Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-06-25

has been shrouded 10 mystery Dor more
than twenty years. Occasionally. in
deed. some CLEANS Of light have been
thrown around her melancholy end.
and the belief Is that she fell q yictir.
10 Pirstieal atrocity. Some three year
ago II Vas currently reported that a
man residing in one Of the interior
Ieountcs Of this state, made some dis
closure on his death bed which went 10
confirm tie confession previously made
by eulprt on the gallows, that the
vessel in which Mrs. Als,on sailed. Was
scuttled fur the sake Of her plate and
effects. The following article, which
we copy from the Alabama Journal.
goes to throw some additional Lyh, on
the subject. The facts mentioned in IL
are new 10 us, and will be probably. 10
most OF our rcaderS:-
CONFESSION OF A PIRATE.
The public, no doubt, remembers the
story OF the daughter OF Aaron Burr.
who was the wife Of Governor Aston.
OF South Carolina. On .he return Of
her father from Europe, about the year
1872, she embarked from Charleston on
a VISIT to him at New York, on board
privateer built vessel. and was never
heard OF afterwards. II seems that her
friends at 6rst thought the vessel had
fallen into the hands of the ,,iraies. and
afterwards concluded that IL was wreck
ed and lost. II appears from the state.
ment Of 4 respectable merchant Of Mo-
bile. that an,an died in that city recent
y, who confessed Tn his physician on
ms dying bed, that he bad been a n.
rate, and helped to dcsroy the vessel
and all the crew and passengers, in
which Mrs. Aston had embarked Tor
New York. He declared, says this
gentleman. that after the men were all
killed, there was an unwillingness on
The part Of every pirate TO ta.e the life
OF Mrs. Aston, who had net resisted
them or fought them, and therefore they
drew lots who should perform the deed.
As Il had 10 be done.
The lot fell on this pirate. who de-
clares that he Effected his object of put.
ting the lady to death. by the laying a
plank along the edge of the ship half ON
II and half of, or over the edge. and
made Mrs. Aston walk on the plank
hil It tilted over into the water with
her. The dying pirate requested his
physician TO make his stouy public.
but his surviving family will not permit
or consent that the name Of the deceas-
ed should be known.
The above tale was repeated over
and over by the merchant before men.
toned, in the presence oi q number of
gentlemen whose names can be gwen.
He said he received IL from the phy.i-
clan himself, with no other Injunction
to secrecy, than that he should not dis
close the name Of the physician for the
present. On being asked if the physi-
cian was a man Of veraciiy and respec-
liability, he replied there was no one
more so in Mobile. The merchant
was warned that his story would %,
INTO the newspapers, TO which he made
no objection.
Among the prisoners tried and
convicted at the late session of the
Circuit Court for the County of Wash
ington, was respectable old man in
appearance, by the name Of Chris,o-
Pher Brown, who plead guilty 10 an
indictment for stealing one cut-Slass
cruit and other articles from Alexan-
der Ray. When asked by the court
IN the usual form, If he had any thing
to say why sentence should not be
passed upon him, according to Law, he
stepped forward few PAGES, and w;.h
manifest contrition in has looks ard de-
pertinent, addressed the court in the
following correct and touching man.
ner:-
MAY il please the Court. am
sensible that have offended against
the laws Of God and my country. and
am truly ashamed OF my conduct
and sincerely sorry for IL. ! am an
old soldier, now in the decline Of liCe.
and have, in time past, fought and
oied for my country. have got an
honorable discharge from the army.
which Is now in my possession. All
can say, in extenuation Of my conduct
IS, that was unfortunately inebriated
at the time | committed the offence.
having been nnguardedly induced 10
drink too much, in company with a
brother soldier whom [ CHANGED 10
meet. ! know have done wrong
there the old man seemed much affect. |
ed) and deserve punishment; but I !
hope the court will be pleased 10 take |
INTO their consideration, that am now |
IN the evening Of life and will pas,
upon me a merciful sentence"
AT the close Of this touching address
which seemed TO affect the court and
al who heard II, apetition to the Presi- |
dent IN favor Of the prisoner was i'm
medlately drawn up and signed nv
The Court, the district Attorney. and |
Almost = every ono present. In less
ihan an hour the gentleman who waited
upon the President with the petition
returned with a favorable answer and
me prisoner was soon ai,er discharged /
not however, before a collection