Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-11
From the Norfolk Herald.


TR.eEpy IN REAL LIrE.-On Thursday last,
Frederick White, farmer, of North Landing,
Princess Anne County, called at our ofhce and
Us to write an advertisement tor him, the
par,iculars of which, as detailed by him, were
80 extraordinary, that It was not until we nad
been at some trouble to obtain tcorroboraaye
evidence of his statement, that we could venture
to publish it. ~
His story was to this effect:-A man named ST.
mon Stone, Of the same neighborhood' went TO
Whites premises, in his absence. on the otn OF
February last, armed with gun; concealed him
self near the dwelling, and watching the oPportunl-
ty which was offered by Whites wife in going out
some little distance from the house, seized her,
and with threats Of instant death If she resisted or
gave any alarm, forced her away with him with no
thing but the clothes she had on, aud no cover
ing to her head bat handkerchief On return
Ing home, White learnt the astounding fact OF his
wife's abduction by Stone, from his mother-In.
law, aud instantly went in pursuit OF her and
her ravisher. lie traced them to Norfolk, where,
to his great grief and disappointment, after some
time spent in frutiess enquiries he learnt that they
had left in packet for the Eastern Shore. De-
jected and desparing Of ever seeing her again. he
returned home to his now desolate DWELLING
On the 18th Of February however, his lost trea
sure was restored; his wife returned to his arms
but forlorn and emaciated from distress Of mind
and bodily sickness. She affirmed the tact Of
the threats Of violence used by Stone to make
her 60 along with him. and which had so alarm
ed her that she burst not resist or call aloud to
help.
| The fond, doating husband received her again
to his BOSOM almost forgetting the horrors OF thu
past in the bright anticipations OF future happl
ness which beamed upon his heart, 10! oil
the soh of March, only six weeks after, TIT
modern Tarquin again came suddenly upon Mrs
White as she was cutting pine broom from
thicket near her dwelling, and. armed as before
with gun. again forced her from her family ant
carried her off! Again the distracted husband
pursued them to Norfolk. and fortunately arrived
Just in time to prevent second trip to the Eas
tern Shore, which he did BY rescuing his wife
though Stone disappeared before warrant coul'
be taken out for bis arrest; somewhat soothed
however, by the recovery of his wife, the dear
estjewel Of his SOUL he gave up the pursuit OF tn
cruel dis,urber Of his peace.
Will the reader believe it? Ills almost incre
dible, but nevertheless true-a third time-yes
third time did the persevering spoier OF tn
peace of an lnofensve family return to the charge
On Tuesday week he entered the dwelling o
White, who was absent, and with violent threat
and menaces forced away with him the wretchet
victim Of his brutality, in, spite OF the remonstran
ces Of her aged mother and the cries OF her lnfan
child
Driven almost to madness by this monstrous
this reiterated outrage. the deeply injured hus
band once more pursued the absconded pair; bu
unable to gain any tidings of them, he resolved T.
make his case known to the public by an adver
tisement, which was accordingly done in Our las
Fridays paper
! Retursang home, where he arrived on Thurs
day afternoon, he was told BY his mother-in-lav
that his wife had been brought home in his absence
BY Stone, but that the monster had permitted he
to stay only until she took some refreshment. /
was in vain that she implored him to let her re
main with her family, with demoniac laugh h
babe her come along with him, instantly, or hi
would shoot her on the spot. The wretched wo
man, however, found an opportunity to let her
mother know that her husband might find he'
that night at a hog pen in which she and Stone
had slept the night before 1.-THE situation OF which
she described; or Il not there, they would certain
" be at one Johnson Henley's, few miles Of:
Accordingly White repaired to the hog pen, but
not finding them there, proceeded to Henley's,
where he learnt that they were expected to SAP
ana lO0Se tndt niSut, Uut udt "cy "ou NV '"e"
arrived White then called on constable (ha'
wing previously provided himself with warrant
| and told hin where Stone. might be taken, d.
recting him to be at Henley's very early in the
morning. before Stone should be stirring. He
then returned to reconnoitre Henley's house, and
saw through window. his wife and Stone seated
at the supper table. He continued to watch them
until he saw them both leave the table and 60 up
stairs together, when he returned for the consta.
bIe.....In the morning. before sun rise, White.
iwho had with him musket loaded with ball
and buck shot the constable, and three or four
other persons assembled in Henley's yard. Stone
was Immediately appraised of their arrival, by
Henley; aud seizing his gun he rushed down
stairs and out at the back door. The alarm was
instantly given to those 10 front of the house,
that Stone was making off, when White ran
around to the back Of the house to head him
Stone, though some distance of, on seeing White,
wheeled and leveled his gun at hint was an
awful moment fot White! He saw the man who
had poisoned MS happiness and robbed him OF his
peace, in the very actof concentrating the 'nJu-
ries he had Inflicted, by taking his life; yet, no.:
thing daunted. he pushed forward-the g click