Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-18
THE GAZETTE.
THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH is, 1858.
THE HEROES OF WIFE STEALING.


THE HEROES OF WIFE SIEALlN".
We take the following upon the su'Js0. u
wife stealing. from Appi"ton,s Ne" Aa a!a.
can Encyclopedia. the hrsi vpiu"e U, "r'y"'
already published, affords r'ch PROMISE D, .n'
excellence and value OF the compete "o's
1.-THE abduction OF wives IL not prevalent
nractice in our times. Few b0tbWe!ls are 10
be found DOW; in most instances where ladies
desert their lords, the ladies are the persuad-
ing, or at least the consenting party. In
this latter case, the husband is entitled to
damages in proportion to the loss sustained.
Where personal violence has been used the
crime is of graver character, and SUBJECTS
the perpetrator to imprisonment Tor years al
the pleasure Of the court. That branch OF
the science Of abduction which consists III the
carving away of unmarried women general
". and heiresses in particular, Is. however,
decidedly the most distinguished, being abie
TO boast of "a older pedigree and of longer
duration that either of its sister branches
The abduction of the Sabine virgins by the
Roman youths carries it back to the most
mysterious and misty period OF the early his
tory of Rome, and from that time 1t has con-
tinued to flourish down to the present day
Among every nation Of Europe, with the tx
ception of the Turks, among whom women
are q marketable affair, the practice OF this
species of abduction has prevailed and is
prevalent. In the days Of knighthood, when
chivalry, that nurse Of manly sentiment and
so forth, prevailed. abducting exploits bad at
least the incentive of romantic love; but In
our degenerate days If calculation aud econ
omy, they have chiefly beer instigated by
more material motives, a fat fortune being a
more powerful talisman than the sweetest
smile In the rural portions of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 1t Is
still not unfrequent, where girl is possessed
Of comparative wealth IN her owe right, or
likely TO inherit it from her parents, for some
neightoring sspirant to arm bis relatives,
descend upon the hom stead and carry away
the coveted heress, holding her in custody
until her parents or guardians submit
Some severe punishment recently inflicted 10
England, has, however, had the effect OF d.
minisbing its frequency, there. But In Ire
land it still retains something of it's ancient
prevalence. Scarcely a month passes IN the
southern and western districts of that en
thusiastic country without the parish being
enlivened by some sbducting feat, in whict
often the gentry play leading part and il
the riot and dangers of which the Irish pea
ant absolutely revels and rejoices. Often
times these abductions give birth to grea
family and faction fights, one party battling
for the recovery. and the other for the reten
ton Of the wearer Of the golden fleece, bu
recourse is never had to law, that being
deemed mean and cOwsrdly in the extreme
The chastity of the maiden is in such cases
never soiled. She is merely held in close
dursnce, until, after protracted negotiation
in which diplomacy worthy OF Nesselrode OF
Talleyrand is frequently displayed, an ar
rsngement mutually and monetarily salts
factory, is reached. The negotiations nre
usually crowned with an abundant banquet
of wbiskey and potatoes. of late, however
the entire onus of preserving untarnished the
national prestige has been left to the lower
classes, and the fame of the Irish gentry IN
this line would probably have faded away
had not Mr.. Garden, squire from the Gel
ebrated fighting county of Jipperary, stepped
forward to revive his caste from the lmputa
ton Of degeneracy. The story is fresh. and
worthy of narration as an example OF the
usual routine in such cases. A Miss Ar
buthnct, lady of considerable wealth, was
STAYING on visit with Der sister, who was
married to Mr.. Cough. the son and heir Of
Lord Cough, the hero Of Sobrson, who was
a Tippersry hoy. Her fortune was large
and her lovers consequently legion. Among
the most ardent of the throng was Mr.. John
Garden, an Irish Squire of very little brains
and good deal Of land, which be desired to
increase. The lady, however, loved wisely
but net too WE'LL Thus foiled, and emulous
of the traditions of his country and bis house,
this gallant IIishmap armed a large band OF
rufians with pistols, skul-crackers and chic
reform. and planting them near country
church, where the lady usually attended on
the Sabbath day, made descent upon her
carriage as she quilted service, and attempted
to carry her away. The daughter of Albion.
however, made vigorous defence. and 10 tact
held bravely her own. Aided by two ta'ti'-
fol attendants and one or Two valiant female
volunteers, she succeeded in putting her as
ssilants to complete route. The perpetra-
tor of the outrage narrowly escaped trans
portatiop, and was sentenced to imprlsoE-
mept and hard labor.