Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-25

dlOle adventures. Inc uTst uieetipS oet"eSn
Nina and Mrs. Chapman, is stated to have taken
place on board of a steamboat on her way from
Trenton to Philadelphia. Nina was at that time
in company with friend whom he calls Felipe. ,
He states that Immediately after Mrs. Chapman
arrived on board, she approached him and his
friend, and inquired if they were not Frenchmen.
A conversation Immediately ensued, and the &C |
auaintance commenced. Mrs Chapman gave
her name as Mss Wilson, and said she was un-
married. She recommended them to boarding
house of friend OF hers. whittier they all three
proceeded on their arrival at Philadelphia. Nil
ma made the hostess and Miss Wilson, many pre-
sents of Jewels. &c. and they, on discovering his
wealth, attempted TO get HIM to gamble.
Through solicitation he purchased gold watch
and musical snuff box from her, for ten dollars.
Shortly after this, Nina was seized as roboer'
the snuffbox being the article stolen, and sen.
fenced to eighteen months imprisonment; and
thus, as he expresses it, 50 Miss Wilson anu her
friend effected their object OF robblng me- ana al
forwards throwing me into misery" After
confinement Of fourteen months, he was PARDON
ell BY the Governor On his escape from prison
he Immediately proceeded to the house oil the sup
posed Miss " ilson. He then discovered that
Elizabeth Rnald had kept the house when he was
there before, and that Miss Wilson was no other
further, that she then resided at AndaiusIa, III
Bucks county, aud he Immediately proceeded
there on foot. At half past six in the evening
he arrived at tn house Of Mrs. Chapman, knock.
ed at the door, and was admitted. Mrs. Chap
man, ON seeing him, manifested great confusion.
She cOntrived, however, to meet him alone al ter
supper, when she protested she had LETT the city
in great grief, Immediately after his unjust ar
rest. She besought him to suppress all Particu-
lars Of the action-told him he might reside
there, and would be always we'll provided for
She enioined upon him the necessity Of fabricat-
ing some fable with regard to his history and ap.
pearance, and she would make her husband be-
iieye it. A story was accordingly contIived,and
Nina represented to he the son of the Governor
of California, and the victim of various misfor-
tunes One falsehood induced another, until his
whole history was a complete mystery, even to
himself lie asserts that all the fables OF his
wealth. rank, &c. originated with Mrs. Chapman,
for at that time he could not speak word of'En'
glish.
After residence Of two months at Andalusia.
which was protractad by various excuses devised
by Mrs. Chapman, Nina received letter from
friend at Cuba, reproaching hl.n for not having
answered his various epistles. His friend wrote
for pound Of arsenic, for the purpose OF stut-
fling animals. He accordingly purchased some
arsenic in Philadel phia, to send to Cuba. This
he left at Andalusia for few days. A short time
after, Mr.. Chapman was taken sick, and su6se.
quently died. Immediately OH this event, Mrs.
Chapman took Nina into an apartment. and hav-
inc closed The door, she begged him to reflect she
was an unfortunate widow, while he was wealthy
heir, &c. and finally urged him to marry her,
He refused, reproached her with her cunning,
and coarsely abused her. She persisted, wept.
coaxed, & persuaded him, for three days in success.
sion, when he resolved to marry her. and alter
wards 10 abandon her. 1t is further stated in the
life, that Mrs. Chapman confessed to Nina hav-
ing mui dered her former husband. She is said
to have purchased a vial of arsenic from doctor
in the vicinity. for which she gave one hundred
dollars. She obtained promise OF secrecy on
the part Of the physician, as to his having sold
it. She also obtained directions to give three
,raos per dav, but she had increased the dose to
ten. The physician told her that it might be add
ministered in beer, and she accordingly gave II
to her husband mingled in that beverage.
The above brief sketch can afford the reader
but faint idea of the horrors and absurdities OF
this confession. The entire blame OF the murder
is thrown upon Mrs. Chapman, and a most ex-
traordnary account given OF that wretched wo-
man throug hout. Few, hover, who read the trst
part oil the Sketcn, VIII pldee 'he S'S"'e'' ieh
ance i'm the last. Those who are fond OF the wild
and the wonderful-or who desire to have the his
tory in detail, we refer to the bookstore OF MIR.
DesiIyer, No. 40 Walnut street. This brief
abstract does not furnish anotlcc OF one tenth of
the incidents mentioned; some OF which are dis
gustins enough
II female Saiior.-It will be recolected by
mos, Of our readers, that female was discover
ed short time since in Savannah. where she ar
rived in vessel from New York, disguised as
sailor buy. 1t appears that she has again return
ed to our port, and in the same attire, having per-
formed the ord,nar, duty Of cabin-6oy on the
voyage. She appears to be about lSyears OF age,
and has countrnance far from disagreeable; her
cure strong set, but not "dumpy;' and her
whole appearance. is rather pleasing than other
wise. On seeing her at the Police Once yes,er-
day, many were the conjecturers relative TO her
choice of dress, and her appearance IN this pup
lie office. One whispered that perhaps She ike
a late Liverpool heroine, was in search OF some
:. trueloye sailor," and appeared before the ma
sistrates to solicit their aid in her search tor INNS
whilst others imagined she had acted towards
II I