Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-06-08

amply sufficient to build u dozen cities %
What want of confidence in or know
ledge of our mineral productions do these
simple facts prove!
We have taken more space than we
designed allotting to each number for
the present, aud must defer portion we
wished to include, till our next.
"rRUrH STRANGER THAN FICTION"
We witnessed the mos. TragicaI scene al
Yancy Superior Court, that has ever been
! acted in any court in North Carolina. The
facts were as follows : A bout two ears since,
a man by the name vi John wilson, married
Elizabeth Rey Of that county. They lived
together about seven weeks, when some dis
turbance took place which caused their sep>
araiion. Six months ago the husband filed IA
petition for divorce, setting forth various eau
ses-deciaring that he was young and mex
perienced " hen he married her, and was not
acquainted with her true character that her
conduct during the time they lived together,
was insupPorlable, and by him could not be
endured. She answered, that they were raIs-
ed in tue same neighborhood, and knew each
| other from their infancy up; that he knew
her character and circumstances in life per-
fectiy well when he married her, and had
| taken her with his eyes open TO all her fraiI>
ties she positively denied ever having been
guilty OF any misconduct, during the time
they lived together, but that she acted To-
wards him the part of an atfec,Ionate wife,
She farther asserted that when he was about
to leave her, he made no charges against her
| bat gave as his reason for separation, that he
| did not, nor had he ever loved her, that his
friends had induced him to marry ner mere
| ly for her property, ard that he had ascer>
tanned he could not enjoy life with woman
he did not love.
| A the last Court an issue was made up s.
submitted to a jury. The petition aud an
sweI having been read, evidence was then
introduced which proved decidedly IN IA
YOUR of the petitioner. On the part OF the
| Plaintiff, the cause was submitted without
any argument, but the Counsel for the De-
lendant resisted the divorce by long and
feeling speech, IN which he alluded 10 the
solennity of the marriage vow, the mutual
duties il imposed on the parties. and the want
OF sufficient cause, in that case, TO dissolve the
bonds of matrimony.
During the investigation the parties were
both in Court. The husband was apparent
| Iy young and simple, and in fact mere boy
and there was nothing in The least prepos-
sessing in his appearance. The wife seemed
somew hat older and altogether the superior.
She is fine looking woman, with da-k hair,
| black eyes and very expressive face; she
manifested great interest in The trial.
The Jury after retiring a few moments,
returned verdict for the plaintiff. The par
! Ties were still in their seats behind the bar,
some six or eight feet distant from each 9TH
err; the wife asked gentleman by whom
she was sitting for his knife, as il to trim her
! finger nails she ielt the edge, rose TO her
/ feet, paused moment, turned iale, her eyes
flashed fire, and then suddenly sprang for
ward with the drawn knife and aimed at her
husband deadly blow. But fortunately a
lady who was standing by, saw her getting
the knife, and peTceiying from her eounien-
! snce that she was meditating something OF
desperate character, watched her until she
saw the blow aimed at the throa. Of the UNI
suspecting husband, and instantly seized the
arm of the Infatuated wife and diverted the
weapon from the object n, which il was aim
ed but determined on her hellish purpose,
she threw the knife with great violence at
her husband, and turning made most furi-
Gus attack ON her whose hand had arrested
the blow and thwaried the wicked design.
The Court ordered her into custody !; she was
arrested and borne out Of the Court, making
| the most wild and frantic exclamalions--
calling 10 her husband in the most tender &
passionate language, aud seemed 10 be en-
iireiy deranged.
Her conduct was strange and unaccounia.
BILE, but all who Witnessed the scene agree
that she must have loved her husband She
had listened attentively to The investigation
ofihe whole matter, heard the pathetic speech
of her counsel, and then the verdict OF the
Jury pronouncing their final separation, ST.
J felt that she loved him above all others, and
the idea that he was then al liberty 10 marry
again (for that was said to be his obJeci) was
more than she could endure. Her heart was
devoted 10 him, and sooner than see bis pledg-
ed TO another, she would see him die, that toe
by her own hand, in the presence OF The cOuIl
! and the multitude that surrounded her. VI
the consequences TO hersel! she never thought
nor for them cared they could not have
been greater than death, and no doubt she tel
al that moment, that she would gladly take
refuge in The arms of henth CT - ,,,o,
in Jail until the next morning, when She wa
brought before the court, and after beng go
yereIy reprimanded, was sentenced tofh''
days Imprisonment, for contempt to The coIr
and required to give bond and security 10
her good behaviour for the next tweh'.
months. -Rutherford Gazette