Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-01-24
| Murder ofs Young Lady by Rejected
Loyer-His SubseQuent Suicide

Lover Ills buDScQu6nL 6ulc ice
The telegraph has briefly informed us Of a
shocking murder at South Franklin, Mass, on
Tuesday, by a Tilted lover named Jonathan Wales
while returning from surprise party. We Low nd
the following itional aficul ,rs from the B ~.
ton Tarehr:
About year ago Wales became cnamored of
Susan Y. Whiting. Young lady sixteen years
of age. who led with her parents about n
mile distant from hi,b ,nn, AMI about ,liree-fIurhs
If II mile from Walswo:th's station on the Nor
folk County Railroad. 4 brother III Wales had
marie an older sister of Miss Whiting. So that
The family were already connected, aud thrown in
contact with cirh otlIc. lie pre.se his suit upon
her aud according tp tue statement Of Mr. Wales.
md other e,ilcnce she favored his propas.ls and
either recipr,caicl his Affection or pretended to
do 80.
The parents If the young lady were very much
opposed u the match, and urged the inequality
1T age le'wrcn them as an important objection.
fltAidliag her keeping his company. They were
undoubtedly engaged to each other Mt one time,
though Susan denied the fact 10 her mother. But
il appears that they pighicd their VOWS 20 each
other, and Knowing the opposition which w"uld
be encountered from her iriei,d-. agreed to wait
Two wears md to form other attachment during
that time. Before they wer, engaged Wales had
made her small presents Of jewel. and af crwards
! h. prescntc! her with lo'd watch and chain
They also exchanged miniature
About Il or : weeks ago nm arrangement took
place, probably caused by II change in her feel
inss or n scn-c OF duty To comply with the wish
cs Of her parents. lie wrote her note requesting
the return ri. bis cwclry, and she ut once re-
tnrncd al! his giit-thc Young man who was
with her at the time of the murder being the mes
/ scuger.
Last Mondy rvenn.a SURF rise PARTY WAS given
at the house of Mr. Nathaniel llaNrs about 100
rods from her fathers house, and she was very
anxious 10 attend, bur her mother had prem nj
tnn Of trouble Hanger, and refused her consent;
sh" finally granted H. condition that she would
ride home with her nlc'c. Mr.. Willard Whiting,
who was - nei,.hhur, and was 10 attend with his
adopted daughter Anne. She went. and Wales
also ut the party. He appeared much snyer
than usual, but was noticed to keep his eyes riy-
tied on her. At about halt past II o'clock she
lett the house in company with young man
named Ephraim Follett,
They had scarcely proceeded fifty rods, and
were nearly opposite James McPhrrson's, when
Wales having crossed field from the house ofMr.
llawcs, came up behind them. They turned n
little one side TO allow him to pass bnt he DELHI
erate'y walked up To her, and raising his pistol.
discharged the contents of one barrel, with the
muh1Ie nea tuuchig her ri .ht temple lie i'm
mriintely clImrd over the fence and disappeared
over - hill 10y the roadside. The yonng nun with
her felt her lean on his shoulder and then drop
He was much frightened. and ran to ,he house for
aid. pon returning. tue girl was Stll alive but
died two hours aitefwarl.
Early ON Tuesday rarty consisting Of Mcssrs.
Milan toek, Herman Miller, aud JOS. H. Wads-
worth, proceeded to trace the footsteps of Wales,
who, 1t ives anticipated had committed suicide
The father had hccn prcvousi y advised OF the muir
der, and bad expressed the hope and PRAYER that
h,s son might be found dead. They tracked him
It about II mile through swnmps and pastures TO
Bald Hill, where they found the body III o'clock,
in piece oi young woodland flooded with blood,
and with the pistol wing at the feet lie had re-
move his clothing sufficiently to place the muz-
Il" Of the pistol directly to his body without iniu-
rng the clothing and had thus discharged it just
below the pit of the stomach
lie had evidently worn poorer suit Of clothes
than usual to the party, to be prepared for the
event. His boots were filled with blood. and his
cl'thes completely wet with it. The body was t,,-
l"r to Mr. Wales house, and laid out in his favor
tie suit of black. lie looked perfectly natural and
Wore smile even in death. Besides his bereavcd
parents, he leaves four brothers and five sisters,
with many other relatives and friends. Miss
Whiting leaves four sisters and two brothers.
She was an am:able young lady and much be,
liyaI