Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-24
EVENING STAR,
L WcMAa's wRoSGs AVENGED BY
HER OWN HANDS.

slons of crime. From a San Franciscc
paper Of December 10, we learn that a
tragical affair took place on the evening
OF Monday, December Is, at the corner
oi Merchant and Kesrney streets.
Inc particulars from a well authcnti.
Gated source are as follows:
Henry Kerrison, a member Of the No.
lice force, had formed an ACQUAINTANCE
with Elizabeth Sullivan, the proprietress
Of cigar store on Clay street, near the
Sazerac House. Kerrison being under
an engagement to be married to a young
woman residing in this city, has been en-.
deavorlng for some time past to rid him.
self of Elizabeth Sullivan's acquaintance
Prompted, as it is supposed, by the de.
mon OF jealousy, she yesterday came ur
TO herrlson, who was standing on the
corner of Merchant and Kearney streets
and, with no other warning or Salutatior
than merely exclaiming, "Harry," she
plunged bowie knife into his breast
ljust above the region of the heart. the
knife glancing from the rib passed be.
tween, and entered the left lobe of the
lung, indicting a wound about one inch
and a half in depth in the lung, and from
the outside about three inches.
| Kerrison was conducted to the room Of
Captain Mcdonald, and surgical aid in.
stantly obtained; but the nature of the
wound almost preclude the possibility OF
recovery. Kerrison is well known as
having been an efficient member of the
police. Elizabeth Sullivan was formerly
an actress at the Peoples Theatre under
the assumed name of Howard.
Assistant Captain Morton subsequent.
ly visited her cell, and obtained a letter
addressed to Mr.. Kerriso1, of which the
following is copy:
HARRY-For the last time, Harry Ker.
rlsOn, now write to YOU. You have
embittered my whole life; you have given
me no choice but life of prostitution:
and, Harry, God will not let Inc be un-
avenged. You will say, to the latest
moment of your existence, when l first
saw you, if any one had even hinted to
me, that would fall so low as to asso-
ciate with you, would have considered
| it an insult. Perhaps you remember
when | would scarcely deign to notice
you when you came where / was; and
then was happy, and, may add, inno-
cent. See now, through your cursed,
| cursed wileS, to what | am brought.
Why are such men as you allowed to
live +! You're curse to the world. Now.
mark my words-I am about euterino
into a life to which would gladly prefer
death, and God knows my heart.knows
how hard | have struggled against it.
By your dastardly treatment, Ihave been
driven to it. Now, Harry, to tell you
that l have loved you-that / would
have laid down my life for you-that
lif sickness had prostrated YOU upon
your bed, [ would have worked for
and tended you as tenderly as the fond
est mother would her child-that if crime
or reproach had been yours, would
have elung to you and have loved you
through all-that nothing on earth would
have damped my love for you, so closely
had l entwined you round my heart.
This, Harry, has been my love for YOU
this, Harry, has been the heart YOU have
thrown from you. Your own heart will
best tell you why. If from the caprice
Of moment, or from passing fancy of
your tickle nature, it matters all the
same. The die is cast. If now YOU
were about to offer in the right of man
to WOO me as your wife-if you were to
lay a fortune at my feet, l would refuse
it all, for stronger passion has laid hold
oil me-and a sweeter one. Have pa
tience, Harry, and read. When | left
home my mother gave me Bible. Since
that l have never looked at it till last
night. Do not treat this as the fancy of
moment. lam very calm-the cool calm
of hate, deadly hate-and 1 knelt on my
knee on the cold earth, with no other wit
ness but the stars above me-and, Harry
kerrison, l took an awful oath on that
holy book-an oath which would make
your blood run cold to hear. 'Tis YOU
have known my lOye-now you shall feel
my hate. Months may elapse, but nv
revenge will overtake you. No sudden,
open act of violence, for my late fury has
settled down into deep, calm revenge. If
| meet you openly, 1 will meet you with
a smile-I will meet you proudly. If
ASo'S viz WI ISdfc
will have those watching that you little
dream Of You need not if you can avoid
coming near met is all the same.
Now, if you will show this letter
around to your friends! My own wri-
ting-this letter-will, no doubt, one
day be shown against me. 1 can bear it
all, and more, when 1 am revenged; ; L
would willingly do for it; will devote
my life to the accomplishment of it. Did
you ever think, Harry Kerrison, that it
would ever come to this Did you ever
think that she who was loving and easy
to forgive you, had such feelings within
her! An old saying-the strongest love
sometimes turns to the dreadiest hate.
Yes, my dear love, this affair, with the
romance, as you have styled it, will have
quite romantic termination-a subject
for a novel writer-ending in a tragedy
of death and a scaffold Well, / can
think of no more for your amusement in
this letter-all, all came from the heart.