Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-11-26
I.ErrEn rRoM MRs. MYrl,s.

with HoYr, and his death at the hands Of Mr..
MYERS, ha. produced so much excitement
ALTA VIsrA, Albemsrle County, Va.
NV dear Friend IL ask your sympathy,
your condolences in nv crushing allliction. my
fiery trial. | cannot depict 10 you the anguish
endure at being thus arrsigned for a crime,
the very thought of which crmsons my cheek
with Indignation; nor can convey the slight
est idea OF the torture with which | find nv
self so much the object Of publicity. shrink
within the shade of retirement and seclusion.
but unhappy circumstances impel me forward;
for have been so overwhelmed by the ap-
pearance OF my letters in the public prints, an
accumulation os modification added 10 other
causes Of agony. which did not anticipate.
tina, have thought it bat Justice TO myself TO
give you, my friend, statement Of my whole
acquaintance with the individual so untortu-
nately associated with me, in order thatit may
furnish some palliaton Of my indlscrebon.
The commencement OF nay acquaintance with
MrHoYT wa. under the following circumstan-
ees. A letter was addressed to rue under an
envelope TO Mr.. HoYr, and this letter was
transmitted to me by him. Up 10 this time
had never exchanged word with Mr.. HoYT in
my life. The contents ofthis letter rendered it
necessary that should seek few words oHex-
PLANTATION with him. Twas reluctant TO make this
the subject Of letter TO Kim, and, therefore, |
addressed him note, requesting 10 see him at
my own house concerning this matter In
my first interview with MIR HoYT, he reques-
ted my permission to visit me again. To this
readily consented. and as he suggested the
propriety of our being formally introduced in
society, in order that our recognition might be
public, acceGed 10 his proposal Of meeting
him at Mr.. MoRAN's rooms, (where he told
me he was sitting for his minalure) in compa-
nv with Miss 4. c.. from whom, he said, be
would solicit an Introduction to me. From
this time his visits to me were very frequent.
In an interview in the early stage Of cur ac-
quan,ance, paiated some expression, mad
vertenLy used in one Of my GrSi notes 10 him,
in which had alluded 10 feeling Of desoa-
ton. To this he replied. that 'my unhappi-
ness was the theme Of public discussion, and
was not n truth be had guessed from my note,
but one he had learned from his observation Of
my counenance, before he had formed my
acquaintance" Encouraged by my casual
allusion TO this subject, Inadvertently made
on my part. as ara ready to conEess) IN our
association together, be would frequently ad-
vert to my situation Is one o. exquisite mise
~, picturing 10 me my husbands Indifference.
repeating unkind and cruel words, which he
said my husband had used Of lne 10 the most
public places, aud assuring me that his alien
alton and GOODNESS 10 me, his wife. were the
subject of remark in society. This naturally
incensed me against my husband, and made
me regard him most unklndly. From the
sympathy he expressed for me, entering into
all my sorrows with the utmost depth Of feel
ing, our confidence became very trustlul, and
we cosversed together with great unreserye.
Such intercourse continued for some time, and
thus was unconsciously and imperceptlbly
prepared to lend my ear to an avowal Of al
tachment. from which would have revoltel
had it been preceded by less insid.ous preface.
Shortly subsequent 10 this crisis, my husband
received an anonymous note, winch he
promptly showed me. This circumstance
precluded Mr.. HoYT's visits TO my own house,
notwithstanding the testimony 10 the contrary ;
for after this he never crossed the threshold of
my door. And here cannot forbear touching
upon one part Of the testimony which aihrms
that was "locked up in a certain parlor
for number OF hours. 1t is true had sever
al interviews with Mr.. Horn in number eigh.
teen, the room referred to; but those who are
familiar with the location Of the rooms at the
Exchange Hotel, will readily recognize this
apartment as one OF the most public in the es-
tablisment 1t is well known, also, that per
sons wishing for privacy in so public place,
always secure themselves against intrusion.
IL accordance with this practise, the door was
fastened, as knew my association with MIR.
HoYr was liable to remark, and was not de-
sirous ofmy interviews with him becoming the
subject of public reprehenSIon. ! was there
merely for private conversation; and the con
tents of those unfortunate letters VIII at once
testify that such conversation, without the pol
luton of crime. was secret IN its nature
Why.then, should one who has acted thought
leSslv, but vIRTUoUsLY, be branded with odi-
um, and circumstances be tortured and gar
bled, to iaSten the foul sin upon me There
is other testimony which has so utterly shock
ed, so entirely amazed me. that am at a loss
for words to refute it. If | could snatch a
sunbeam from Heaven, THAT would scarcely
be burning and bright enough TO register my
innocence of such foul, loaihsome accusations,
My God My God wilt thou suffer the
wretch to live who could pronounce such
words-such base, designing lies. They are
black enough 10 have emanated from the bot
tomless pit-wicked enough TO have issued
from Hell itself | wonder that the tongue
that pronounced them was not palsled, scorch-
ed, scathed by the instant lightning OF Gods
wrath In all nv indiscretons-in the most
glaring of my errors--I have always remem-
bered | was A LADY: my virtue has not been
wrecked, nor have forgotten, for one instant,
that delcacy which is innate within the heart
Of woman. So monSTous tale is too shock
ing, too abhorrent, for human belief.
NV absence from Richmond during May
and June, 1876, when was in the city oGNew
York, and the fac, of Mr.. HoYT being an en-
tire stranger to me in the summer OF 1915. (as
our acquaintance only commenced in the win
ter of that year,) at once puts the seal Of false
hood, gross lalSehood, upon the abhonent tes-
timony to which have Just alluded. Is 1t not
strange that when my letters refer 10 every IN,
terview ever had with him, there should be
no allusion, not even the most remote, to the
meetings which are so vlely attributed TO me.
| use strong and emphatic terms, but feel III
dicnation, uncomfortable, that such foul as
PERSONS should be thrown so UNDEsERvEDLY
upon me- As my personal interviews with
MIR. Hoyr were suspended after the anony-
nous communication TO my husband, our
then commenced. Afterwards,
and al his suggestion, we were IN the habit OF
meeting at the Exchange, mostly IN the pub
lie parlor, bat two or three times in No. IL. Ga
public sitting room,) and once at Mr.. HoYr's
request, in Al, Ca private parlor,) he saying
we should not there be 50 liable 10 remark as
in the common drawing room OF hotel |
met him afterwards in the same room, myself