Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-02-20
C0rsspondeaee Of he ". y. Hsrald.
PmtApUtrufs. Feb. IA


PniLADELFmA, Feb. 10, l-I3.
Dear Sir: The terrible retrbutOn visited upon the head
OF young IIcbc1n, has excited great feeling in our COM
nuny. Both he and the perpeiraiJr Of the act Singleton
Mercer were Of highly respectable and wealthy families
and may false ia circulation with regard 10 the
parties; but the facts connected with this case ~ far ~
have been able Ia ascertain them, briefly hes, aud they
may be depended upon authentic. Hutchinson Hrber.
ton, was young without any rpguur occupation of
dI-paed turn " mind, having the reputation Of 'rOusr
he met with the sister 81 Mercer tune -nce and
medacy resolved her dciruct pn az least he bJasted
that be- would niuhcf 10 effect this ho invited her, dur
ing the late snow, sleigh ride and driving into tho
county induced her 10 drink punch until shc a con.
don IN winch De- might effect his purpose without re-I.-
lance. Having accomplished this, he brought her 10
house Of bad character In Pine Twelfth street where
she remained several day, Lcr family being much alarmed
al her uonce Of The end Of hye days she returned ~ her
home, dsoccd und ruined, stating that she nod been n
duced Ia remain away long, by the rnitcruied promises of
hcberon 10 marry her, tie brother, Singleton, Immediately
called upon lcbcrDn, aud insisted upon bis immediate mar
uagc "a bic sister. The proposal was trntsd witt, sc1r w
the saucd soduce and the brother then challenged
HIM Cowardy o. guilty, ho refused to fight dor no con.
scenuous reasons could Jo psadcd by man whose whole
I hic was violation Of conscience Epgn receiving hs
refusal tDhght the brother resolved TO adopt to only o,r.
which could wipe ont the disgrace c tcr and revenge
ihc dreadful insult offered h- family lie watched bis
opportunity, and USbrrtJu leaving he rity l ,,v al az,
dem with his lawyer, s. c. Nundykc Eq4 provided C,, a
shooting expedition was, when within low water mark ON
he Jersey side, while IN the carale BOO which ho remained
dunng me passage Of The boat arToss hc river for the pur
po-e oi conccament, shot by Mercer vit ono nC Csrs
s1 barrel pistols, four shots being rod and only one takn
eh'cpassing through the lower lobe NJ the h. lung and
pfrrarum, and lodging tho hHsy part II the cff ven
incIcd the heart. 90 died instantly utt,rng according
10 tlc evidence o The c0achusr only sigh Mercer im
mtdatoy goyc himself up 10 abe authorities srd is now 10
woodbury. Jail, bail being refused David Paul B,ogu 80,
r. W. ubbel Esqs. onglgcd n. hs counsel and b,
her advice, he refuses a. any questions upon IN,
SUBJECT OF The otnck, although upon other subjects be
checinl aud even Jocuar, feeling that be would act n
similar manner -yap called upon by like circumstances
Inc community Of us side Oi lg river aImoet II, man
jusy the set but n Jersey, where his fna v lake Mace
nc iSellnR iaL dieront and 81 s unfortunate ID shout,
have occurrsd there. Some idea Of the feeling IN ,b
neghDofhood Of Cahoog may be gathered from the fac
mat inc corone jury which upon the body yesterday
iouN tfiqic Of "malcous, wil aud dobo5aie murde
against Singleton Mercer" while have NOT beop s,,.
20 by one personin Philadelphia who did not justify he ac
me BODY OF heheron brought 20 he city yesterda
+ h'eJhoon, and it's thought will be buried privately