Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-19
goral anO 4ersonal.
seIf-destruction.-we have been surprise,

| while looking over our exchange papers, al the
very large number OF suicides therein recorded.
In all parts Of the country there TO be a
passion for sefde-irnciion, resulting from various
| causes among which, disappointment in love
figures prominently, as though there were not
objects, other than those that could not be obtain
ed, on which TO transfer and lavish the affections
Such persons evidently are not philosophers, else
they would -ndeavor 10 trust 10 The influence Of
lime TO mellow their affections. And in the
logue of suicides, il sometimes appears that con-
fdng girl has been ruined in her private character,
with no possible prospect OF retrieving the good
name she once possessed Cast out as vile by him
who has occasioned her ruin, and deserted by her
relatives and friends. the grave is sought
relief from her consuming The deadly
has become curse, though, in womanhood il
has just began. Or il may be, the river, gently
flowing, invites the victim TO a welcome grave.
But men, according TO the statements which have
recently come under our observation, resort 10
more desperate means 10 destroy their existence
The rope, the knife and the pistol are the fatal
Instruments and the causes, in not a few ms ances
the wine that is red : and yieldth its color in the
cup"-,hat "biteth like serpent and stingeth
like an adder"
Considering how delicate is the brain, and how
easily the nervoussystem may he deranged--and,
likewise, the susceptibility of the mind 10 become
morbid, unless properly exercised-we can scarce
ly wonder at those constantly occurring suicides,
especially as one such bad example generally
expenditures another crime, of similar character
such is the weakness Of human nature when left
TO its own guidance and direction.
Musical Fraud.-A week ago. we men.
toned that young man had been detected in
obtaining money under false pre,ences; levying
contributions some fifty or sixty of our citizens,
for the purpose, he said, OF giving to Aldermen
Magruder and Miller. and other gentlemen OPP
posed TO Know nothsm, serennde. On Satur-
day, this Individual was arraigned before Justice
Goddard TO answer 10 the charge, which he failed
10 do in a satisfactory manner. Fourteen gentle.
men, including three councimeH, testified that
they had given him money, mot less than dollar
each, and several of them more than that amountJ
in order to defray the expenses of the musical
compliment But the protector OF il, acting inde-
pendently in the matter declined TO carry out his
Justice, in consideration of the testimony required
the prisoner 10 give bail, 500 in each of the four
teen cases for his appearance al the ensuing term
OF The Criminal Court; failing in which he was
committed TO Jail.
The parents of the young man are pous, and
therefore good patterns Of morality; but, alas for
their offspring.
~,
ago we conceived it 10 be our duty to warn the
public against the swndling operations of man
calling himself the Rev William H. Thornbury,
and stated, al some length, villanies of which he
was guilty. He wound up his brief career in the
midst of US by getting drunk and provoking fight
with an unodending negro For this offence he
would have been sent 10 the work house, had he
not complied with promise TO leave the metropo-
lis forthwith.
We lost all trace of this scoundrel until we saw
his name appended to certificate that be and
sixtyihree others were victims OF oppression and
prescription at the Gosport navy yard; and which
statement was duly sworn 10 by him, pending the
late election in Virginia, with a view of damaging
the prospects of the democratic. candidate for
Governor. Subsequently, his Know Nothing friends
in Richmond, sympahzing with him in his
Imaginary affection, made up pony purse, with
which be vamosed just in time to save himself
fnom the reeking vengeance OF his duped victims,
who, when it was TOO late, discovered that he had
added TO his other sins that Of vile perjury.
II now appears, the records OF the Circuit Court
of Alexandra, Virginia, for the November term
of ls41, having been examined, that he was con-
.aJ oc he
and sentenced TO and served out term Of two
years in the Penitentiary OF The District Of Coum-
bia. Some time after this, he returned to Alex
andria, when the Mayor of that city sent him 10
Jail for distributing incendiary publications
He takes especial delight in practising his dis
honest tricks on Odd Fellows, with whose usages
he has some knowledge.
Ratification MeetiBg.-The Know. No,hings
Of this city making arrangements for public
meeting, in front Of the City Hall, on Thursday
night, 10 ratify the proceedings OF their late Ma
tional Council, held in the city Of philadelphia
Heretofore, their political opponents have inter-
posed not the least interruption 10 such congrega-
uons, while on the contrary, the Know Nothings
have not failed, by vulgar rudeness, TO break up
the meetings Of those who differ from them in
sentiment; contrast that argues well for the real
friends OF civil and religious liberty.
Criminal Court.-Tbe June term Of this Court
commenced yesterday morning-Judge Crawford
presiding
The following named gentlemen compose the
grand jury: William Gunton, foreman, jeremiah
orme, James L. Edwards, William E. Magruder
Hamilton Loughborough, Zachariah Walker,
William M. Morrison, Charles l.. Coltman, Joseph
Bryan, John II. King, Joshua Pierce, James A.
Kennedy, Thomas Woodward, Augustus L. Per-
~, William T. Dove, Francis Mohun John l.. Kid
well, z. X. McKnew, Henry Haw, William II.
Tenny George A. Bohrer, Richard Jones, George
McNeir and z. ID, Gilman.
The following named gentlemen compose the
traverse jury James b. Holmead David w. Oys.
Ter, Walter Stewart, Stephen Hennon, Richard
Harrison, Francis II. Elwell, William p. Drury,
Peter Bremen, Joseph Lyons, James Lynch,
Thomas TAYLOR John CruIkshank David Shoe.