The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-03-19
For the Camden Journal.
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
BY LAURIE TODD.


Tn New York, i'm 1896. my store was III Maiden
lane. within three doors of the store OF John
Mowatt. an extensive dealer in shoes His Fore
man was John PGlsue, who sat behind the counter
stitching shoes and waiting Oh customers as they
stepped in One day corpse was t>und III the
dock. at the foot of the sheet The. Coroner
took the iurvmen from the neighborhood, and
among them. John Mowatt and his Foreman. John
Pelsue The corpse lay on table i'll the centre
of the room. Some of the iurymen remarked that
as soon as John Pelsue looked on the corpse, he
started, turned pale, and looked rs II gong to
faint. He rallied, however; but his subsequent
movements occasioned some curious remarks
The iury having rendered a verdict of death BY
drowning. were discharged. Mowatt turned round
IN look for Ms Foreman. Behold he was not there
We stepped out of doors. and saw him high up
the street, OH half run, when he quickly turned
4 cer,ier All sorts Of inquiries were made, but
nothing could he heard of him. This, with his
turning pale at the first view Of the corpse occa
stoned some strange surlnises among The jurors
for many tays hence. John Mowatt was bache
ior of thiryve, and pelsue had seen about thirty
. summers.
On certain day al,oHt one month thereafter, a
iady in deep mourning stepped into Mowatts r
store and asked for pair of shoes. While John
wastrying how the shoe fitted. the lady enquired,
Yau had a man in your store, John Pesue by
name-what is become of HING Yes, says
Mowatt, "but what has become of him | would
give good deal to learn" lie then related the
story as above stated. Strange" replied the
lady. "And you have not seen him since !" "No,
replied Mowatt; al have not seen him since
Yes, YOU have seen him" replied the lady. 81
certainly" says Mowatt, wound not contradict
lady of your appearance but have not seen him
TO my.kno&ledge" swell, them" says she, Il
sm John Pelsue; and that subject OH whom We
held the jury, was the corpse OF my husband. My
family name is Randall. was born III Philadel-
pha. l married against the wishes of my pa
rents) John Conner; sober, industrious man, by
trade shoemaker. We lived happily for two
years He took to drinking, neglected his bus-
ness, and once struck me, while in liquor. We
had no family; so resolved while we stitch
ing shoes together, to learn his trade and leave
him. i soon made a passable shoe, when AS
sumcd the male attire, came to New York, and
you gave me work as journcyman. The rest you
know" John told the present narrator, some
days after, that OIL hearing this, he was dumb
founded.
sWell, madam" saws John, awhat are your
plans for the future!" Saws she. 81 have not
formed ANY PLAN" "Well,s says Johr, II liked
you as iourlieyman, and when my foreman. was
pleased- suppose now we 60 into partnership for
fifer ,Iu foay-eight hours thereafter they were
married. She was a fine looking woman, and
might fiave passed for twenty-five.
This, perhaps, is the first instance on record of
a womaI'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.
GRANT TIIORBURN.
Camden, March, 1850.