True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-08-01


placed in the convent in this city, from
which place she frequently escaped, and
gave such evidences OF a dissolute life as
to render her relatives exceedingly unhap-
py Young Blessing, her brother, was
particularly affected by her behavior, and
for some time previous to the dreadful oc-
currence, seemed at times low-spirited.
On the afternoon Of the fatal day, he got
a buggy and proceeded to a house on
Fourth street, well known for its bad re-
pute, and there saw his sister, whom he
prevailed upon to take ride with him.
His manner is represented as having been
quiet and exhibiting no sign of the terri
BILE resolution he had evidently concealed
in his heart.
The brother and sister left that house
together. It is known that he went up
the Bellefontaine road with, and returned
without her. He 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 con.
duct, in fact, appeared rather gay, and he
sent up bottle Of champagne, which was
drank. In the meantime he occupied
himself in writing letter. After an hour
so spent, they left, and in the morning, as
before recorded, he was found a corpse.
The fact of his having taken his sister out
with him and returning without her, and
his we'll known sensitive nature, created
suspicion that he had killed her as well as
himself, and accordingly search was made
in the direction which they had gone, and
yesterday morning the body of Emily
Blessing, his sister, was found near the
Watkins road, in the woods, in what is
known as the Lower Columbia Bottom,
about seven miles from the city. She had
on pink muslin dress and straw bonnet,
and there were two bullet holes through
her head, one above the right temple, and
the other just below the cheek bone, the
ball passing through the left ear Upon
the Coroners Investigation, it 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 examination of the road led to the
belief that he had hitched 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 some OF the
barrels missed. The conclusion is clear
to our mind, from his subsequent conduct
that he intended not only killing her but
himself there, but his weapon was ex-
bausted in sacrificing his sister, and he
was compelled to return TO the city, with, ,
out putting his fatal resolution in regard
to his own life, into effect. Certain 1t Is
that a few hours afterwards with his own
hand, his soul was released from all earth
" trouble, and sent into that world wheFt
;, the soul of his sister had just preceded
! him.
Let the mantle of mercy fall upon this
brother and sister None but those whit
love and value the honor of sister can
- g in common charity, eztenuate his crime
Dreadful as it is, and with all the conse
- ouences it entails, he has been driven D.
a keen sense of honor which is entitled a
=, ~ least to respect, to sacrifice his own III
and that of his sister, rather than live t
ID see her disgraced.
=, Mr.. Blessing was a young man aboV
- twenty years of age, an engineer on tn
- river. and was much esteemed by all VIII
Wv knew him; and his sister was but a ie
=" wears his iunior.-&. Louis RpuJl'ca'