Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-07-06
A Romantic and Pathetic story of Real

A Romantic and Pathetic Story OF Res
The Cleveland Herald relates the following a
feeting narrative, which is represented to be
less true than strange: ~.
"We yesterday learned the denouement Of
painful story, equal to the most thrilling romano
| In interest, but with the circumstances and &C
tors Of which we were personally well acquainl
ed.
| Some twelve years ago, two young men, nam
ed Clyma and PAUL, lived in small village no
far from the sea coast, in the extreme west Q
England. Both were miners and workers !
the same mine near the village. Both pai
| their addresses to the same maiden, but not wit
equal success. Clyna prospered so in bis sui
| that day was appointed for the nuptials, ant
lin the course of time the banns Of marriage wer
asked in the village church on the first of tn
three Sundays prescribed by the English canol
law. "
aBefore the second Sunday came round, th
rivals met at wrestling match n the village
and it Glanced that the turn came for them Il
wrestle together. PAUL was excited, and en-
deavored TO give his successful rival in love
wicked fall but his esgerness worked his de
feat. He was thrown to the ground amid th'
shouts of the villagers. On springing to hi
feet be swere that he would be revenged, ant
that Clyma should never marry his intended
bride, From that day he took to drinking deep
". and hurled imprecations on his rival.
.The dsy before that fixed for the marriage
PAUL told all his acouaintances that he would
find means to prevent its taking place. Know
ing his determined character, Clyma appeared
alarmed at the threat, and got some friends to
intercede with PAUL, but in vain.
s.Late at night, Clyma left the house OF Ills
intended bride for his own cottage. The way
Law across patch of barren moor, where there
were several open mine shafts, which had been
deserted. and the bottoms Of whose black depths
were now covered with several fathoms OF wa.
fer. About the same hour PAUL was seen cross
inc TO the same patch of moor from another d.
reotion. A miner, who passed little later 70.
ward the mine where he worked-it being his
tnrn for night work-averred the next day that
he had heard a noise as If of dispute and scuf-
ae but it was too dark to distinguish any one.
"The marriage was to take place at II O'Clock
in the morning at the village church. Long De-
fore that hour the village was the scene OF great
excitement The hat and kerchlef OF Paufl-the
latter torn and bloody-had been found near the
deepest of the abandoned pit-shafts, and OF faui
himself nothing could be fonnd, nor had he been
seen since he went toward the moor on the pre-,
ceding night. The ground where the articles had
been found bore traces OF scuff1e having Ia
ken place, and to crown the whole, two buttons
recognized as belonging to Clyma's coat were
discovered amongst the earth and stones. 10
these omnious facts Clyma could only reply that
he had met PAUL at the place mentioned, during
the night; that high words were followed by
scufle and that he had beaten PAUL, who had
retired cursiDg him.
.sTbis account was uot considered satisfactory,
and Clyma was taken into custody to await fur
ther developments. Several days passed away
-an examination was made of the pit and the
surrounding locality, but no trace could be found
of the body. 1t was argued, however, that it q
stone was attached to the body before it was
thrown into the pit so as to sink it, there would
be no probability of its ever being found. At
ter several examinations before magistrate,
the accused was released from custody, but on
" to be Stunned as murderer by the whole
community. In the meantime the intended
bride became sick through excitement; violent
fever was succeeded by wasting illness, and
after lingering some months, she died ola broken
heart. These accumulated ills were too much
for the unhappy object of general suspicion, and
in less than twelve months after what should
have been his wedding day he became the in.
mate of an insane asylum, where he still re-
mains hopeless lunatic.
"Among the relatives of Clyma was o sister,
married to farmer, who, two or three years
after the unhappy occurrences related above, re-
moved to this country and settled down on o
farm in Northern Illinois. About ten days since
this sister, while about taking the cars in Chi
capo for home, suddenly encountered the sup
posed murdered man! Her excitement was in
tense. Drawing him on one side, she made her,
self known to PAUL, and was Immediately recog-
nized by him. The explanation given by him
of his disappearance was, that he had met Cly.
ma on the eventful night with the purpose OF
beating and disfguring him so that he could not
he married on the succeeding day, but that his
rival was moro than a match for him. Burning
with rage at his discontinue, he had rushed off
without knowing or caring what became OF
himself. and on reaching the beach had taken
an old leaky boat and pulled directly out to sea.
Next morning, when the boat was nearly sinK
ing. he was picked up by an outward bound
shin. which took him to New Orleans.
ssSince then he had resided several years In
California and in the United States, had become
moderately rich, aud was now on his way to his
native home, with which he had maintained nc no
communication since his abrupt departure. on
learning the sad events which had occurred IN
the meantime, he Immediately accompanied the
sister to her home in Illinois, and after the ne.
cessary arrangements were made, he started with
her for England, in order to repair as far as pos
sble the mischief which had been done. They
passed through Cleveland last evening on their
way east, and, happening accidentally to meet
them at the depot, we learned the sequel to the
sad story, with the earlier portions OF which we
were already acquainted.
"They 60 on joyful yet mournful erfand.-
The good name Of the unhappy condemned can
be reclaimed, but none can restore his shattered
reason or rescue the broken-hearted dead from
her early grave"
Judge Burke, who came from Ireland. and
was something ofa.man in South Carolina, about
the time of the revolutionary war; was very
ant to make mistakes even in his office of Cir