The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-05-15
SUICIDE OF MACDONALD,
xhe Murderer n vhginis otsvaS'
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eSS -~SSSS =
= 1reaAwsy.
HISTORY AND INCIDENTS OF The TRAGEDY.
sKRTCuU O. unCDouALD AW - STEWART.
-~~.>~~~~~>~~~~~s~~~~
THE PARTICULARS OF THE SUICIDE.
&C., &C., 10.
Robert @ Macdonald, esnansd b The Toabs upon N
hdctment charging hin win Ne murder Of hs mistress,
Virginia sswars IN froas Of he Bandrsth house, Ne
26sh Of July 1852 committed suicide IN hi cell ysstes
ssy noon, BY taking large quantity Il kunns snxiS N
epiass four times he stresgth Of Audanum.
THE MURpER.
Tho history and Incidents Of the murder with which
Macdonald charged and which, indeed, be confessed,
the reoonscsons Of many Of readers; but give
brief sketch Of Tho parties aad the anAir.
Virginia Stewart the eldest daughter Of poor but
respectable parents living In Napier street, Boston Al
the ase Of sixteen she adopted by elderly and
wen TO do coaps, named Perry, who took her nrs 70
Springfield and then 70 New York. In 1855 shs
came 10 500 her mother, who had again mar-
red man named Upton, Mr.. Stewart having deceased,
and informed her that she had married . gentleman
named Macdonald or her dau shtsrs real character and
habits Mrs Uptoa knew nothing until the murder, and
she gave her evidence. upon the inquest, wcepng Bit
terly, and appearing weighed down with sref Tne bui
let from Nacdonad's pistol thus inflicted double wound,
bringing sgony the mother not LEES than 10 his mistress
All this while Virginia. instead Of being with the Per-
rysat New York, was q house Of prostitution IN No
bile, and there she became acquainted with Macdonald
Who doing lucrative business ~ . cotton broker In
hat city The particulars Of her lapse from virtue
have been revealed. Mss Stewart was very bean
iui, snowy and attractive woman, and Macdonald be
came desperately enamored OF her. making her costly
presents and finally taking her a mistress During
their intercourse she bore him two children, both
of whom died n m early age Macdonald disspaed
exravssant, while Virgins, ike most women OF her
class cold calculating and to have inherited
great deal Of Yankee shrewdness in financial matters
The Of money which her lover lsvished upon her
carefully hosrded hin rich presents converted
into ready cash, and she soon accumulated sufi
Gent means 10 open . bdgVsO upon her own &C
coant This step was taken In defiance Of the
pressed Wishes Of her lover and for the purpose max
ing money, and led 10 many quarrels between herself
and her paramou.. MAcdonalds incorporate habits
grew upon him. and incensed by virgnias comph
with his wshes, he often drew knives and pissos
upon her, and at her instance he moro than once
locked up in the guard house. When sober he was a.
loving and ssctionase ever, but when In liquor the
collections Of these dsgraoes scanned almost 70 madden
bim and So dSguted with his repeated excuses, Mss
Stewart determined TO leave him before sbe was drawn
into the same vortex Of destruction.
With this view, and for the purpose Of securing
supply Of girls for her establishment, abe {, Ne
II. Ma - h~p
for tho purpose Of rcveDgng himself for her dsserton
Macdonald on the contrary, says in his statement that
''he was 20 wraps up IN her that he could mot shake
her OF, and finally quilted Mobile and came 70 New
York for the purposs Of getting rid Of her, and that she
followed him for the purpose Of reclaimpg him.
Another account states that both parties 70 this
city unknown each other, and that Macdonald aoci
dentaly heard Of her presence here, and had hin
Jealous passions nfsmed by The Information
that abe was living here with another para.
mour. In This city, Virginia lived, for . while, .,
the Smithsonian House, and then removed 70 house Of
prostitution In Marion street, where she resided at
the tune Of her death. Macdonald resided ct tho Metro
peltan, whore he became the object d especial
remark, on account Of hh repesssd disipaiioos
To the remonstrancss Of the proprietor and his
friends he paid no attention, but continued BIZ
ruinous course, seeking his mistress IN all III
houaes Of prostitution, and threatening 70 be revsngec
upon her for her nndsnty Unable TO nnd her In sh'
city, hs went 70 Boston, and thers visited vrgnAs ma
ther falling her that be wss hsr daughters husband
bad been Drinking and thas his ntsmpsranos bad
caused all the trouble between them that he was 10
blame for bes leaving him, and her mother
would only cone % 70 New York ths matter
would be settled, Offering 70 pay her she
would 20, and bursting into tsars during the
interview I He inquired particularly Of yirgmA's
whereabouts and not receiving any Information Of her. be
returned 70 New York by The next evenings train.
Soon afsr his return 70 New York. Macdonald Viz
glnA entering Taylor's saloon, In company with Mary
Brooks and Alice Morgan, two Of her frAn frisnds,
and he followed her 10 the table At which shs seated
herself. The meeting between Thorn appears 70 have
been friendly for Macdonald sat down near the ladies'
called for bette Of and partook OF some refresh.
ments with them. Upon leaving the saloon Macdonald
drew his mistress as,ce and entroAted her with
him 10 Mobile but she positively rsf ID, and exhibited
an evident inclination 10 cut hin acquaintance frrtaed II
this rebuff from com courtezAn, Macdonald threaten
ed 10 XIII her the spot but Mss Stewart. unmoved by
these threats continued her walk Macdonald follow ing
ber and endesvorpg, by alternate promises and thresis
10 niuos change her resolution. Az they reached
the corner Canal street and Broadway virginia becsme
alarmed At the violent dem ousrauoos OF her companion
And 81 ln8ukAAlou u ncf ftcnsa sue I'm soNAfut
the Brsndreth House, designing 10 enter and shus
escape hh dtassefoI psrsscuops Before she had pro
seeded many yards, however. and just - she reached
The steps II the hoei. Macdonald drew bis revolver and
with unsrrg aim, the fatal buss crashing through
her skull The street crowded - n usual upon .
July Afternoon and high above the din and brst OF the
busy ,hrcnx rise The shrek Of murdered woman sum
nonlns Thousands TO the spot
avrxuyrs AT suicfpx
MscdosLd was insanity seized, but msde most
desperate attempts 10 commit suicide By shooting
himself through bead He had the pssso raised and
his finger upon The uisx~, when oaor Roberts wrench
Cd the pistol from bis hand. Even when removed 70 tbe
station house the Of suicide seemed uppsrDost In hs
mind when the officer handed The pistol 10 hs superior,
Macdonald made desperate spring for Il, and was 70
strained with she greAie dicuity. From undated notes
found upon his person, the ides, no, Of the nurasr,
certainly q hh suicide, undouossdiy premedlsaied
Tue notes arc dated ct the sctrcporAs Hotel and written