The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-11-15
From the Saturday Bulletin.
CASE OF THE sPANIARD NINA.


among the crowd OF contra dictory statements
which have been SO extensively circulated, il
is difficult to arrive st the real facts Of the
case. Andalusia is shout fourteen miles from
Philadelphia. and lies directly on the turnpike
between this city and Bristol. To this spot
Mr. Chapman had retired, after having been
employed in this city as q curer of stammer.
ing, in which occupation il is understood he
accumulated q considerable sum of money,
which. added to his previous gains. was G
nough TO make him comfortable for life. 10
the month of May last, the Spaniard Nina
was discharged FROM The prison of the city
and county Jf phli,dclphia, having served
out his sentence for larceny. He immediate.
~ got on board one Of the steam boats bound
up the river. intending TO go to New York,
but when about half way TO Bristol, il was
discovered that he had no money to pay his
passage, having gone on board, no doubt,
without the intention Of paying. The fellow
was forthwith put on shore near Andalmsia,
(which Is about one or two miles from the riv
erj and he soon found his way to the hospit.
able mansion Of Mr.. Chapman. With nsn.
uating address, and q plausible story of his
misfcrtuues- misfortunes rendered tenfold
more acute in having toppled him, as he al.
legged, from the high estate to which his birth
and parentage had connected hlm-he OBJ.
tained, unfortunately, place in that gentle.
mans confidence, which it is feared has re.
suited in his destruction. In June last, Mr..
Chapman was suddenly taken i'll and died,
and was buried without any particular sls.
pcions being excited as to the cause Of his
dissolution. Amongst the first may be men.
toned the following a pedlar, travelling in
the neighborhood with his pack, stopped late
in the afternoon at Mr.. Chapmans house. and
displayed his goods for the inspection Of the
family, who expressed desire to purchase.
He staid 30 long, that when the examination
Of the goods was concluded, he was invited TO
remain and take bed, which he did without
any hesitation. In the morning he started
off on his journey before breakfast, not know
ing that Mr.. Chapman had died during the
night, as he was off without disturbing the
family. He halted at a neighboring tavern
for breakfast, deeply affected with the extra.
ordinary doings he had been ear witness to
the preceding night. So firmly did he seem
impressed with the belief that oil was not
right, that before he left the tavern, he told
the landlord "he believed there had been
.Joml play at the house in which he had lodg
ed" desiring him, in case any nvestig CATION
should be had, to send for him as a witness,
as he thought he should be able to make oath
to extraordinary circumstances, such as he
would decline doing unless in the capacity Of
witness. lie accordingly left his name and
address, and continued his journey. As he
did not enter into any particulars, no great
attention was paid 10 his narrative at the time.
Mr.. Chapman was buried, Nina, following
him to the grave, telling his eldest daughter,
girl of thirteen, that he would be father to
her.
Some time after this, Nina proceeded to
New York with Mrs. Chapman, where, as has
since been ascertained, they were married by
Bishop Ondcrdonk. on the ninth day after
the death Of Mr.. Chapman. This marriage
til the pcrsevering efforts Of Mr.. Blarney, one
Of our high cons,sblee. ferretted out the ex.
traordinary mystery which for while envel
gped the whole of ihis foul transaction. At
New York they separated, Mrs C. proceeding
10 Albany with her eldest daughter, whence
they returned to A Andausia, while Nina went
to Baltimore ond Washington. In the former
place he disposed ofa large amount Of fjewel.
~, Mr.. C's horses and carrisgc, and by a
course Of extravogance in perfect Keeping
with his general character, he soon dissipated
the proceeds. In q state Of complete desti-
tuition he went to Washington, where he
succeeded in dcluding several gentlemen in.
IN the belief that he was the son Of General
Nina, and that he had lost his pocket book
containing $3.50, loss which left him totally
destitute. He even went so far as To adver.
tise it in The National Intelligenccr, Offering a
reward for its recovery, to which he signed
his name in full. Much sympathy was ex.
cited by the story Of his distresscs, and sew.
eral gentlemen advanced him sums of twenty
and thirty dollars each, on the faith Of repre-
sentations made by him, that he would re
fund tho amount Immediately on returning to
Baltimore. where, he alleged, he had left a
large amount ~ cash. lie accordingly set
of tor Bal,moF'. an' he persons in Wash
ington waited patiently several days, but no
remittance came from Nina One Of them,
whose name see ior6caf mentioning, became
jealou7 Of M1na's honesty wen, 10 the Wash
ingion pos, ...icp and look out letter ad
dressed TO him. On opening it his suspicious
were confirmed II was letter from Mrs.
Chapman, written from Andalusia in il she
reproached Nina in mysterious languag ge, as
70 the death Of her husband, at the same time
lavishing on the former expressions of the
most passionate attachment, conju-ed him to
return to her, though, she added, she feared
he was not the honest man he had represent
ed himself 10 be. Not word was said abou,
their m,rrage. The letter was Immediately
forwarded TO Mr.. Barney, our efficient high
constable. and here was FIRST afforded gim.
mering OF - dark deed as human deprsvity
has ever perpetrsted. The letter was i'm.
mediateIy submitted to the Recorder Of the
city, who recommended that Nina should be
arrested without delay. Mr.. Blsrney and
the Recorder proceeded to Andalusia, and
bad On interview with Mrs. Chapman. She
denied having been swindled by Nina, but on
being told by the Recorder that he knew to