Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-02-08
From the Columbus (Tenn.) Observer.

From the Columbus (Tenn.) Observer.
UNPARALLELED BRAVERY OF A Wo-
MAN-ATTEMPTED MUBDER.-One OF
the most daring acts of ylllainy that
has been recorded for some time past,
was committed in this county, on Thurs
day night, 9Th ult., by a negro fellow
belonging to Mr.. John Matthews, liy.
ing five or six miles south of this place.
The outrage was SO great, the circum-
stances so revolving, and the presence
ofmind, bravery, self-possesslon, actl-
witty, strength, and skill OF the lady on
whom the murder was attempted to be
perpetrated, SO Uncommon and almost
so unnatural in a woman, that we can
not forbear giving all the circumstan-
ces as related to US.
Mr.. Matthews was absent from home
and his wife, three small children,
and the negro, composed the family the
night this demon attempted to take the
life of his mistress. Mrs. Matthews,
unconscious of danger, was attending
to her usual business,--when, early In
the night, a whistle was two or three
times heard at the window, the negro
being in the house with his mistress,
having justfinished making a large fire.
I'VE will here remark, that Mr.. M. is
said to have a considerable sum ofmo-
ney at present, and there is scarce a
doubt but his negro, in partnership with
some other, either white or black, had
made a plot to take the life Of Mrs. M.
to get possession of the money!
When the whistle was heard, the me-
gro, pretending to be as much alarm
ed as his mistress, remarked that he
would 60 out and get the axe to de.
fend themselves with, if danger should
approach them. He did so, and pla-
ced it against the side of the house. In
a short time, while Mrs. Matthews was
STOPPING to pick up something she had
dropped, the negro caught her by the
neck with one hand and reached the
other for his axe, swearing he in!
tended 10 kill her. She rose from her
stopping posture, broke his grasp, and
threw him so far from her by her quick
motion and strength, as to be able to
get the axe first, which she did, and
fearing he might take 1t from her, pitch.
ed it GU as far as she could in the
dark, where she thought he would
hardly again find it. The negro, think
ing he could accomplish his demoniacal
purpose without it, again rushed at
Mrs. NJ. with the intention of throwing
her in the fire.
He threw her upon the hearth, but
she rose, as she says, with renewed
strength, and strange as it may seem,
threw him on the floor. A scufle for
some minutes ensued, when the negro
rather getting the advantage, got her
out of the house, and by her hair drag
ged her some distance in the direction
of a pond, where he said he intended
to drown her. Having a gate of bars
to pass through, she ono more regain
ed her feet, and determined to make
another struggle for her life. He here
thought of, and drew a large dirk knife
from his pocket, with which he thought
to despatch her. She saw it-and im>
mediutely, fcarlessly, and vigorously
grasped it. Each endeavored to wrest
it from the other, in which neither sue
ceeded. She finally, however, turned
his own weapon upon himself, and al
though yet firmly grasped by each,
she succeeded in cutting has THROAT
Thus it ended. He supposed his life
was near enough ended, and rose and
left her. She Immediately gathered up
her children, and set out for the near
est neighbor, where she gave the alarm
and a search for him commenced. We
learn that he has since been found, and
that the wound in the throat is not quite
severe enough TO cause his death.
The struggle lasted for a c%onsidera-
BILE time, and we have given the partic.
ulars as near as we ear recollect them.
Mrs. Matthews deserves a great deal
of praise for her conduct. Where is
the woman in q thousand, that would
not, from the great alarm, have sur
rendered her life Immediately into the
hands of the demon? He told her du.
ring the fight, that he had made the
large fire for the purpose of burning
her and her children in it that night,
and at n time came very near put
ting her in it.
A PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL MUIR