Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-09-17
MISCELLANY.
Truth Stranger THAI Fiction.

Truth Stranger THAI Fiction,
One of the most remarkable cases that
ever presented themselves to the police au-
thortles, has now 40 nearly reached the
eliminating point, that we give it at once
to the readers of the Sunday Transcript, in
cXtcnso. No one can forget the period
when the recent extensive religious rcvi-
val first commc. Il in this city, the wide
preparation made by the clergy for avail
ing themselves of what appeared to be an
influx of special spirit of grace, and the
erection of mammoth canvas tent at the
corner of Broad and Locust streets, by the
Young Mems Christian Association, to ac-
commodatc the poorer classes of the com
munity, who painfully realize the proscrip-
tive character of our present pew rcnts.-
When this tent was first erected, it's scrvi-
ces were attended by comparatively veal
thy people, who by their presence: sought
to give countcnance to even the most
humble
among the young gentlemen who mani
tested the most devoutness, was youth
named Amos James Sexton--a youth of
prcpossessing appearance, insinuating ad-
dress, and more than ordinary fervor in
He was particularly jealous that all young
females then "out of the ark of safety
should be brought to salvation, and among
this class he found of smypathizers not
few" Among those who manifested the
most interest in the labors of young Sex
ton, was young lady who profcsscd con-
version from one of the down town Catho-
lie churches, and also a Miss Wilhelmina
Kennedy, of this city, Miss Kennedy is
n very fine looking young woman. Her
three sisters and herself are members of
the Rev. MIR. Ladd's Presbyterian Church,
and their family is composed of themselves
and their father the latter well stricken in
years. To cut a long story short, Sexton
ultimately became very intimate with the
kennedy's, an about year ago married
Wilhclmina, at her fathers house, and
with the full consent of her family His
representations to Mr. Kennedy and the la
dies were that he was the son of wealthy
gentleman named Amos Jones Sexton, who
was in copartnership with a brother of
Cornelius Vanderbilt, of New York, was
heavily engaged in the construction and fit
tlngup of ocean steamers, and that he was
the inheritor from his grandfather of $780,
600, which his father retained until he be-
came of age.
Last April, at the house of Mr.. Kenne-
dy, young Sexton, previous to his marriage
with Miss Kennedy, was taken i'll, when
DIR. IL. W. Power, of No. 1925 North
Tenth street, was summoned to attend him.
The doctor found his patient presenting
symptoms of having taken arsenic. and
1FNa L., IA l. I
to his bed for four weeks. He accounted
for the arsenic in this wise: One night,
after an absence of some hours, which
greatly alarmed the family, he came home
In state of terrible agitation, with his
clothing in disorder and half famishcd
with hunger He said that while passing
quietly along the street, his father and mo-
ther, accompanied by two hired ruffians,
had overtaken him that the men had pin
ioned him, placed him in carriage, and
conveyed him to house in Jefferson street,
near Twenty Second that he was there
taken into room, where he found person
in the garb of minister, young lady
about ~ years of age, and negro man.
The young lady, he says, is niece of Cor
nelius Vanderbilt, and daughter of his
Iatner partner. lie was now informed
by his father that he must at once marry
the lady, and upon his refusal he was tied
down upon a bed, and while the negro
held loaded pistol to his head, threaten
ing to shoot him in case of REFUSAL he went
through the forms of marriage. This be-
ing done he was released, but apon still re-
fusing to recognize the lady as his wife,
he was locked up in another department
for the night, in the hope that time would
overcome his obduracy. He represented
that he escaped by jumping from window
to low shed, and thus regaincd the street.
Ilc now represented to the family that
the young lady in question was in reality
the child of his own father, but that of
course MIR. Vanderbilt was ignorant of the
fact, and that she marriage was necessary
in order to cover up some fraudulent trans
actions between Mr.. Vanderbilt and Sex
ton, Sr.'
All this the crcdulous family implicitly
believed, and also that his father had fire.
quently attempted to poison young Sex
ton. What renders the matter more re-
markablc, is that the young mans sick
ness was severe, and accom- MED by strong
spasmB and frequently ing dclirium.