Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-03-19

March winds are boisietous and yehe-
ment 10 proyerb.
DEATH OF A MAIL RoBBER.
The Pittsburg Commercial Journal
mentions the death of DR.. Braddee, the
notorious mail robber, who died last
week in his cell in the Penitentiary OF
that city. The Journal adds.
He was convicted of robbing the
mails and imprisoned, it will be re-
membered, in 1871, pursuant to SEN
tence by Judge Baldwin, for ten years.
Shortly after his incarceration, he con-
ceived the idea of procuring his liberia
! tons, by Stimulating a decline ofhealth.
For this purpose, he would prick his
gums with the avis, which were sup
piled to him in the vocation he had
chosen, as Shoemaker, having satu-
rated his towel with blood, was always
prepared for the stated visit of a ply
stefan or chaplain, with this evidence
of a cagerouse hemorrhage from the
lungs, to which he was always careful
10 add, a difficult and painful respira-
ton. His physician was able, some
times, to engage the suffering doctor
In conversations, in which he would
become sufficiently animated to forget
his painful breathing, but, on the in
slant that he would recollect himself
the difficulty would return. These
practices, it is believed, brought on the
disease which terminated his life, and
he died at last Of a pulmonary affec-
/ ton.
Until two weeks before his death
his disease had not assumed formi-
dable type, but then, he began to sink
rapidly. Up to this period he had
steadily and vehemenhy asserted his
innocence ofthe crimes imputed to him,
but so soon as he became convinced
/ that his recovery was impossible, he
confessed his guilt, and although we
are restrained by prudential considera-
tons from further alusion to this point,
we may venture to add; that in his con-
fession he has implicated several per-
sons who had not been suspected Of
participating in his crimes.
/ 1t is worthy of remark, also, that the
Doctor, who had gained an astonishing
reputation as physician, determining,
or pretending to determine the precise
symptoms in any case Of disease by an
examination of the patients urinary dis.
charges, felt constrained by approach
ing death to confess that his system
was nothing but humbug. His sue
cess in this humbng is another evidence
of his remarkable shrewdness of char
acter. The vast income he derived
from his dupes is we'll known.
Il is known, that Braddee's wife,
who chung to him during his trial, and
suggested by her presence and the
signs of affection, that beautiful apos-
trophe to love in anguish, with which
Mr.. Biddle in Braddee's defence cleo
trifed the crowded auditory, had been
unfaitbful TO her vows, and married
another during Braddee's imprison-
ment. He was not made acquainted
with the fact, and for the five years he
was in confinement, he was fond of an
opportunity of talking about 'his wife
ard children
He spoke of them in terms of warm
affection; and undoubtedly his desire to
recover his liberty was stimulated BY
attachment to them; even after he be-
came aware that he must soon die, he
desired to be at liberty, even if it were
to die in barn, to the end that he
might not die prisoner But SO soon
| as he learned the conduct of his wife he
instantly ceased to wish for freedom.
1t was the final blow to the poor con
| vict, the unexpected thrust, like that
| which extorted the memorable ct tn
Brute, commanding surrender; and
poor fellow, he gave up at once. He
never after mentioned wife or child, or
desired to move beyond the limits of
his cell. The name of his wife was a.
voided with an iron will, although for
a.