Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-04-23
From the Natchez Free Trader.
ROMANTIC STORY.

The Boston Times says That some one lately
attempted 10 murder Sleeping woman by pour
IN hot lead into her ear, and tina, so shocking
circumstance was nerer heard Of before" This
is a mistake. more remarkable instance oc-
CARED some years ago. IN Virginia. We person.
ally knew all the parties ultimately. Col. FFN,
gentleman of high respectability, and frequent
~ representative from his county died, leaving
a wife. some sons, aud yer. beautiful daughter,
abou, 10 years Of age. Tho widow, finding her
self destitute, opened boarding house at the
county seat. and among her boardefs Mr..
w, wealthy merchant, IN The meridian OF lie,
and very fine looking man. This gentleman
was The prop and stay Of the family: gave employ
ment to the sons, furnished means 10 educate the
daughter IN the most fashionable manner, and con-
ceived for her Iolent passion. Ga her return
from school, he addressed her, but she resisted a.
like his appeals and the opportunities OF her
mother and friends She had indeed formed an
attachment for very nce young man 10 the same
town. but he was not 10 he put 10 competition with
the rich merchant IN the estimation Of the family.
The young lady, perhaps, thought Otherwise
Finally, however, after two years OF assidui'y
and delicate galantry on the part of Mr.. w. aud
the combined tears, entreaties, threats and pcfse
cution Of the family, the fair girl stood before tho
altar and became his wife. The next evening
large party given them, and IN the midst OF
the dance Mr.. w. being suddenly attacked with
a vertigo and sick he adache, was compelled 10
Withdraw. His young wife hung over him in the
silent watches Of the night, apparently IN deep
distress, and insisted on giving him POTION
She poured a wine glass full Of laudanum,
and he swallowed it withou, knowing its nature.
From some cause, it immeda ;ey acted as
emetic; but left HIM stupid and wandering. HIS
senses reeied. One moment he would lay mo
tlonless and comitose if on The borders Of the
spirit world, and then he would shrek and leap
up convuIsivey, like strong man in his agony.
,,l ,tl tho.r ht,,,,
At length he fell into gen lie slumber. She then
stopped for moment over the smouldering en-
bers approached the bed, gazed al her sleeping
husband and holding heated ladle IN her hand,
calmly prepared TO pour stream OF melted lead
into his ear. AT that instant he moved, and the
kissing liquid intended to penetrate to, md scald
out, his brain, and thus cause death without a
trace. fell upon his check He shouted in excru-
,iating pain, and the jewellers, mother, brother,
and friends rushed in. There writhed the still
stupid husband the lead rvi,ed deep into his cheek
and there stood the tiend wife, her b!dal fiIlets
yet upon her brow, the instrument Of death in her
hand, and an empty via labelled .Laudanun' ~
ing or the floor. The fearful realities of The
flashed on every one, and in the confusion of the
moment she disappeared, and was hurried forth
with out of the commonwealth to distant State;
searching the room an old French magazine
was found containing the dea,hbed confession Of
woman. who had murdered niue husbands by
pouring lead into their ears. The laudanum and
the lead, it asceriained, she had procured
from The store of Mr.. W. a few days befnre he
marriage, and the ladle used was part Of bridal
present. The Grand Jury next morning found
bill against the fugitive, and the Legislature be-
ing in session, Immediately decreed final ana alb.
solu,e divorce What renders this the more
singular is, that Miss r. was proverblal for tho
blaudness Of her manner and the universal soft
ness Of her temper. She was blonde The
rose leaf tinted her lily cheek sunbeam
CLOVIS on snow. Her blue eyes were indescriba-
Div sweet and her golden hair foated like drap perry
Of gossamer, around form more perfect and vo.
luptuous, than ever Raphael dreamed Of Pc
.Iarch surg. Often have gazed, as she stood
the cynosure of every circle, and wondered if
angels could be SO fair.
But the sequel Of this romance is more singu-
lar still. Years rolled by and Mr.. w continued
a wre,ched and solitary man. But the spell OF the
enchantress still upon his soul. He closed
his s,ores-sold out his estates-colected his AM
Die means and followed her TO her distant abode,
10 make a new offer Of his hand! She had Just
married man Of high standing, aware Of all the
circumstances, but incapable of resisting her
charms Poor W! Then indeed, did the iron en-
ter his soul. 1.-The deadly arrow quivcred 10 his
side His early love--his tluctuating courtship
his triumph and the tragedy il occasioned-,he
flight--the divorce--hIs years OF misery--the
new birth OF his passion, and now It's dIsappoint-
ment final and forever--come rushing over him,
like an avalanche, IN the tide of bitter memories,
and he prayed for death! Whether this prayer
was answered we know not. He may YET vans
der broke n hearted over the earth; but one thing
we do know If he be dead, wre,ched,
yet a purer and nobler spirit never winged It's
flight to Heaven.
A Coon Acr.-A circumstance took place at
our village on Saturday last, which highly
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