The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-07-18
THE W1LL1AMsBuRG TRAGEDY

THE WILLIAMSBURG TRAGEDY
The New York papers contain de-
tailed accounts Of the examination
into the horrid murder bv Lawrence
Riley Of his wife and mother.in. law,
and the stabbing of Elizabeth Conroy.
at Williamsburg, New York, on Sat.
urday morning.
ut appears that about four wears
age. Riley was married clandestineIv
to Ann Golden. daughter of Patrick
Golden. the girl being only about
fifteen years of age at the time. The
parents. particularly the father. had
been opposed to the marriage. and
Riley was forbidden to approach the
house, and the consequence was, That
Riley and his wife did not live to.
gether for considerable time. Lat.
terly a partial reconciliation took
place between Riley and his wifc's
relations, and he resided since for the
most part in Patrick GoIden's house.
Jealonzy, however. whether just or
unjust, induced Riley to suspect the
fidelity of his wife; and it appears,
from his own statement and the evi.
Gence of others. that he had resolved
upon her murder and also that Of her
mother. When he came down stairs
after committing the bloody deed, he
said to the crowd attracted by the
screams of his victims-I have done
it. have satisfied myself--takc and
hang mc--do not be afraid--l will
harm no one-T am ready to die"
He subsequently had the following
conversation with the reporter OF the
Herald:
Reportcr-Mr. Riley, are YOU not
sorry for what you have done!
Prisoner--No. My wife has hes
trayed me; she has shown that fidelity
to anoth which she should have
shown to me.
/ Reporter--But why should you
have killed her mother?
Prisoner-Ah ! she has been my
ruin; she has been the abe,ter of my
wife in all her bad acts; | killed them
both because had reason to DO so.
and am glad Of it; bought the
knife in New York for the purpose,
and have applied it as ! intended.
Then, quickly starting. he asked, is
Elizabeth Conroy dead?'
Repor,er-She was not dead about
fifteen minutes ago.
Prisoner--Thank God! I am glad.
did not intend to injure her; she did
me no harm: nor would | have touch
&c the old man (meaning his father
in.law.) had he been there; God for.
give me if ! have killed her.
Here the prisoner became thought
ful, and the conversation ceased. On
being removed for the purpose Of
conveying him to Brook !yn. he said !:
"rhere is no use for you to handcuf1
me: I do not wish to leave you. !
oniv wish to die. There will be no
necessity to try me by jury; it will
be only putting the State to expense
have committed the murder, and
want to die as soon as possible"
The girl. Elizabeth Conroy, who he
stabbed whilst she was attempting to
shield his wife from him. is severely
wounded. but the physicians do not
consider her in dangerous condition.
EDUCATE YOUR DAUGHTERs.--
When ! lived among the Choctaw
Indians. | held a consultation with
one of their principal chiefs respect
ing the successive stages of the pro
gress in the arts and virtues of civiliz
ed life; and among other things. he
informed me at their first start they
fell INTO a great mistake--they only
sent their bows to school. They be-
came intelligent men. but they mar
ried uneducated and unciviIized wives;
and the uniform result was, that the
children were all like the mother; and
soon the father lost his interest in both
wife and children "And now" says
he, "if we could educate only one
class of our children, we would choose
the girls; for when they become
mothers. they would educate their
sons" This is to the point. and it is
true. No nation can become fully
and permanently civilized and en-
lightened, when the mothers are not.
to good degree. qualified to dis
charge the duties Of the home work
Of education.