Washington telegraph., 1850-08-07
THE DEMON BRIDE.

a
Z in his last letter, copies the report which
appeared in the True Delta, of the case
4 of Patrick Murphy, who was attempted
TO he murdered some nights since in the
ueighborhood of Annunciation square,
by pouring molten lead into his ear, and
says:
This reminds me of a singular incident
that occurred, within my own knowledge-
some. wears ago, in Virginia Col. L,
gentleman OF great reSpectab;lity. and
{reuuenily high sheriff and representative
OF the county, died, leaving wife and
severa! children, among them very
beautiful daughter, about fifteen years of
age. The widow. finding herself embar-
rassed, opened boarding house at the
county site, and among her boarders was
Mr.. W., a wealthy merchant, over forty
wears, but very fine looking man. This
gentleman was the prop and stay OF the
family; gave employment to the sons,
educated the daughter at fashionable
academy" and. very naturally. on her
return, fell desperately in love with her,
when he should have preferred the mo-
iher. He pressed his suit with persever-
ance, but the beautiful Mildred resisted
his appeals. and the opportunities of al.
her friends. Finally, however. after two
wears of assiduity and delicate gallantry
on the part of lr w, aud the combined
tears, eutreaties, threats and persecution
Of her family, the fair girl reluctantly
stood before the altar and became his
WIFE The next evening large party
b<, Of
Mr. w, being attacked with vertigo and
sick headache, was compelled 10 with
draw His young wife hung over him
in the silent watches OF the night, appar-
emily in deep distress, and insisting on
giving him a potion, she poured out
wine-glass full of laudanum, and he
swallowed 1t unconscious of It's nature.
Il acted as an emesic, bnt left him stupid
and wandering. His senses reeled. One
moment he lay mOtlonIess as If on the
brink of the spirit world, aud the next
he would leap up convuleively, strong
man in his agony. Mrs. w denied all
admission into the chamber. At length
he fell in.o deep sleep. She then stoop-
ed for a moment over the mouidering
embers-approached his bed-gazed at
her sleeping husband-and, holding
heated ladIe in her hand, attempted 10
pour stream of melted lead i'll his ear,
She trembled. and the Kissing liquid in
tended to scad the brain. and thus kill
without a trace, fell upon his cheek. He
shrieked in excruciating torture, and the
jewellers. in the adjoining saloon, rushed
into the chamber. There writhed the
still stupid husband, the lead rivited deep
into his cheek, and there stood the fiend
wife, her bridal fiIIets, ye' upon her brow,
the instrument of death in her hand. and
an empty vial. labelled laudaunrn, laying
on the floor. The fearful realities of the
ease flashed upon every one, and, in the
confusion of the moment she was hurried
away, and taken to a distant State. On
searching the apartment an old magazine
was found containing the confession of a
woman. who had murdered five husbands
by pouring lead into their ears. The
!audanum and the lead, IL was ascertained,
she procured from the store OF Mr.. W.,
a few DAYS before the marriage. and the
ladle was part of his wedding gift. The
grand jury uext morning found bill
against the fugitive, and the Legislature,
being in session, forthwith, decreed an
absolute divorce What renders this case
more extraordinary is, that Miss T., was
proverba! for the blandness OF her man.
ners, and uniform sweetness of disposition.
She was a blonde, The rose leaf tinted
her lilly cheek, as sunbeam glow on
snow. Her blue eyes were indescrlbably
sweet, and her golden hair floated around
form more perfect and voluptuous than
ever Apelles dreamed of, or PetraEch
sung. The sequel of the romance IS yet
more singular. Years rolled away, and
W. continued a wretched and solitary
man. But the spell of the enchanteress
was still upon his soul. He closed his
stores, sold his estates, collected his am
pIe means, and traced her 10 her distant
retreat, to make new offer of his hand.
She had Just married gentleman OF high
standing, acquainted with all the details
of her career, shuddering at the tragedy,
but incapable of resisting her charms
Poor W! Then, indeed, did the iron
enter his soul ''The deadly arrow quiv-
cred in his side His early love-his
fuctuating courtship-his marriage and
the carastrophe-the fiigbt-the divorce
his years of misery-the new birth OF
his nassioa-and now his disappointment
final and forever came crushing over
hum ike an iceberg III the tide OF bitter
memories, and he prayed for DEATH
Whether this prayer was granted, know
not. He may yet wander, broken-heart-
ed, over the earth. IF he be dead, a
more wretched, yet purer and nobler
spirit never winged its flight to heaven.
L.. Eaoa recPIYRE at w dSulIlS-