Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-02-03
A LOVE TRACEY.

Sr"sio"' Va tuS NOrIoik county Road, on
Monday night, at IL IL O'Clock, as Miss
susan Whiting was returning from sur
prise party, accompanied by young man
from Wrentham, she was shot through
the head by jonathan Wales.
About year ago, he became enamored
Of susan, young lady, is years of age,
who resided with her parents, about a.
mile distant from his home, and about
three tourths OF a milo from Wadsworth
Station on the County Railroad. A
brother Of Wales had married an elder
sister OF Miss Whiting, SO that the fami.t
lies were already connected and thrown
IN contact with each other. He pressed
his suit upon her !; and, according to the
statement of Mr.. Wales and o.her eyi.
dence, she favored his proposals, and
ether rcciprocated his affection, or pro.
tessed to do SO. The parents of the young
lady were very much opposed to the
match, and urged the inequality of age
between them as an important objection,
Lorbldding her keeping his company. -
They were undoubtedly engaged to each
other at one time, though Susan denied
the tact to her mother. But it appears
that theJ plighted their VOWS to each
otner and kessing the opposition which
would be encountered from her friends.
laagreed to wait two years, and to form no
other attachment during that time. Be.
fore they were engaged, Wales had made
her small presents of jewelry, and after
wards he presented her with gold watch
and chain. They also exchanged minia
lures.
About or 5 weeks Since, an estranqe.
ment place, took caused by a change
IN her feelings, or sense of duty to com
ply with the wishes Of her parents. He
wrote her q note requesting the re.urn
OF her Jewelry, and she at once returned
all her glfts-the young man who was
Win ner az the time of the murder, we
are told, being the messenger.
That evening he appeared changed and
unusually sad. A portion of soliloquy.
GOD Knows what | know" convinced
his friends that his feelings we're deeply
panied. lie gave the watch and chain
to his mother, requesting her to keep it
to remember him by. He also distribu-
ted the other gifts giving locket to one
sister, chain to another, and ring to
q young lady friend. From this time he
began to change, acting listless, and
growing haggard in appearance. Soon
after, visiting Boston, he purchased five
barreled revolver, and since then has fire.
quently practised in the woods; this con-
duct led his friends to fear that he med
itated suicide.
About a fortnight since, at meeting
OF the South Franklin Lyceum, several
young men. who had heard of the circum-
stance Of the rejection Of Wales by Susan,
willing to sacrifice his feelings to their
love tor sport, arranged to have discus
sion on the subject" Resolved, that a
married man should be ten years older
than his wife" he being 26 years old
and to complete their plan for amuse.
ment at his expense, managed to have
him speak on the affirmative. Tie school
house was crowded, and as was intended,
tne discussion soon assumed a personal
charaeter,gand his affairs were allnded To,
with such freedom as to exasperate him
greatly. After this he was frequently
Joked on the subject, and it is thought
that this disregard for his finest feelings
caused the deliberate commission Of the
double crime.
Last Monday evening surprise party
was given at the house of Mr.. Nathan Ell
Hawes, about 100 rods from her fathers
mouse, anu she was anxious to attend, but
her mother had promotion Of trouble
or danger, and refused her consent. She
finally granted it on condition that she
would ride home with her uncle, Mr.. w
whiting, who was a neighbor, and was
to attend with his adopted daughter
Anne. She went, and Wales was also at
the party. lie appeared gayer than usu.
al, and laughed aud played with the rest,
but was noticed to keep his eyes riYeted
on her. Atabout half-past IL O'Clock she
left the house in company with a young
man named Ephraim Toilet. They had
scarcely proceeded fifty rods, and were
nearly opposite the house of James Nc
Pherson, when Wales, having crossed al
field from the house of Mr.. HAYES, came
up behind them.
They turned little one side to allow
him to pass, but he deliberately walked
up to her, and raising the pistol, dis.
charged the contents of one barrel, with
the muzzle nearly touching her right tenn.
pie. He instantly climbed over the fence
and disappeared over hill by the road
side. The young man with her felt her
her lean on his shoulder and then drop.
He was much frightened, and ran to the |
house for help. The young lady died
about two hours afterward.
Early yesterday morning, party
tracked Wales for about mile through
swamps and pastures, to Bald Hill, where
they found his body at s O'Clock, in a |
piece Of young woodland, flooded with
blood, and with the pistol lying at the
feet. He had removed his clothing suf |
fciently to place the muzzle Of the pistol
directly to his body without injuring the
clothing, and had thus discharged it iustf
below the pit Of the stomach. He had
evidently worn poorer suit Of clothes
than usual to the party. to be prepared
for the event Boston Traveller, 1854.