Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-10-07

.s'is s1:sss iss ;es '"'
A dreadful case Of murder and a.tsmp-
ted suicide is recorded in the Popehkeep-
sic Telegraph, committed in Fishkill viii
lags, By Mrs. Hannah Secofd. who cut
the throat Of her seryan, girl, named Mary
A. Smith. aged Is or l6 years, with, a ra-
zor, causing almos, immediate daaih, and
then cut her own throat The c,reumstan-
.ces are thus stated:-The family nf MIR.
Secord consisted Of himself, his wife Han.
nah, Mrs. Berry, fmother Of Mrs. 5: and
Mary Ann Smith, the servant girl. On
Sunday morning the family pafsook OF
breakfast intheir usual manner, gall ap-
peared cheerful and happy, and nothing
was noticed unusual in the manners or &C.
ions OF Mrs. So co,d.5 about half-pas: 8
O'Clock Mr.. .Secord proceeded to the barn,
a short distance from the house. for the
purpose Of harnessing his horse to 60 TO
church. Mrs. Secord, Mrs. Berry, and
Mary Ann were left in the house. The
girl Ann. about 9 o'clock, went up stairs
10 dress hsrself preparatory to her going
to the Sunday school Of the Methodist
Church, townsville, near by. While there
she deserted from the window some OF her
neighbors, Mr. Pollock's family, and told
them to stop for her and they would 60 10
school together, as she was almost dressed.
aud would be ready in few minutes
Mary Ann came down stairs and passed
into the parlor to the looking glass. and
was tying ribbon round her neck, when
Mrs Secord came suddenly behind her.
and with razor Gu, her throat. Mary
Ann gave but one scream. staggered 10 the
sill Of the shed door, and fell over The steps
on her face, a corpse. Mr. and Mrs, Pol
lock was just coming in at the gate, accor'
ding 10 Mary AIMS request. when they
saw the girl fall. They raised her, she
gave two sighs and her spirit was gone
forever. Mr.. Secord was sent for, and
when he came he went TO look for Mrs.
Secord, who was found in the orchard with
her hands over her throat. the blood stream
ing therefrom, and the razor in her hands.
Assistance having been obtained, Mrs. Sc.
cord was convey ed to the house. A mes.
senger was sen, immediately 10 DR.. Lewis
H. White. who was promptly on the spot,
and used every effort 10 save the life Of
this unfortunate woman. Her throat was
horribly mangied, and the windpipe sever
ed. 1t had The appearance Of having been
cut in two attempts. The wounds having
been properly examined, sewed up and
dressed, she was taken to her bedroom,
and in very short tine, while the attend
ants attention was otherwise engaged, she
took penknife from her pocket and tried
to reopen the wounds, but was prevented
in time. She expressed no desire to live.
Il was the opinion Of the doctor that her
wounds are mortal. 4i .ee<t -
Coroner Vandewater examined q large
number Of witnesses to find out the cause
Of this frigh,ful MURDER; and the testimony
appears to hnve been that the lady was
Jealous of the unfortunate young girl whom
she murdered. The facts developed were
suppressed from publication. The jury
after long and patient examination rem
dered a verdict that '"he deceased, Mary
Ann Smith, was wilfully murdered by
Hannah Secord." Upon the rendition ol
the verdict, the Coroner ordered Mrs. Sc.
cords arrest, but from the assurance Of the
doctor that her case was almost hopeless,
no arrest was made.
10 such another scene may the writer
of this never be called. There lay thai
beautiful, innocen, girl in her best attire,
who had been ia full health, was in the. first
blush of womanhood, beloved by all who
knew her, covered with clo,ied blood-usts.
cred suddenly into the presence Of God!
Mr.. Secord married his wife some SIX
or seven years ago. They have no child
rem. Mrs. S. was widow. Mrs. Bush.
at the time Of this marriage. Her maiden
name is Berry. Mr.. Secord is a mem
Der and officer Of the Reformed Dutch
Church, (:he Rev. F. M. Kess, a man Of
the purest character aud virtue. aged about
fity-six years, and is in afluept ercum.
stances. His wife IS also member Of the
same church. aged about forty two years.