Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-26
THE SUICIDE OF HERBERT-wHY HE KILLED
HIMsELF-THE TROUBLE WITH HIS WIFE

HIMSELF-THE TROUBLE WITH HIS WIFE
The place of residence of the late Henry William
| Herbert was near Newark, New Jersey. The Ad
vertiser Of that city, thus explains the madness
| which wrought bis death:
The incidents more Immediately affecting his mind
commenced with his second marriage, which occur
red at the House Of Prayer in this city on the 10th
Of February last, the rector, the Rev Mr.. Shscke
ford performing the ceremony. The bride was Miss
Adela R. Budlong, young lady from Rhode Island,
with whom Herbert had formed a sudden and re-
mantle attachment during visit she was making in
New York, It appears from hist own statement to
the writer Of this, about the time Of the occurrence,
that he relieved her from the assault Of rufan
in one of the New York avenues, and accompanied
her to her hotel; correspondence followed, and re
suited in the wedding, which was comparatively
private only four gentlemen Of this city being pres
emit by invitation with two from New York. in add.
ton to the brides mother and brother They came
from New Pork in the 2 p. m train, which was de-
Iayed by an accident for about an hour the way,
and it was late in the afternoon when the ceremony
was performed.
The parties proceeded Immediately to Mr. Her
bsrts's cottage at "The Cedars" about two miles
above the center Of this city, the Passaio river,
and for a time they were perfectly happy in each
others society Some six weeks after this ceremony
the reptile spirit of oalumny craWled into his quiet
home it is alleged that some one, represented to
be lady, took occasion, probably without any idea
of the tragic result and poured into his wfes mind
recital Of the worst features Of his life in the usual
exaggerated gossip and en- his return he found her
alone and melancholy.
She told him what had passed, but refused to
reveal the person This fred Herbert's infammable
temperament, and in the heat Of his impetuosity,
he threatened to destroy himself if she did not
reveal the name. She in turn became frantically
alarmed and ruptured a small blOoded-Vesse or
nroduced a hemorrhage Of the lungs This in turn
1 z-ho all ha To her
health and relieve her mind; but from that moment
she determined to leave him, and did so during his
absence in New York.
According to his representations he passed out of
the gate which leads ito the Cemetery, and she &C
COMMANDED him to the fence bidding him an sffec-
gone and the full gush Of desolatiOn and despair
unbalanced his sensitive mind. He strove in vain
to brir her back and thinking it would promote
the object, he left his cottage, which he thought
might have been too lonely for her, and took apart
ments at the Stevens House, NeE York, (late Delmo
nico's) near the Bowling Green. Here he used
every effort of his ingenuity to recover his wife, but
she steadily refused to meet him, and finally in |
structed her attorney to inform him that she would
receive no further communications from him.
IL Vas his intention to kill himself on the spot !
where his vile last kissed him. But he changed |
his mind, and concludedtthht the end should be on
the same day Of the month that he had parted with
his wife His personal appearonceis thus sketched:
Mr.. Herbert was tall in stature, slight, and ac-
tive. Latterly, he looked much older than his ao-
tual years. His hair was sandy, and he wore very
large mustaches, which almost wholly concealed the
fine expression of his mouth. His eyes, brightly
blue, were keen and inquisitive. His complexion
was dark with freckles, in very unusual manner.
Another of the letters that he wrote after deter
mining to kill himself has been published. 1t was
10 one of his neighbours
Ny DEAR MILES PANsoE: The time has come
7 ali a. 8 I-fr
cOuntrymsn to come and perform your promise. Ny
last friend, do not fail me.
When you receive this l shall be lying dead in the
cemetery. 1 could not be easy in New York, and
must not be buried in the POtter's Field or BY
charity.
Have me dressed III the clothes which have put
in the carpet-bag with the little packet have sewn
&c the shirt upon my heart, and the pin cushion
with Herbert" pricked upon it under my hesd-a
plain osken coffin, with this inscription Henry
William Herbsrt-sged 81"
Let me be buried ia your lot; send the coffin down
~ the steamer; funeral and no pomp. I send
lote to Mr. Shackeford; he will perform the service
inclose draft for ten pounds sterling on my
lister, which will pay all expenses; 1 have written
o her. Come the moment you receive this, or you
will be too late and they will thrust into some
lOe away from humanity. She has refused all re-
cancellation absolutely and forever, but she is not to
ame and it my lastrequest that no friend of mine
will blame her or defend me- except to say what 1
olemnly swear with my dying breath, that did not
marry her for her money, that 1 did not know
7hen l married her, and do not know nOW,
whether she has any money or how much-that
lever had q word or dispute with her about money
nd never said one unkind word until that Monday ]
7hen threatened my life if she would not tell me
7hO had accused me to her falsely
God forgive and God bless her. forgive all men {
rho have wrOnged me, and ask fOrgivness of all
7hOm have wrOnged. every shilling I owe in
mill he H.. - / }
he books which leave behind me, ready to be pub
sned. !
Give my best parting love to all my friends, think
me sometimes as a most miserable man, vet YOUR !
rue friend. I
HENRY VIM. HERBERT, S
May 10, 1883 Stevens House.
I wish to have very small, very plain headstone
Little Falls Beeville stone, with this inscrip-
on:
HENRY WILLIAM HERBERT
of England Il
AGEp 81 YEARS Z
I!teEicissimu5. 3