The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-08-07
From the Lehigh Herald Of July 26.
TRAGICAL AFFAIR.

Greenleaf, of this place, committed suicide
on Saturday evening last, in the county Jail
in this borough, by shooting himself through
the head with pistol, Our situation as a
public Journalist, we here confess, is an ex-
ceedingiy dolicate one. Alien from us is
the wish to add poignancy to tho agonized
feelings Of the relatives Of the deceased, by
publishing to curious world the occ urren-
ces which have led to this mela ncholy end |;
but then again we have duty, solemn
duty, to perform to the public. An individ-
ual in the bloom of health, in the gayety of
existence-yea, at the very period when,
above all others, life should have been most
dear to him-hss precipitately, and in viola-
ton Of the laws Of GOD, ushered himself,
perhaps unprepared, before the bar of his
Supreme Judge. The powerful motives, the
extraordinary causes, flor such they must
have been,J which led to this revolving deed, },
will be demanded by peace loving commu-
nifty and we cannot, therefore, reconcile
a concealment Of established facts with the
sacred obligations we owe to our readers
and the public.
We believe public opinion will bear us
out, when we declare it as our decided con-
viction, that this marriage was, as all such
sacred ties should be, the offspring Of mu-
lual love and affection. That it was so on
the part Of the wife, no one acquainted with
the situation Of the parties before marriage
will pretend to doubt ;--whether it was less
so on the part Of the husband, an impair
tial public must Judge from his subsequent
conduct. Shortly after the marriage the
parties came to this place and resided
with Ann p. Greenleaf, the mother Of the
wife. But q very short period had elapsed
when, strange to tell, it became a matter
of public notoriety that disc affection had
reared its hideous head, and ere long
Charles A. Dale was Indignantly spurned
from the residence Of his wife-the part
ner of his bosom denied him, and he turn
ed out upon the cold charity Of an unfeel-
ing world Here the public will ask, was
there sufficient, or any, cause for this !?
Was il at the instance and wish of his
wife?
As it regards the former interrogatory
public opinion is at variance and contra
dctory. It has been asserted that his
treatment towards his wife wos cold and
unbecoming he manifested an illibe-
raj and untoward disposition to possess
himself of certain property to which he
considered himself entitled by marrisge-'
besides other stories Of minor Import
To establish these reports we have, how
ever, nothing but the mere ipse dirt Of
interested persons. AUDI ALTERAM PAR
TEN is our motto, and as in this instanc ,
the DEGREES Of Providence have rendered
it impossible to hear BOTH sides, it would
be uncharitable to listen to the ONE told
US, and especially SO, when we have abun-
dant reason to believe, that Mr.. Dale not
only loved his wife, but that blighted affec-
ton drove him to despair and death.
A. L. IL -
feel constrained emphatically to declare.
that we cannot believe that Mr.. Dale
was discarded at the instance of his wife
Is it consistent with the sacredness which
we have always been wont to attach to
female love, to suppose, that ono or at
most two short months would be sufic-
lent to estrange her affections from him
under whose wings she had voluntarily
put herself for shelter and protection p
that she should, without the intervention of
dreadful influence, lose oil regard for
him who had solemnly pledged himself to
cherish, love and protect her-forget ell
respect for the transcendant ties Of hus-
band and wife. Had we no othsr evidence
to convince US that such has not been the
case, the bare idea is so revolving to rea-
son and humanity, as TO induce us to treat
it with ineffable contempt. No! rather
would she have said
~ know not I ask not, if quilts 10 that
heart,
I but know that I love thee, ,ohaiever
thom art"
The immediate occurrences attending the
unfortunate death Of Mr.. Dale are in sub
stance as folows:-
After ne had been discarded from his
home in June last, he left this place evil
dentiy in deep distress Of mind, and remain.
ed absent until several days before the
awful deed wns committed. On his re-
turn here, he made application for legal
advice to our respective counsel. and won
derful to relate, all countenance was re-
fused him. This without doubt heighten-
ed his mental agony.
Mrs Greenleaf being absent accompanying
Mrs. Dale on a visit 10 Washington city as
far as Philadelphia, Mr.. Dale obtained en-.
trance into the dwelling, and seated himself
IN his wife's chamber, with two pocket pis
tolls lying aside him, evidently in the deepest
agony and distress.--In this situation he re-
msined during the whole of Friday last, and
until Saturday at about 2 o'clock, p. M.--1e
then left the dwelling and again went in
search Of counsel, but again failed.-Tn the
mean time arrived the Philadelphia stage,
and with it Mrs, Greenleaf, who stopp'd at
tho house of her son in.law, Walter c. Liv.
ingston, q short distance below her rosi-
dence:-She, however, shortly aftsr repair
ed to her dwelling and at front door came
inte Contact with her son-in-law, Mr.. Dale
She attempted to prevent his entrance into
the house, he mildly held her back, and in
closing the Goor caught her arm, when the
cry OF murder was heard, which very soon
colles!ed around the dwelling an mususl
number Of persons. Mr.. Dale was instantly