Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-08-03
A Romance in Real Life.
BY LAURIE TODD.

| In New York, in 1896, my store was in Mai
den Lane, within three doors OF the store OF
! John MoWatt, an extensive dealer in shoes
| His foreman was John Pelsu9, who sat behind
the counter, stitching shoes and waiting on
customers as they stepped in. One day a
corpse was found in the dock at the foot of the
street. The coroner took the jurymen from
the neighborhood, and among them John Mo.
watt, and his foreman John Pelsue. The
corpse lay on a table in the centre Of the room
| Some OF the jurymen remarked that as soon as
John Pelsue looked on the corpse he started
urned pale, and looked as if going to faint
He rallied, however-but his subsequent move
ments occasoned some curious remarks.-
The jury, having rendered verdict of death
by drowning, were discharged. Mowatt turn
ed around to look for his foreman, but behold
he was not there. We stepped out of doors,
and saw him high up the street, on half run,
when he quickly turned corner. All sorts Of
inquiries were made, but nothing could be
heard of him. This, with the turning pale at
the first view Of the corpse, occasiohed some
strange surmises among the jurors for many
days afterwards. John Mowatt was bachelor
of thirtv-fve, and Pelsue had seen about thirty
summers.
On a certain day, about one month thereaf-
ter, a lady in deep mourning stepped into Mo-
watts store, and asked for pair of shoes
While John was trying how the shoe fitted,
the lady inqured:.
"You had man in your store, John Pelsue
by name-what has become of him 2"
"Yes," said Mowatt, "but what has become
of him, would give good deal to learn
He then related the story as above stated.
'sStrange" replied the lady. "And you have
not seen him since!"
"No;' replied Mowatt, Il have not seen him
since.'
ayes you have seen him." replied the lady.
Il certainly" said Mowatt, "would not con-
tradict a lady of your appearance but have
not seen him to my knowledge"
"Wel, them" says she, 81 am John pelsue,
and that subject on whom we held the jury,
was the corpse Of my husband. My family
name is Randall. was born in Philadelphia
married against the wishes of my parents)
John Connor, sober, industrious man, by trade
shoemaker. We lived happily for two years.
He took to drinking, neglected his business,
and once struck me, while in liquor. We had
no family, so | resolved, while we We're stitch
ing shoes together, to learn his trade and leave
him. soon made a passable shoe, when as
sumed the male attire, came 10 New York, and
you gave me work as a journeyman. The rest
you know" John told the present narrator,
some days after, that on hearing this he was
dumb-founded.
"Well, madam" says John, "what are your
plans for the future?"
81 have not formed any plans"
"Well," says John, 81 liked you as a journey
man, and when foreman | was pleased; suppose
we go into partnership for lite?'
In forty-eight hours thereafter they were
married. She was a fine looking woman, and
mighthav passed for twenty-five.
This, perhaps, is the first instance on record
ofa .woman's sitting as coroner's juryman on
the corpse Of her husband. The above is
simple tale of truth. was witness to all the
facts.