The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-07

the oath day of May, 1858.
further swear that Isaac Burrill has been the
bearer of quite a number of improper letters
between David Stuart and myself, surrepti.
tiou>ly sent, and | believe his agency between
said Stuart and myself has greatly aided said
Stuart in causing my destruction and ruin.
(Signed) MARY W. BURCH.
Witness, FANNIE BURCH,
- J. r. VALENTINE.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 18th
day of January, 1860.
J. r. VALENTINE, Notary Public.
SECOND PAPER.
JANUARY II, 1860.
In Justice to my husband and children, / make
the following statement: From the early part
OF the year 1857, | had the acquaintance with
Mr.. David Stuart: | saw him occasionally pre-.
vious to August in the same year. From that
time (AugusD he was unceaslng in his determ
nation and attempts 10 ruin ne. | resisted
him, God in Heaven knows, and for nearly
three months, but seemed as if it were intat-
uated, and after so long repelling his advances,
l, to my shame, confess that he finally con-
quered, and on the l4th day of October, fell
victim to his damnable seductive arts. | then
and on that day had criminal connection with
him, and, God forgive me, this was repeated
at different times by six or seven acts OF adu
terry during the month of November and until
the 24th of December OF the same year. This
intimacy then ceased, and | seldom saw Mr.
Stuart. He called two or three times after my
brothers death IN February, 1858, but there
was no further criminal intercourse between us.
He was not in the house from that time until
my return from the East, in Sept TENDER, 1859,
when he called once or twice, as other gentle
men did.
About the last of October. 1859, during my
husbands absence in Burlington, where he had
for hrno do nd fuyD MIN lat. hn Had
and said, your husband will be away tonight;
| am coming here after all have retired" |
said, mo Mr.. stuart, can never do that in the
world" He urged it, and repealed. lie then
insisted upon again accomplishing his hellish
purpose, which utterly refused to allow, but
without effect, for he threw me upon the lounge
aud insisted. | was frightened and told him
could never consent to such thing again. My
infatuation was gone. but alas | was in his
power. l strOve with him and wept bitterly,
and then told him, in order to have him cease,
that would allow him to visit me that night.
He said then. when all is quiet, leave the shut
ter open in your room come down to the front
door, which you must not fasten and let me
ill.," This promised from fear. He did not,
however, get in. | fastened the door, shut the
blinds. ana went to bed and Mr.. Stuart did not
then or any other night visit me.
l should think on or about the 18th of No
vember. while my husband was at a meeting of
5,
MIR. Stuart was here. and at that time made ad-
vances to me which repealed altogether. l
was ill at the time.
This is the extent of my whole acquaintance
and intercourse familiar or otherwise, with this
vile man, and may God forgive the acts | have
committed, for do most hulnbly and sincerely
repent me of them.
should have added to the above, that at no
time did MIR. Stuart accomplish his most hellish
purpose without the utmost resistance on my
part. In every instance | was forced to it.
l have written the above with my own free
will with much elaboration and pain, and have
read it earefalIy before sgni Ing w p1,pcu
Witness, FANNY BURCH,
g j. K. VALENTINE.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th
day OF January, 1860, J. r. VALENTINE,
Notary Public.
The defence opened their case by testi-
mony impugning the veracity of one of the
prosecuting witnesses.
The correspondent of the Chicago Dem
oeret, writing from Napierville, on Tuesday
afternoon, says:
The scenes OF the last three days of this
trial have been those of unmitigated sad
ness, and of the deepest out most painful
interest. We have seldom been made a
spectator of drama so distressing and yet
so absorbing in its interest. The evidence
of Miss Fanny Burch, MIR. Valentine, Mr..
Farnam and Mr.. Patterson, and the reading
OF those irresistibly affecting and despairing
letters, written by Mrs Burch to her pas
tor, her female friends, and her husband, un-
yelled the sad history of the events which
transpred in that lordly mansion on Michi-
gan Avenue from the l4th to the 18th of
last January, and made every heart in the
court room ache at the contemplation of the
utter misery thus revealed. And when, as
if to crown this, came the two confessions
of Mrs. Burch, couched in language of fear
full intensity, calling down upon her head the
awful vengeance Of God able "to save in
Heaven with an everlasting salvation, or
plunge forever in hell the SOUL" and attest
ing her truthfulness under "tbe threatened
penalty of eternal damnation," the impress.
sion upon judge, jury, counsel, parties, re.
porters and spectators, was almost fearful.
l send with this letter these confessions
and, perusing them, your readers can judge
of the effect they must have produced when
read in Court, in presence of the parties
most deeply interested, and under the legal
solemnities of court of justice.
Both the parties to the suit were deeply
affected during the reading Of these comics
sions-Mrs. Burch painfully so. Even in
the eyes of those who believe her guilty, the
great agony which she must have endured
IL IL Al