Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-05-10
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Who struck Billy Patterson2 Have we a
Bourbon among us2 These three interesting
questions have long agtated the public mind, and
no satisfactory answer has yet been given TO Ell
Their of them. 1t is an undoubted fact that the
immortal Gulielmus did receive blow, but to
this day his mysterious assailant has escaped de-
lection, though searched for with perseverance
equal to that of the arctic nayigators, who have
been SO long looking after Sir John franklin. It
is equally uncertain whether we have now, or
ever did have Bourbon among us. There is a
| long and pretty strong chain of circumstantial
evidence in favor of the claims of the Rev. Flea
ger, and some tolerably stubborn facts going to
show that he is nothing more than half breed
Indian. For instance, competent tribunal of
distinguished medical gentlemen in Philadelpha
have lately made thorough and minute sxami-
nation of the old gentleman's person, from the
crown of his head to the sole of his feet and dis
covered certain scars and scarifcations, exactly
such as ought to be upon the body of the NAL
treated Dauphin, ifliving. On the contrary, Mr..
Peter A. Browne, distinguished lawyer of the
same city, a gentleman skilled in the art of as.
certaining breeds, by the color and form of the
human hair, has by some means procured lock
from the head of the reputed Dauphin, and after
splitting each one, as only Philadelphia lawyer
knows how to do, pronounces Mr.. Williams
nothing more nor less than cross of white man
and Indian.
The fate of the unfortunate NIilly Mcpherson
is also still 'wrapt in impenetrabo mystery. Per
haps some of our readers may not be- familiar
with the circumstances which have led 10 So ma
ny anxious inquiries as to Milly McPherson's
whereabouts, and as the story has lately been
republished by the gentleman who propoundod
the first interrogatory, it may be interesting to
detail the facts briefly here.
Many years ago, young lady, Milly McPher-
son by name, entered nunnery in Louisville,
Kentucky, where she was subjected to 80 much
annoyance, by the improper advances of a certain
male functionary about the establishment, as to
render her situation extremely trying to young
lady of delicate feelings. In fact she regarded
her location in the convent as so perous that
she affected her escape The facts came to the
of DR.. Rice, distinguished Presby-
terrain Divine, now of st. Louis, and were pub
lished to the world, whereupon suit for libel was
instituted against him, by the prosecutor of the
young lady. When the day of trial came, Nllly
Mcpherson, upon whose testimony DIR. Rice
principally relied to substantiate his charges, did
not appear, and from that day to this, nothing
has ever been heard of her, and nobody knows
what became of her. Owing to her absence the
defendant was convicted of the SANDER, but as
everybody believed that the charges were true,
the damages were laid at one cent.
Orestes Brownson, Catholic Priest, lately
declined public discussion with DR.. Rice on the
ground that he was 4 convicted libeler which |
has elected from the latter full history of his !
with the unfortunate young woman, |
and again started the question, Where is Milly
Mcpherson? Alas we cannot tell. However
shrewdly people may guess her fate, the proba-
bities are, that she will not be certainly known
until the secrets of all men are revealed at the
last day.