Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-06-18
Tragedy I'm asaasiazsa.

orderly town We quote the material portions
of the account
On Yesterday evening it was discovered tina
MIR Joshua Gregg, of the firm OF Daniel HankIn
& Co. Merchants, and Miss Sarah Stephens, o
ahis place. had attempted their destruction by
drinkino Two ounces of laudanum apiece. I'm
mediatelv upon the discovery, the most power
full remedies were resorted to, to prevent us Ia
tai effects, which succeeded III restoring tht
Young lady so far that strong hopes are eilief'
tanned of her recovery; but bif. Gregg alea 'iliS
morning at u O'Clock.
From what Miss s. has developed since hei
partial restoration, it appears that Gregg had
been paving his attentions TO her ter couple OF
vears and that four or five months since, he ac-
conplished her seduction. TWO or three weeks
400 they mutually agreed to commit suicide,
she proposing it. Probably, however: this agree
ment was conditional: if they did not determine
to marry they should destroy themselves lof up
ON Yesterday afternoon, about clock, Ne cal
ed on her, aud in the conversation winch eis4et';
he told her that it was impossible that they
shoud ever be married. That alternative prop
.osition then came up and was agreed upon
He then took from his pocket a bottle winch
contained four ounces OF lauianurn, purchased
the "Wednesday previous al one OF drug store 3.
Miss S. poured the contert5 into Two equal lol-
tons Gregg with the utmost ealmness raised
his 10 his lips ard drank it oil at d drausAt.-
Miss S. hesltatet at first then swallowed palt OF
it and set the glass OH the table. Gregg told her
to .be a woman and finish it, She raised it a
xocond time ard drained it to the bottom, It had
been arranged that she should 90 Immediately to
the residence of Mr.. Abran Boyce, across the
street. and wait until he should return tlom his
boardino house which he said Wolld be All 10
minutes They should thea retire to die, leaving
written request to be buried as they had met
death-tooether. He started Tor the boarding
house but bv the time he reached it, it was evil
dent that he never could fulfil his part OF the en-
gagement, so quick and so powerful had been
the influence of the poison. He Walked up
stairs into his room, Give directions that he Was
noina to die pulled off his boots and coat and
laid down with singular GOODNESS and seli-posses-
sion to meet his fate. Mi. llanhins having al
rived and discovered the matter, Immediately
called in the attendance Of physicians, and every
means that professional skill could devise We're
-emploved to save him. but alas! without effect !;
the mlrderous !distilmenl' had nsluuated itself
into
stThe natural gates and alleys OF the body"
to such an extent that nothing could dlslodge IT..
He retained his senses for some time, and exhibit
ed to the last the same remarkable calfnness
and deliberation that distinguished him III every
stare of the transaction He repeatedly said that
he was "wearv Of the world = that he Fwas tired
livnc,n that he !'wanted to die" begged that
nothing should be done to prevent the ''consum-
nation devoutly wished y and steadtastly retus.
ed any emetic or antidote until he was informed
that in all probability Miss s. would recover,
when he reluctantly consented, expressing, how
ever his entire indifference as to the result. Al
ter dark he became insansible; from 10 O'Clock
his existence was prolonged only by the influence
of galvanic battery. A gentleman who was
l. +lo+b ,tt
midnight was the most horrible sight he ever wit
messed Propped up with pillows. the quick
spasmodic breathing, the contortions of the coln-
tenance, and the nervous rolling OF the death
blinded eve-ball, effected by the regular action
of the battery, with the light of the lamp, and
the shadow s. silence of those who stood around,
must have made the death bed scene peculiarly
awful At half past o'clock in the morning,
he, who IS hours before was in the enjoyment
of perfect health, lay an lnanlmated corpse and
by his own hand
Miss S. in the meanwhile, had proceeded to the
house assigned, and waited for the arrival of G..
Her wild and agitated air soon attracted the
attention. and the fumes OF the laudanum arous-
ed the suspicion of Mrs Boyce. She could not
keep still-she ran about the house, then INTO
the garden-would stop and rub her nose and face
violently as if she would tear the skin off-gave
incoherent answers to the question OF the lady OF
the house, and starting to go across the porch
fell insensible. Assistance was called and she
revived, and deathly lethargy was prevented by
continual agitation in a rocking chair until the
arrival of medical aid The emetios administer
ed soon elected the greater portion ofthe poison,
which was accomplished the more easily that she
had eaten Immediately previous to swallowing
the laudanunl, some fruit that had absorbed the
poison and prevented the system from taking it
up before the arrival of remedies She was re-
moved as soon aspossible toher own room across
the street, and by morning was entirely restored
to consciousness. When it was announced to
her that Gregg was dead, She beat her breast, tore
her hair, and went into paroxysms of grlef and
frenzy. called, in company witha physician,
TO see her this afternoon. She looks the picture
of horror. The frightful appearance other wild
stare, her dishevelled hair, her face bruised by
the fall on the porch, is enhanced by the hysteric
inquiries she makes about Joshua Gzg-Whe-
Their we have 'seen him 2" chow ooks," &c
She expresses the intention OF finishing the work
thus begun. am ofopnion she will not.
Miss Stephens reputation before this has been
unbenished, believe. Gregg was 20 years Of
age. Connected with some of the best business
men in the State, in fine circumstances, popular.
and surrounded by Etroops of friends" he bid
fair to rank among the most influential and
wealthy citizens OF this place.
TRrIr ON H1u-The Knickerbocker tells an
excellent story of Burchard, the reyivalls not OF
him exactly, either, but what happened at the
close Of one of his meetings, He was in the hab-
it OF addIssing his congregation alter this lash
ion:
Il am going TO pray, aud want all that de-
sire to be prayed for, or have their friends who
are absent prayed for, TO send up their names on
a piece OF paper"
On the occasion to which refer, there was
at once sent up to the desk quite number oil
little slips of paper, with the names of persons on
whose Behalf he was to "wres'le," as he said,
"with the Almighty" A pause soon ensued,
when he said, FSenl 'em up! Ifyon haven any
paper get up and name the friend that you want
rayed for.o AT this stage of the proceedings,
a man whom we shall call Oziel Biogs, a stall
wart person of six feet and half in his stock
ings, notorious unbeever and confirmed wag
to boot, rose in the midst of the congregation, a
mark for all, and amidst the Winks and bhnks