Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-02-07
THE RECENT ELoPEMENT II ENG

A paragraph among the foreign news
by a late arrival made brief mention of
the elopement of the wife of John Henry
Gurney with her footman. A Phila-
delphia correspondent of the New York
Tribune furnishes the following addi-
tional particulars: .n: 4..'lsa d" ..
''Mr. Gurney is the son of Joseph
John Gurney, the distinguished Quaker
preacher and philanthropist, well known
by his extensive travels in this country,
some years ago for the purpose of visit
ing the meetings of the society to which
he belongs The latter was brother Of
the well-known banker, Samuel Gurney;
his sister was the celebrated Elizabeth
Fry, and his widow is native of Penn
sylvania. The family name and char
acter are thus familiar to thousands in
this country, who will be interested in
hearing some particulars Of the domes-
tic desolation so hastily dispatched in the
foreign summary. Letters received here
by the last steamer have been shown to
me, which furnish full particulars of the
case. ...,.. .t ~. g..
''The fugitive wife was the only child
of Richard Gurney, NJ. P, a cousin Of
Joseph John, and was married to the
husband she has abandoned when she
was only fifteen years old. She is now
twenty eight, and has two, children
Her father, at his death, left a fortune
of S., 600, ,000-ene- half to her children,
and the income of the other half to her
during her life-the principal, at her
death, to go also to her children. In
addition to this abundance, her husband
is also very wealthy, member of Par
lament, and maintains splendid city
establishment and several country seats
As a man, citizen, husband, and a
father, perhaps all England does not
contain better or brighter character
He married for love, and was passionately
attached to his wife, lavishing on her
every attention and indulgence which an
overfowing fortune and affection could
suggest as likely to contribute to her
happiness, without for moment sus-
pecting that her loyalty to him had been
alienated, until he heard the blasting in
telligence from her own lips.
"a young man, whose name is Taylor,
had been highly recommended to Mr.
Gurney as groom or footman, to take
charge of Mrs. Gurney's horses, as she
was excessively fond Of equestrian exer-
else, and was accordingly, employed in
that capacity Taylor was an educated
man, of fine appearance and pleasing
manners, and three or four years young
er than his mistress. Thus thrown often
together, she. conceived a. passion for
her servant, of which her husband did
not entertain the remotest idea, until she
openly avowed it to him, declaring that,
though the latter had been faultless as a
husband, and only too indulgent, yet she
had ceased to love him; that her heart
w,s with Taylor, and that she had de-
termined to abandon the husband for
him. The tenderest remonstrance and
intercession availed nothing to lessen her
infatuation. Friends and relatives who
were called in to plead with her made nc
stronger impression; and, leaving her
children without shedding a tear, this
infatuated being abandoned as admirable
a home as woman ever inhabited, and
left England for the Continent in com
pany with her seducer. The letters re-
1eired to speak of this sad event as hav.
ing produced an extraordinary sensation
in England, where the Gurney family
has long been universally known and
loved. In this country, also, where
their virtues are as highly appreciated
by very extensive circle, these particu
lars will be read with equal astonish
ment and grief. u l'..'" ttr .I .i'. 7s'@.