The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-02-25
MOn0ra Shepherd.

lie lie OF llonora Shepherd has been
one OF crime for many years, (shc is now
but thiry,) and although often tried at our
Sessions courts for her counterlcitng pro-
pensities, she has, by her personal beauty,
tact, and winning address, managed ever TO
cscape-save only in one instance. In
February, lSi3, she was convicted of pas.
sing counterfeit money, by a Sessions jury,
and sent to Sing Sing for eight years and
three months. - Honora-whose maiden
name was O'Brien-the whole family from
whence she sprang being addicted to fatal
dabbling in forged paper, several Of her
brothers and sister, we believe, having
been graduates Of our State prisons, or
those Of other States, as was also her hus-
band-was at that time younger than now,
and on her way up to Sing Sing, after sen.
tence, she very plainly indicated to Sheriff
Jones, who had her in charge, her plan of
operations. Perfectly acquainted with hu-
man nature, she had measured the lady
keeper Of the institution and laid her plans
accordingly. "Just now you keep STILL"
said she, addressing the sheriff, during their
ride, Sand see how will work it? I'll be
the very devil for the first three we, ks. and
then I'll let Mrs. Farnham convert me !!
III be as meek and quiet as lamb! III
make her think me an angel, and III fatter
the old woman until she will imagine that
she herself is all archangel. Won't do it !?
You see am not going to stay in those
stone walls long, now, l tell YOU" And
Honora was right. On the 10Th of April,
1915. she was pardoned, through the inter.
cession Of Judge Edmonds. Mrs Famham,
and other mistaken philanthropists, by Gov.
Wright, and hurried of TO the banks of the
Mississippi, so that, with her supposed new
praisewOrthy resolves, she might commence
new and Trustworthy career. We have
no certain information Of her course Of
life out west, but charitably presume that
she lived as correct as the frailty Of her ma
ture would admit. She corresponled with
Mrs. Farnham regularly until year or so
since, and her letters were frequently read
before the members of certain philanthro-
pic associations. as a proof Of the vast ben
eft of the societies instituted for the amel-
ioration Of the condition of the crring and
unfortunate. lIonora was a trump card in
all their operations, and was ever referred
to as living proof Of the good effects OF
their organization. The hour Of trial came.
however, and Honora Shepherd. the re-
claimed counterfciter - the recencrated
: Maedalen-the once almost Irresistible
llonora, fell from her hiph estate, and is n
gam III ilir ,lutcncs OF the law what Im-
duced her TO revisit the city, we know not
She had been living in Alton. Illinois. and
: III 1t. Louis, where, rumor said, her course
was tolerably upright for the most Of the
time during her absence; but about two
months since. unable any longer to endure
her Grievous exile, the once dashing lady
convict re-appeared in her former hannts-
faithlessly to her benefactors, took 10 he,
former criminal calling, and is now in al
indiSputable road to her former residence n
Mount Pleasant. Mrs. Farnham will, ne
doubt welcome her with open arms. 4.
we before stated, she is now about thirt,
years old--the traces of her youthful beau
~ are still discernable, but time and troubl,
have made sad inroads, and she has los
much of her attractions which were ono,
to her shield and buckler against leCa
proceeding. llonora Shepherd is abov,
the medium height, has an oval face. will
dark hair and eyes, and extremely archin:
eyebrows. She appears somewhat pdSSe
but is yet what may be termed winnin!
woman. She has great powers Of language
and well understands the effect Of female
tears upon judge and jury. She has vari
Gus aliases her address in the Western
States having been Hannah Shepherd, Am
Forrest, SC. She is the most talented, So
gacious, scheming and dangerous femal
counterieicr in this country and, afte
this present demonstration, any attempt (,
shield her viii be frui,less. Her reform /
among the impossibilties Of earthly. y
! ElDbp,