Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-02-18


marry her sister Jane to Alfred Burnard,
which did at.my own house ON the 22d vi Sep
tember, Margaret. Mary, and Andrew Asnew be-
inc present. with some others whom lido not know
Graham told me if he had known OF the transac.
fion no complained of that he would not have
called on me to perform that ceremony. They re-
presented the delicacy Of Margaret az having been
so offended that her health had been injured
They declared that she was prepared to make
direct charge against me, and that they were de.
termned tn have an investigation. aud full salts.
faction, and would urge it with the utmost rigor
Of the law. admitted that the charge was in.
famous enough il true. but said would swear
that il was utterly false Graham then said Ma
~ had charged me with taking improper liberties
with her on one occasion when she held the In
fan, in her arns Mary being then in the kiteh-
e "a, Mr.. P. said that he called and enqIired whe-
Their when he approached her to apPease the cry
ing OF the child she believed that he was actual
ed by any criminal intention, to which she rePil'
ed that she did not.
He. (Mr. P.) then demanded where Margaret
was that ne might confront her and hear the charge
from her own lips. They said she was poorly,
but that she would meet him and make the charge
before one hundred people. Feeling the de'ica-
cy Of his situation, father Of eight children. a
minister Of the gospel, anJ experimenting that IN
furious consequences would result even IRON the
sliffusiop of the SANDER. he was induced to con-
sent 10 90 and see her at Burnard's house. At
ter they had gone Mr. P. said that he commune
Gated to his wife what unexpected trouble
had befallen him, and that he had agreed to
meet Margaret. His wife demonstrated and
said he should not 90 alone; that Il would
be an injury to the cause Of religion. aud that he
ought to try to suppress it. When Burnafd came
for him to 20 to his house, he (Mr remarked
that his going might be construed into cOnces-
sion of guilt; that his object was to prevent pub
litity, at the same asserting his innoceace. Bur
nard replied that they ought to meet. and perhaps
an explanation would take place. On the way
he said that Margaret was very angry at what l.
had stated about her and Jacob, and that George
Graham was in great rage and determined to
have satisfaction. He said that money w"a'd set
tie the business. replied. said Mr. p, that
money MAS out Of the question, to which he an
swercd that there was no use in seeing her. for
that it would not be settled otherwise.
As entered the house sas Barnard look To
Graham and smile, which 10 my mind said ''we
have him now." and l ielt that Twas IN their pow
er. They were all present, except Andrew Az
new. asked Margaret what was the charge she
brought against me, and she made the same charge
that her brother had made, adding "you know
what you did," inquired If she could make
oath to what she had said, and reminded her OF
the sulemnity Of an oath, and the wickedness OF
disturbing the peace of an innocent family l
asked her il she recollected an admission she had
made to Mrs. Philips that her first child was IL.
legitimate, and also whether her husband had
again deserted her. George observed that that
had nothing to do with this business. add went on
to comment on the infamy Of the TRANSACTION. in
asmuch as was clergyman, saying he had known
instances Of heavy damages being given in Eng.
land, and that on one occasion man had been
hung. He told me if was no, guilty would
not have come there. asked what satisfaction
they expected. to which George replied if would
pay $500, it would settle the business Marga-
ret assented, saying, she would agree to any thin
that her brother proposed. told them they had
mistaken me; that had large family, and no
money to throw away. l asked Margaret If she
charged me with improper conduct at any other
time, and she replied that had once put my arms
around her in the kitchen and pressed her. To
my inquiry il used force, she said that she told
me to leave the room Mr. Philips said
that he remarked to her that the Rev. Mr..
Smith was in the house at the time, but she in.
sisted that he knew nothing about it. 1t was on
Wednesday morning, about the last of June she
alleged the insult to have been offered. told
Burnard was willing to meet him again, aud
named Thursday Of the following week. George
said he cared not where the money came from,
but If it were not paid forthwith, he would EN-.
ploy an attorney TO commence prosecution next
morning; that he had persons who would back
him, aud that he would see the end of it.
left them and determined to make known the
matter to the elders Of the church. but when
met the session had not the heart to do it and
determined TO bear it alone. The next week
had more hope that il would be suppressed.
had an interview with an attorney, who said that
the transaction was dark one and that It was i'm.
possible to recover money from me, which if they
knew they would probably .desist. On the even
ing Of Thanksgiving day, Burnard came again
and persisted in his demand for $500. told
him what advice had received and he then Of.
fered to take $3.50. said no; 60 and tell them
what the law is and they will not probably pro-
secute under such circumstances. The next week
he came again and told me he had consulted an
attorney, who had advised prosecution and said
he would act without a fee. After some further