Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-08-08
(From the Boston Traveer.1
THE BEAUCHAMP TRAGEDY
IN KENTUCKY.

We were led, a short time since, to recall,
il connection with the novel Of w. Gilmore
Simms, aud review the circumstances connec-
ted with the well nigh forgotten Beauchamp
tragedy, in which everybody in the country
was interested thirty years ago. In noticing
Mrs. Howe's new play recently, We spoke OF
its similarity in single point to this Beau
champ story; but the whole history Of the
strange affair is worth recalling from obli-
Won.
Our main authority is tho confession OF
Benuchamp himself, made shortly before
bis execution, and printed in a thick PAM
phlet at Bloomfield, Kentucky, in lS2G.-
This pamphlet, which contain also some let.
tiers Of Beauchamp, some verses by himself
and his wife, and an account of his last hours
is exceedingly rare, the only copy we have
ever seen being that belonging to the Boston
Atheneum; and we heartily wish it could be
reprinted, for it has vastly more interest than
any novel Mr.. Smms ever wrote.
On the night of Sunday, the 9th Of No
vember, 1925, Col. Solomon p. Sharpe, one
of the foremost lawyers in kentucky former
ly Attorney Genereral Of the State some
years earlier member of Congress, and at
that time leader in the newly elected State
A Assembly, was murdered at Frankfort, under
circumstances Of peculiar atrocty. lie was
reused from his bed by some one knocking at
his door, and he was there seized by the as
sassn. who, after some words, stabbed him to
the heart, almost in sight Of his wife, who
rushed to his side, but too late to hear syl-
liable from him, or to learn in any way who
was his murderer.
Suspicion soon fell, however on young
lawyer named Beauchamp, who was arrested
tried and condemned apparently on false evi
dence, but who yet was the real murderer-
Party animosity, then furiously excited
throughout the State by some question relat-
ing to the courts, ascrbed the murder to po-
litlcal hatred, for Sharpe was the leader Of
his party, and the idol of the people, nor was
it till after the trial that the astounding story
of Beauchamp's actual crime and his reasons
for it were made public by his own ingenious
confession.
Some years before, apparently as early as
early rs 1918, Col Sharpe had seduced Miss
Aunie Cooke, young lady of respectable ia
mily, educated and refined, and as appears
from her subsequent course, Of unusual force
and severity of character. Proud and intense
of feeling, she withdrew entirely from the So
ciety where she had been admired and court
ed, and with her widowed mother, her books
and her slaves, she hid her disgrace in the
most complete secluSion OF X Kentucky plan
tation.
1t was here that Beauchamp, in fatal
hour for both, sought her out, urged himself
on her acquaintance, fell passionately in love
with her, and, led on by his passion, devoted
himself, with barbarous magnanimity, to
her dreadful thirst for vengeance on her be-
trayer. lie cannot have been more than
nineteen years old at this time, and he had
been on the point OF commencing the study
Ian ith Vol Vla la annl
led from such connection by the story of his
vilany toward Miss Cooke. Generous,
though ungovernable Of temper, he looked
with aversion on a man so stained-regarding
him as mo better than horse thief" as be
himself naively says.
Ills natural pity for Miss Cooke was
strengthened by the praise bestowed on her
beauty and wit by friend of his who had
been her former admirer. lie visited her in
selEimprisonment but she refused TO see him;
he insisted aud she at last came forth, but
she received him coidly. lie pretended de-
sire to use her library, and borrowed book
| which gave him pretext to call again in u
! few days, when he again saw her. Little by
| little her reserve wore of, while his enthusi-
asm for her grew into lervent love. lie ur-
| ged his suit aud besought her hand in mar
riage, which she at first steadily refused, aud
| only ylelueu HndIly On COnullIou lnaI nc
should first kill Col. Sharpe.
This was in 1921, and in the Autumn OF
that year he went to Frankfort for the ex-
press purpose of challenging Sharpe, and OF
shooting him if he declined. The two walked
out together along the river at Frankfort,
and when they had come to retired place
outside the town, Beauchamp disclosed to
Sharpe in what relation he stood to Miss
Cooke, and asked if he would fight him. The
hate OF the enrged man turned TO scorn at what
be though. the most glaring cowardice,-h he
struck Sharpe in the face. called him by the
most insulting names, and swore be would
cane him in the streets every day till he for
ced him to duel, They parted, and early