South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1857-04-10
Miseeltancons.
A CHAPTER OF HORRORS.

We End tho following in the Louisville
Democrat. It is queer story oflife, tru-
ly, and some ofour nouvellette writer's will
certainly avail themselves Of tho matter it
affords for startling romanoe>:
Our little story is a sequel to terrible
homicide and suicide which were commit
ted in Louisville some four years ago by
man by the name of Walker. In the
year 1S43, Walker gained admission into
the family of James Peters, in Natchcz,
Miss, and while an inmate of Peters house,
became enamored of Peters wife, who was
at that time young and lovely woman
With iendish design upon Peters life,
Walker induced him to take a walk with
him in the suburbs of Natchez, late one E.
peniug, when Walker made an assault up-
on bis companion with bowic-knifc, cut
ting him most horribly, and leaving him
apparently dead. Walker Immediately left
hatchez in company with the supposed
widow of Peters. and made Louisville his
home, where he lived with Mrs p. as his
wife. Strange to say. Peters recovered
from his wounds, and in his wanderinrs
found his way to this city Soon after his
arrival here, he learned that his old be-
trayer and assassinator resided here, and he
determined upon immediate revenge
Throwing himself into a hack, he ordered
the driver to proceed to Second street, be-
tween Market aud Jefferson, to the resi-
dence of Walker and his early love. He
sent the hackman to the door of the dwell
ing to call Walker to his carriage, and his
old enemy no sooner made his appearance
than Peters fired upon hun from the car
riage, killing him instantly. Peters inme-
diateiy surrendered himself into the hands
of justice, regardless of the course of the
law, but was finally set at liberty-recciv-
ing no punishment for his high critne.-
A strange combination of circumstances a.
gain associated him with the woman who
had proven so cruelty false to him in
Natchez, and they lived for some years in
comparative happiness. Some four years
ago, however, in fit of jealousy, he deter
mined to destroy the life of the woman who
had acted as bane to his earthly happi-
ness. and evidently meditated design up
on his own life. Having some unsettled
business with Mr.. Hess, the uneertaker, he
visited him in the morning, and arranged
his affairs, concluding by engaging a cof-
fn, which he said he designed for his own
use. The proposition of man to purchase
his own coffin was strange one to our old
friend Hess; but he generally has an eye
to business, and consented to ill the order.
Soon after that Peters sccreted himself
with a revolver, in an empty sugar hogs
head. directly in tho woman's way. The
desperate man recognised his victim rs shc
passed, and fired upon her from knot
hole in the hogshead; she fell to the ground
Immediately and. exclaimed that she was
killed, when her murd crcr discharged the
contents of pistol into his own head
He did not die suddenly, however, but was
carried to the Napoleon Coffee house." at
the corner of Jefferson and Preston streets,
where he begged that some friend would
give him another pistol, that he might,
himself, consummate terrible deed, which
he had commenced with so much deIibera-
tion. Death soon came to his relief, how
ever, and many who were present yet re-,
member the tcrrors of that separation
The unhappy woman, who survived the
supposed fatal shot, still lives in this city,
is but one or two years in thirty, and is
said to possess unusual beauty and attrac-
tions.