Litchfield enquirer., 1837-03-02


 rrnPrRD MuRpER.-One of the most daring acts of villany that has been recorded for aoE1e time past, was committed Tn this coun- tv. on Thursday night, the 4th inst. by ne- gro fellow belonging to Mr. John Matthews, living five or six miles south of this place. The outrage was SO great, the circumstances SO revolting, and the presence of mind, bra- very, self-poSsession, activity, strength and skin of the lady on whom the murder was attempted to be perpetrated, so uncommon and almost so unnatural in woman, that we cannot forbear giving all the circumstances as related to us.
 MT, Matthews was absent from home, aud his wife, three small children and the negro composed the family the night this ue.noI attempted to take the life of his mistress.
 Mrs, Matthews, unconscious of danger was Was attending to her usual business, wher' e*'Ily
 in the night whistle was two or three I'',ieS ., heard at the window, the negro belng III In9 house with his mistress, having just hnlsneo making a large fire. We will here remark' that MT. M. is said to have considerable sum of money at present, and there IS scarce a doubt but his negro, in partnersmP wi.h some other, either white or black, had maoe a plot to take the life of Mrs. M to get pos session of the money.] When the whistle was heard, the negro pretended to Oe as much alarmed as his mistress that he would go out and get the axe to de- fend themselves with, if danger should ap- proach them. He did so and placed 1t a. eainst the side of the house. In short time, while Mrs. Matthews was stepping to DICK up something she had dropped, the negro caught her by the neck with one hand, and reached the other for his axe, swearing he intended 10 kill her. She rose from her stooping posture' broke his grasp, and threw him so far from her by her quick motion and strength, as 10 be able to get the axe first, which she did, and fearing he might take it from her, pitch ed it out as far as she could in the dark, where she thought he would hardly find it. The negro, thinking he could accomplish his demoniacal purpose without it, again rushed at Mrs. M. with the intention of throwing her in the fire He threw her upon the hearth, but she rose, as she says with rene'oed strength and strange as it may seem, threw hlm on the floor. A scuff1e for some minutes ensued' when the negro rather getting the advantage' got her out of the house and by her halr dragged her some distance in the direction of a pond, where he said he intended to drown her. Having gate or bars to pass through, she there once more regained her feet, and determined to make another desperate strug- gle 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 immediately, fearlessly, and vigor- it from the other, in which neither succeed ed. She finally, however, turned his own weapon upon himself and although yet firm- ly grasped by each, she succeeded in cutting his throat. Thus it ended. She supposed his life was near enough ended and left him. She immediately gathered up her children, and set out for the nearest neighbor, where she gave the alarm and search for him was 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.
 HErisburgk LzteE
 P,ws PHilGnthropy. py.--Our readers are doubt less aware that the seamstresseS of the city of New York made an appeal to the public, not many weeks since,, respecting the injustice and oppression under which they were suffer- ing from their employers, and the imperative necessity that something must be done to al- leviatee their immediHte' wants. Touched with the generous ssnsibilities of humanity, several gentlemen hnve entered upon the prosecution of a project, which will furnish the ssaffoflife to thousands who have hither- to- obeenable only to minister to the cupidity of tf1s wicked nonopOlisi,, while they and their children, in comparative sense, have been unfsd and unclnthed!.
 This band of Towards have fitted up a large tailoring establishment and amply SUD- piled it with fabrics suitable for the construc- ton of garments of every description, excep- ting gentlGmen'S coats. First rate workmen are employed to cut the articles; after which, they are dealt out to the seanstresses, who receive just remuneration for their work. The committee assure the public that the products of their establishment will be affor- ded Gt cost, or, in other words, 9 per cent. cheaper than elsewhere. They remark, in conclusion, that "by patronizing this estab- lishment, gentlemen will make very con. siderable saving in their expenditure, and give employment to eight or ten thousand after the painful appeal they have been ne- cessitated to make to the benevolent of this great and good city. ."-HarJord RerieO.
 Unhappy Disclosure.-A few evenings since, two young men stepped into an oyster cellar, and called for refreshments. After they had been supplied, the person in attendance sat down in an adjoining box, waiting their fur ther commands. Whilst there, he overheard plan to commit forgery on the following morning. He learned the name of the bank, but not that of the person whose funds were to be abstracted. In the morning shortly af- ter nine o'clock, he repaired to the bank and apprised the paying teller of what he had heard. Several checks had already been paid. The teller turned over those on file and at length hit upon one of doubtful char. acter. After rigid scrutiny, he pronoun. ced it spurious. The teller, and his inform. ant, repaired instantly to the oyster cellar where tho plan had been concerted. On en- tering, the teller walked up to young gen. tleman. whom he recognised as the person who had presented the check, and observed the check I paid you this morning is a for.