Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1840-10-03
NY
4 TRUE sToRY,

"y ySS's 'Bo, = uuRpcucu. 10 Ue one OF tn
referees in q case which excited unusual interes
in our courts. from the singular nature Of lh
claim, and The strange story which it Disclosed
The plaintiff, who was cap,sin ofs msrrhd,I mi,
which traded principally win the West Indies
had married quite early with every prospect, oi
happiness. His wits. WIS said t. have besD ex
trennely beautiful and no less lovely in character
After iisi,s with her ia most uninterrupted har.
mony for five years, during which time, two
daughters were added TO his fsmily, he suddenly
resolved TO resume bis occupation, which he hsd
reiinquishsd on his marriage, and when his
20 unaest child vas but three weeks old, sailed
once more for the West Indies. His wife Who
was devo,cdiy attached 10 him, sorrowsdt deeply
at his absencs, and found her oniy comfort il the
society Of her children and the hope Of his return.
Blu month aftet month pssssd sway, and be
came not, nor did any letters, iHoss Insufficient
bu, welcome Substitutes, strive ii cheer her soil.
tnde. Men,bs lengtheoSd into yesrs, ", no
tidings were received Of the absen, husband; aud
after long hoping agdin.t hops. the unhappy Wits
was compelled 10 believe that he had found !
grave beneath the welteriag ocean.
Her sorrow was deep and heartfelt, hut he
evils Of poverty we're nov added 10 h.r affection,
and the widow found herself obliged 10 rsso,t 10
Some employment in order 10 supper, her children.
Her needle wss hsr only resource, and for Ten
yesrs,she labored early and late. foi the miserable
pittsnce which is ever grudsingly bestowed on ~
humble sean'stress.
A merchant in New York, in moderate but
prosperous circumstances. accidsntly became &C.
~quainted with her, and pleased with her gentle
manhSrs no less than her extreme beauty, endeav.
ored to improve their acqusintancs with friend
ship.
After soms months, he offered his hand, and ii
was accepted. Asst The wifs Of q successful msr-
chsnt. she soon found herself in the enjoy ment Of
comforts and ~luxuriss, such a. she had never b.
fore possessed. Her children became his children,
and received from him every advantage which
wealth and Affection could procure. Fiheeh ysat.
passed awsy; tbs daughters married and hy their
step father werc furnished with every cnmfo,t re
quisite in their new avocs.ion Of hot.s keepers.
they had scarcely quilted his roof, when their
mother was taken in. She died after Q few dsys
sick ness, and from that time till the period Of
I speak, the widower resided with the
youngest daughter.
Now comes the a.radsest part sf the si5ry.-
After an absence Of thirty yeais, during which
inns no tidlngs had been received fdm him, the
husband returned a. suddenly h he had de-
parted. s2
He had changed his ship, and adopted another
'ame, and spent the whole Of that long period on
lie ocean. with orly' tiansient visits on shore,
taking in or di.charsins cargo; having been
areful never to come nearer home than New
orleans. Why he had actsd Id this unpardona-
Nc manner towards his family, no one could tell,
md he obstinsteiy refused Oh expisnatioh.
There were strange rumors Of slave trailing and
,irscy afost, but they we're only whispers Of con-
ec,ure rather than truth. Whatever nigh, have
'een his motives for such conduct.he was c~er,ain-
: any thing bnt indifferent 70 his family concefns
hen be returned. He raved like ! tiadnan,
shen Informed Of his wife's second marriage and
ubsequent death, vowing . vengeance upon bis
uccessor. ,errlfy ing his daughters BY the most
wful threats, ip case they refused to acknowledge
is ciaims. He had returned wealthy. aud one
T those mean reptiles Of the Law, who are aiwsys
'and 10 be crawling chou, the halls Of justice,
dyised him to bfiug a sui. asains, the second
usband, assuring HIN that he could recover
cavy damages. The sbsurdity Of instiiuting .
for a wife whom death had already released
ON tie jurisdiction of earthly laws. was % mani
that it was d length setsed by Oh parties, to
the matter to DO adjadged BY I've referees.
II was a bright and beautiful afternoon ID sp,ins,
hen we met TO hear this singular case. The
s,resnied thfoush the dusty windows Of
70 court room, and shed I haIo around tho long
and broad forehead Of The defendant;
lille tho plaintiffs harsh features were thrown
ito still holder relief, BY the sams beam which
the placid countenancs Of bis advsrssry.
The plaintiffs lawyer made / most e~loqusn.
ppeal for his client. and had No not been ioform.
J about the matter. out hearts would have been
'sasd BY his touching description Of ths return
The assolate husband. and The ssoay with which
. now bsheid his housshold goods removed to
'~nsecsate a strangers hearth. The celebrated
'aron Burr Was Counsel for the defendant. and
. anticipated from him, . splendid display Of
Iatory.
Contrary to our sxpcctations, however. Burr
'ads no a,.enp.so confu,s his opponents ofato.