The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-03-28
NUMBER %,
InfideIity and summary Justicee.. Inc
A correspondent Of the New York Tribune
writes from Wilmington, Delaware, as fol-


A correspondent Of the New York Tribune
writes from Wilmington Delaware, as fol-
lows: sf.ett> -, 49, = :, -.
On Wednesday night last we had for this
Guy certainly an extraordinary scene.
mr.: John 9. Patterson, an eminent LAWYER
OF TINS city, one WHO is esteemed and re-
spectcd oy al who knew him, had cause to
s1sPect the 1idellty OF his wife. She is one
OF the most beautiful women in the city
Accordingly he placed spies upon her. who
iound that she was in the habit Of walking
until late at night in the outskirts of the
city with French gentleman, resident of
New Orleans, who is visiting this city for the
purpose of having an iron steamboat built at
Messrs. Berts, Pusey, & Co., On the night
above mentioned her husband, after follow.
ing her in company with his brothers, his
brothers-in-law, Lieut.. Webster, and others,
and seeing her at his gate, reproached her
with her conduct; and sending for Thomas
Hawkins, tue High Constable of the city,
sent by him for her parents, and sent her
nome. Then sallying out with his friends,
ne attacked the French gentleman on the
steps of B.aTnrner's Hotel, striking him to
begin with q blow in the face with cow
hide. The gentleman, being thus suddenly
assaulted ran, shrieking for "guards and po-
Ilce." But rows are so unfrequent in this
city that all we deem it necessary to keep
are constable or so, and of course they
were not there to protect him. He ran
shrieking murder, down Shipley street,
thinking, suppose, they intended to muir
der him, and dashed into the dwelling of Mr..
jackson Pussey, gentleman whom he had
been in the habit of visiting. Mr.. Patterson
dashed in after him, accompanied by his
trends. tie ran into the parlor, where his
friends had been in the habit of receiving
him. Mr.. Patterson followed him, the door
OF the parlor was Immediately locked, and
some say Patterson alone, and others also.
assaulted him. There he was beaten with
cowhide for the space of about twenty min
utes. In the meantime the shrieks of mur-
der attracted crowd, who rushed in. and
were on the point of breaking the door open,
when it was unlocked, and the gentleman,
dreadfully injured, was carrie up stairs to
one of Pussey's chambers. A cry was rails
cd by the crowd of tlynch him. lynch him.
(meaning Patterson.) But getting on the
top step he called out, 4 am John G. Pat
terson; you know my residence; I will an
swer for the deed.' Knowing from the char
acter of the man that he must have received
some great provocation, the crowd dispersed.
The parlor where this desperate conflict
occurred is reduced to perfect wreck. The
walls and furniture is all cracked and bro
ken. The hand screw mirror is smashed to
pieces, and the blinds are so twisted and
broken that it has been found impossible to
close the windows. Mr.. and Mrs. Pussey
were out at the time. The servants ran up
stairs and locked themselves in the upper
chambers, nearly frightened to death.
This affair has here convulsed our whole
community. Public opinion is divided
Some condemn and some justify the assault:
but all condemn the invasion of citizens
residence and engaging in a conflict in his
dwelling. The gentleman assaulted, since
his residence in Wilmington, (before the un-
fortunate occurrence,) had won many friends
among our citizens. He was every day be-
coming better liked. at