Litchfield enquirer., 1834-06-26
SEDUCTION, MUNDER AND SUICIDE.
FROM an UPIOn I Eng J. paper.

In the spring of 1929, two younp ladies
sisters, named Louisa and Ellen Price,
daughters and only children Of the la,e
James Price, Esq. of Liangenoch Park,
were placed by their widowed mother a;
the boarding school Of the celebrated Mrs.
Shcrwpok, between Powick and Worcester
three miles from the latter pIace.l Loui-,
sa was,then IS and Ellen Ia years of age.
Il appears that Mrs! S. was in the habit of
assembling her pupils and her friends of
both sexes, every other week, for the pure
pose Of performing concerts Of sacred mu-
sic. To these parties there came among
others. two young merchants from Worcesa
ter named Harris aud Benson.
We pass over the occurrences Of three
years, during " hich time, tiese Two young
creaiures, naturally interesting. and gifted
with -stsxsisss suit Ipss were slngIed
nut by Harris and Bonsah Cur their masked
1attension; these becoming obvious, were,
communicated by Mrs. S. 90 The mother.
between whom and The ya0ng men an ex-,
fplanation took place, and they were uiti-
IRately received ut her house as the future
husbands OF her daughters. "A brother Of
Mrs. Pieces dying in 1891, loft them it !
seems, sum Of money on condition 0f
their not marrying until they attained the
age Of rs; and as the mother refused her
sanction to the marriage at her daughters
until that period, this circumstance was
made prclcxt BY their professed lovers 10
induce them TO consent TO an elopement,
and private marriage and in an evil hour,
these two trusting and innocent girls, with
all the fond affection of young and comic
ding hearts, embarked their future worldly
hopes and happiness ID one frail bark the
honor Of their admires--aind eloped witlt
Them before daybreak from Mrs. She.-
wood house. They proceeded toa neigh
boring church EIallow,1 q few miles az,
the keys Of which they obtained by brib-
ing the sexton, who asserts that ne was to-
tally ignorant Of their intentions. Here
mock ceremony Of marriage was perform
ed by an accomplish, who was dressed i'm
the habiliments Of 4 clergyman. They're
sided Cor some months after this in 4 cot
tage Ornee in the suburb Of Worcester !;
and here, in April, 1882, Louisa, the eld-
est, gave birth TO daughter, the child of
Mr.. Benson, to whom she thought herself
married. In.the June yf the same year,
Harris proceeded to Lisbon on business
connected with the firm; where, as il sub
sequently turned out, he married d daugh-
ter Of MIR. Kent, wine merchant Of tho
firmfof Kent. Brothers e. Co. Heretuvn-
cd 20 England IN February of this year.
bringing his real wife with him. and pHr-
chased a house at Kimpsey Oh the banks
Of the Severn. Soon after Harris return
Benson left Louisa, then the mother OF
two children, with whom and her sister he
had been constantly living up 10 that time,
and took up bis residence ia Harris house,
| from whence he sent the unfortunate vic-
ltims letter, stating the facts in relation h
the yillany practiscd on them, and offering
iD the name Of himself and partner, to
make settlements upon them by way Of
lreparation.
Words fail in describing the shock pro-
duced By the communication of this totally
unexpected blow, which robbed them ofaiE
| that rendered life, in their estimation,
worth preserving, 1s'
Ellen died fortnight after, in the Luz
natic- Asylum, near Droiiwich, in the arms
Of her sister, whose mind, IL seems, was
sustained BY her determination to execute
q feaffnl revenge upon the guilty csusers
Of their bitter sufierings; which she TOO
faithfully perforn,ed. Learning that her
pretended husband ives ID be married on
The 10Th Of March, and that he was Il re-
turn from Worcester to Kempsey the pre-
ceding evening, in gig with Harris, 10 the
house Of the latter, she planned and putin
operation the following frightfal mode Of
retsibntion. '2
Alter strangling her two infants, and
leaving = letter on the table stating as a rea-
son that she would not let them live 70 hear
the tale Of their mothers disgrace, she
dressed in meu's clothes, armed herself
with brace Of pistols. and knowing tho
probable time Of their approach. took her
station in a small shrubbery midway up a
steep ascent, whore the road Is very narrow
and overhangs the river. Onthe approach
| Of the Gig. il appears that she discharged
both the pistols, one of which took effect
4 ID the brain Of Mr.. Benson, WHO was dri-
4 wing, and he fell dead from his seat; tho
4 horse taking fright, started of, and before
Mr.. Harris could seize the reins to arrest
him, plunged over the cliff into the river,
where both horse and rider were drowned
] The poor girl was fosnd. quite dead, vel
tering 10 her blood. (having stabbed her-
SELF across the lifeless body Of Ransom
/ The horse and Gig aoated on 70 Gl0uster
/ Rr;dge. where they were taken out Of the.
q z "a. 49, 1.Att