He ana
his sister are both natives or England; tho
former is abent fifty years olsf, and has been
twenty five years in this country, the sister
is about forty, and has been here but two
years He belonged to benevoient associa-
ton in this city, and one evening, while walk
ing with one II lis members, about TIVE weelxs
ago he disclosed the fact OF his having been
married TO his own sister The person -
whom the disclosure was made, was shocked
in the extreme, and inquired what earthly
motive could induce him TO commit crime
so repugnant to an neral and divine laws.
He replied that lie and bis late wife (ssiso died
very suddenly about FIVE months ago) had
not lived happily together, and he thought it
would be hest 10 marry bis sister, a. II would
then be all in the family, and he would ba
more certain to live comfortably. After this,
he mentioned the circumstance 10 several
persons. and no legal measures being tnstitu-
ted, he began to boast Of il, until Il spread
and became topic Of general conversation
in the neighborhood
Inquiries being set on foot BY the mayor.
warrants were Issued as SOON as the evidencA
was considered sufficiently strong, and the
female wa. arrested. The brother has re-
pcatediy decmfed that this woman was hiAs
sister. She joined her brother In this city,
about two years ago, in CONSEQUENCE of the
decease or all their relations In England, and
took up her abode ia his house. He haA
shown MANY Of her letters TO different per-
sons. aud IL the united testimony Of the par
Ties Is TO be believed, there can be no doubH
OF their being brother and sister The wifa
was alleged TO have died without any previ.
Gus illness, and 50 suddenly as to be unknown
to many OF the ueighbors, until they received
invitations to the funeral Her deceasc took
place about five months ago, and we under
tand that suspicion Is so strongly excited
that II Is probable the body Of the deceased
will be disinterred for medical examination
The unnatural marriage is said q hava,
been effected In Germantown, By an Episco-.
pal minister, who was OF course ignorant Of
inc near rCfdftou VI INC pdJNc1. HIS tooB
place neariy two s.lonths ago, 90 that the wife:
could have been but three months dead. As
we were aware that multitude OF runiofs
are in eirculat,on On the subject, great care
has been taken to obtain the above particulars
10 the most responsible quarters. and they are
believed to be substantially correct Phil Btl,
The season OF gifts is fast approaching.
Our booksellers shops will be thronyed anon
with AN inq,isi.ive multitude. There viii be
fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters,
Twhat arrog aace 20 name our own sex FIRST
lovefs and friends. (of both sexes, all seeking
Tor some g little present. for dear child, =
dear gid, or dear boy "a particular relations
or a Every particular Gieisj," that NAV be-
come the nearest and dearest Of relations
i Well lit lisa pleasant occupation this drurn-
ming up Of Thanksgiving Christmas and
New fear's gift, and we know not where the
searcher is like TO be sooner accarpfpedates+
| than among the dispensers OF "ADnuals.D