Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-12-08
SUICIDE OF TWO LOVERS, OR, A
ROMANCE OF DRUNKENNESS

Fuy Ior infsIoFtunes must not 0iind US 10
the real nature Of their causes. nor should a
Fictitious interest be excited in favor sf those
whose only claim TO sympathy is their weak
ness Of resolve, and their slavery TO idle ha-
bits. 1t argues bad state Of public taste,
not less than Of public morals, when the
gloss Of romance is attempted to be cast O.
yer actions which are directly destructive,
not only Of ones own character and life, but
of the peace and life of others. The freaks
OF drunkard, and the reckless obstinacy of
suicide, are toe frequently placed in false
light--the former in being made TO elicit
nirth. the latter to excite kind Of admra
tien. The tive are but varieties OF insanity.
In the following narrative Of a melancholy
event. the plain neral is not given at all we
are left to deplors the untimeIy death Of two
ysung persons, but we are not distinctly eau
tioned--the young who should read the ac-
count, are not warned against the cause
which produced SO awful catastrophe. If
there be any thing romantic about it, it is The
romance OF drunkenness, since it was an act
performed by young man under the inspi-
ration Of the genius Of alcohol. The article
as given in the Leeds Mercury runs thus;
IA great sensation has prevailed in the
town Of Ripon during the last few days, in
consequence Of the sudden Disappearance oil
two young persons Of the names OF Andrew
Roy and Elizabeth Meadley. Itappears they
were strongly attached to each other, and
that their intimacy had existed fer two years
On Thursday evening, the 18th. this young
couple were present at, aud took part in a
dance at puslic house, along With the girls
parents, and some sther friends of the par
tics: they all left theisn about twelve O'Clock:
Roy accompanied his sweetheart home, and
went into the house; hs was rather intoxca-
ted, and wished TO remain there all night; the
girls father, who was also in liquor, objected,
and urged him to 60 home. AT this treat
ment, as well as from the disinclination OF
the young ,sofnan's friends to the match, he
felt offended, and suttered something as he
went away. Before he quilted the house he
asked to speak to Elizabeth for three
minutes" privately her father reluctantly
yielded to the joint entreatics of Roy and
his daughter, and allowed her To go 10 the
door She then went cut With her bonnet:
alter waiting Tor some time for her return,
hsr mother vent in search Of her. but in
VAN, Nothing was heard Of the parties oh
Friday or Saturday; still it was hoped that
they might have gene of for the purpose OF
being married. On Sunday morning, howe
'@, iSohOi S"ssS COutdfDbg TWO HutPh,
was found in the river IRE, close bv the
town; these flutes were known TO have been
IN koy's possession, and used by him on the
Thursday evening". The most painful appre
hensIens now began TO be felt, and their pa
rents were prey to the most distressing
fears. The river was dragged OH Sunday,
Msnday and Tuesday; band bills were distri-
buted, and every inquiry set on foot hy the
magistrates. and by the police under their di-
REGIONS; but all were frniiless tili the after
noon oil Tuesday, at four o'clock, when the
BODY OF The young woman was found, entan
sled by Der long hair in some wreck and sand,
about three miles down the river, betwixt Ri
pan and Borous hbrldge The next morning
"wednesday the body Of Roy was found
near TO the spot where it is supposed they
had gene INTO the river. A coroner's inquest
sat upon the bodies, but no evidence, except
the substance of what has already been tela
ted, was adduced TO throw any light on this
mysterious affair, and verdict Of Found
Drowned" was recorded Roy, who was one
of the band Of the Yorkshire iiussars, was
fine looking man, about twenty seven years
OF age, and by trade cabinet maker The
Inflated young woman was about twenty one,
very progressing 10 her appearance, and OF
unimpeachable character: she was a mantua-
maker. Her fate has excited The deepest
sympathy among all classes. The funerals
took place on "Wednesday evening, and were
attended by thousands: and the feeling exhi
bited by the assembled crowd was creditable
to their humanity. One grave received the
remains of the two lovers. Ii is difficult to
End even the shadow Of reason for this act
OF degradation"
There was, we think, no reason in the case:
the causs Is given in the very next sentence of
the narrative, in which it is said,
Roy ,sas in liquor doubtless, and probably
highly exasperated at the supposed unkiud
treatment OF the girls father. in urging him
to 60 home; he had been drinking loo, for the
last three or four days, as it had been The an.
nuai feast at R'pen, so that he had scarcely
known what he did,"
Apart from the manner of her death. and
the circumstances under which il took place.
the event might rather be considered a fortu.
nate one for the poor girl Had she, in time.
married this youth, his habits were such as
10 render II almost certain, that she would
have been continually wounded by his addic-
ten 10 the bottle. The tavern and the ale
house, would soon come to be preferred te
her society; and with the sensibity she pos
sessed, she cou.d only have fingered out a few
years, and ultimately died broken hearted at
the brutality OF drunken husband That
such would have been the course OF things,
was rendered too probable by his continued
habits OF dissipation, at time when the pos.
session Of her hand depended upon his sobri
ely and steadiness; thus removing the objec-