Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-02-02

Tor any other purpose than that Of IN
duIRIng the srohiug Of a wickrd and un.
, regenerato spirit. And yet. nolwIh-
standing all this, there were moments
when my conscience whispered me, in
tones that would make themselves
heard, OF the exceeding wickedness Of
my course. Bnt her Impressions we're
neither deep nor lasting nor stayed me
but Tor a mere moment 10 my career.
Ny Sabbaths were chiefly spent in tra-
verslng the forests with my gun, search
ing for game or at a tavern PLAYING
bail, and on such occasions, by nigbuaIl
| and nv associates, who hailed me as
their leader, were generally ripe for the
commission Of any immoral offence -
And, at such times, too, drank lmmod-
erately; always 40 occasional drinker.
but on occurrences like these, drank
deeply,
The foregoing, dear reader. will give
you faint conception OF my life sUd
habits, up 10 The time when that occur
red which caused me TO take the life Of
my brother. do not conceive it me-
cessary al all to The effect wished 10 be
produced by this coDesson, that | should
rend the sacred veil OF domestic privacy,
and give detailed account Of all that
there transplred-or that should now
indulge in unavaiIng regrets as 10 the
manner in which was reared. Let
this simple remark suffice-lhis one
simple declaration be understood, and
lei 1t knock approximately at the doors
ol :he hearts oI parents-thal, had there
been proper attention paid TO my early
education and moral culture, | had not
DOW, perhaps, been incarceraled in the
prison OF Muskingum county, soon 10
eXpate with my life, the blood Of my
brother which stains my hands.
Let me now state the immediate cause
which led TO this most lamen,abe ca =.
Iaslrophe. | became acquainted with a
young girl Of our ne ghborhood. named
Mary Jane Mcfarland. That acquan
lance soon rlpened into intimacy, and in
a short lime lengaged myself to her IN
marriage. My father, having learned
OF this engagement, peremptorily for
bade, and solemnly averred that if ii
should be consummaled. he would VI
ierIy aud entirely disown me, This
threat did not believe he would carry
into execution, as there was then a YER.
bal understanding between u.s. 81 which
was soon 10 be reduced 10 writing, that
was 10 have one half Of the farm
something above three hundred acres.
He had, beside, broken or TWO other en-
gagemeuis, which, at the times OF their
occurrence, naturally gave ms pnin, snd
| hatlered myself that 10 this, the third
he would surely forgive me in short
time, and then every thing would 60 on
smoothly and happily. So regarded
him not, and went on with my arrange
ments. The day Of our marriage was
appalnied, and the guests invited But
my father becoming aware ol this, again
declared his opposition IN so determined
manner on the morning Of the mar
rlage day, as to swerve me from my
purpose, and mounted my horse and
paid a visit 10 another direction sixteen
miles distant, and did not return Until
the next day. then learned that a sui
was about being commenced against NE
for breach Of promise Of marriage, anC
that the damages were laid at So 1000
This trou bled me exceedingly.
; We have asked Solomon, why when
; the reputation of the girl was so much
spoken Of in lhe neighborhood, he die
not al once abandon her, and give up al
idea Of a marriage with herl Tie re-
Piled never heard any thing agains
her up 10 this time. Ny fathers oppo
silion had determined me often to leave
her, and for days did not see her. Bu
it was OF no use-it seemed 10 be my
fate-Ihat things have happened just a.
they were ordered Here his voice
assumed a tone of deep feeling, and hC
added with emphasis Ioped her Sht
wQS herer COUGHING his breast severa
times with his fugeD-I 'OOre her ia
my hearth
, After silence Of several moments h-
proceeded:-l however went and saw
Mary Jane, and after positive anC
solemn understanding between US tina
the matter was to be kept n pro(ounc
secret as long as it was possible. we
were privately married. had hoped
} that my father would not mako this dis
covery for some time--but he soon
heard of it through the agency Of a
neighbor woman. He became very
much excited, and after some HIlerca-
lion with HIM, agreed not to bring her
on the farm, but would stay with him
while she could lodge with her mother
Things went on this way for some time
, i occasionally visiting her without my
fathers knowledge She visited around