, 1843-03-04
PHlLApELpmIA. Feb. IL.


.eged seduction. or rather abduction.
rs il was then calIed--of a Young
lady residing in Southwark, and stat
ed, al the tine, that something serl-
Gus was likely to grow out of the az
fair. That prediction has been most
sadly realized, and | will now state,
as briefly and truly as possible, all
the circumstances connected with
the dreadful affair, which hiss thrown
our whole community into q state of
the greatest excitement.
On Tuesday and Wednesday last.
considerable talk was produced by
the sudden disappearance of a young
and handsome Girl. aged about l6.
named Sarah Mercer. he daughter
of Thomas Mercer, 80 Queen street,
one of the most ", allhy & r~especta-
BILE inhabitants of Southwark. A
Young mar of this city. named Hutch
inson Heberion, was arrested on suS-
picion of being concerned in her alb
duction. and taken before Alderman
Mitchell. at the instance of the giIl's
brother. who Threatened him then
with instant death if he refused. brI
> was discharged in consequence Of the
girls return to her parents on We'd
nesday evening. 1t was ascertained.
however. that Heberton had seduced
the young girl. and that she had gone
10 a house Of Ill fame. in the neigh
borhnod Of Pine and twelfth streets.
kept by Louisa O'Neil. where he had
been in the habit of meeting her.
Miss MERGERS absence. as well rs
her return, according to all state
ments. was voluntary. The anguish
of the family at the knowledge of the
dishonor that had fallen upon the
daughter, no tongue can tell nor pen
describe. To wipe out the stain SO
far rs it was possible so to do. n mar.
riage was proposed to the seduccr.
This was declined on his p1rt. and
the brother of the seduced then chal.
Ienced him. This was also declined.
; The inTuriated brother. stuny almost
10 madness. determined not 10 he
banked in his revenge. He watch.
, ed The movements of Heher,nn. and
having asceriaincd hat he was io
leave The CITY on Friday afternoon ol
evening in carriage by way Of Cam.
! den. he managed To discover the same
: in the street, when re employed one
{ Of Nanseiver's vehicles. driven " :
, Young man, TO whom Mercer CAV,
instructions, pointing on. the carriage
) to lose sight Of it on no condition
2. tut keep close 20 it. and wherever i
e went 10 follow afier it. In this car
riage, in company with Heberton
was seated his legal friend and advi
ser, Jas. c. VanPyke, Esq, from
whose office the deceased had lief
with the avowed object of prevent
7 ing a meeting with the misguided nnt
$ excited Mercer. After having driv
b, en- through several streets, the car
rage entered the ferry boat Johr
c Fitch. then lying at Market stree
wharf. Mercer. followed after. leap
ed from his vehicle unobserved, ant
concealed himself behind a box OF
board the boat. armed with one o
I Colts six barreled pistols. Shorll,
=. after the carriage was driven ol
board with the blinds drawn up, IN,
: when within n few yards of the Jer
y sey shore Mr.. Vandyke got out O
Y the same, walked around, it is presum
ed, to see all was safe. when Merce
approached the carriage and fired fou
balls into it in quick succession. On
of them proved fatal, taking efiec
under the left shoulder blade, an,
e penetrated the heart. Heberton wa
conveyed to Cakes tavern in Can
e den, where he expired in a few min
o utes. The murderer was immediate
|. ly arrested, and upon his person wa
n found the pistol, two barrels Of whic
IS still retained their charge. His cor
1t duct during the remainder Of III
IS evening is represented as havin
is been wild and frantic, evidently Il
boring under the most intense excite
ment.
d Thus has the imprudent conduct {
Of a once fond and doating daugllte
at hurled into misery the peace an
Of happiness Of aged and venerable p;
n. rents! When Miss Sarah MERGE
n entered her fathers residence, afle
b. leaving The abode Of iniamy on Pin
street, she avowed her Discriminate
not to remain-expressed her attacl
d. ment for the deceased-and It W;
- only by force that she was compelle
r. to. 1t is also said that her brotht
ne had sworn that she, too. who had di
n. graced her family, should fall the il
ed slant he laid eyes on her; but fortuI