Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-07-25
The Murder and Suicide at St. Louis.

character has just been brought to light, the mur-
der of sister by the hands Of her own brother
and subsequently, his own selfdestruction. II
will be remembered that on Monday morning we
noticed the fact that a young man by the name Of
f. F. Blessing, was found dead in his room al
Kinq's Hotel, under circumstances that led con.
clusivey to the belief that he had committed sui
eide. Such indeed, turned out TO be the fact, and
the circumstances connected with it and the muir
der which preceded, are of 3 nature intensely in
teresting.
The name of the unfortunate girl was Emily
Blessing. who having no parents, was left to the
guardianship of her brothers and a married sister
who lives in this city. We do not profess to be
strictly accurate, but are informed that she was
placed in convent in this city, from which place
she frequently escaped, and gave such evidences
of dssolute life as to render her relatives exceed
ingly unhappy Young Blessing. her brother,
was particularly effected by her behavior, and for
some time previous to the dreadful occurrence,
seemed at times low spirited. On the afternoon
of the fatal day, he got buggy and proceeded to
house on Fourth street, well known for Its bad
repute, and there saw his sister, whom he pre-
vailed upon to take ride with him. His manner
is represented as having been quiet and exhibiting
no sign of the terrible resolution he had evidently
concealed in his heart.
The brother and sister left that house together.
1t is known that he went up the Bellefonalne
road with and returned without her. lie came
back to his hotel near dusk, where he was joined,
we are told, by his brother and brother In law,
with whom he spent the evening in his own room,
they little dreaming of the dreadful act he had
committed. His conduct, in fact, appeared rather
gay, and he sent for bottle OF champagne,
which was drank. In the meantime he occupied
himself in writing letter. After an hour or SO
spent, they left, and in the morning. as before re-
corded, he was found corpse. The fact of his
having taken his sister out with him and return
inc without her, and his well known sensitive ma
ture, created a suspicion that he had killed her as
well as himself, and accordingly search was made
in the direction which they had gone, and yester-
day morning the body of Emily Blessing. his SIS
ter, was found near the Watkins road, in the
woods. in what is known as the Lower Columbia
Bottom, about 7 miles from the city. She had on
a pink muslin dress and straw bonnet, and there
were two bullet holes through her head, one a.
bove the right temple and the other just below
the cheek bone, ball passing out through the left
ear. Upon the Coroner's investigation, 1t was
proven by three witnesses that on the evening IN
question five successive pistol shots were heard.
There was fence near by, and a close eXamlna-
ton of the road led to the belief that he had hitch
ed his horse and taken her distance of some
thirty yards in the woods, where he perpetrated
the act The repeated firing can only be ac-
counted for from the fact that she saw his purpose
too late, and resisting, of the barrels missed.
The conclusion is clear to our mind, from his sub
sequent conduct that he intended killing not only
her but himself there, but his weapon was ex-
hausted in sacrificing his sister. and he was com
PEELED to return to the city, without putting his
fatal resolution in regard to his own life, into eff
feet. Certain it is that few hours afterwards,
with his own hand, his soul was released from all
earthly trouble and sent into that world where the
soul of his sister had just preceded him.
Let the mantle of mercy fall upon this brother
and sister, None but those who love and value
the honor of sister can, in common charity, eX-
tenuate his crime. Dreadful as it is, and with
all the consequences it entails, he has been driven
by keen sense OF honor which is entitled at least
10 respect, to sacrifice his own life and that of his
sister, rather than live to see her disgraced.
Mr.. Blessing was a young man only about
twenty-t three years of age. an engineer on the riv
er and was much esteemed by every one who
knew him; and his sister was but few years his
junior.-St. Louis Republican, July IL.