Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-04-05

N-'-Nf-' [
No |.
l. In obedienoe TO General Orders No. 81,
Head Quarters Middle Department, 8tb Army
Corps. | assume command OF tue DIarRIcr W
DELAwARE
=. All reports aud returns required by existing
orders and the General regulations Of the Army
Of the United States, will be made by the troops
at and in the vicinity Of Wilmington to Major
HEShY b. JuDD, U. 5. Army, commanding the
post. by all other troops in the district direc, to
the Adjutant General at these Head Quarters.
3. Lieut.. John nuidekoper, l50th Regiment
penna. Vols, is announced as Aid de Camp aud
Acting Assistant Adjulaut General.
john X. KKNLEY,
apo St. Brig. Genl. Vols.
FROHTFUL TRAGkpY AT THE CONTINENTAL
IHkATR..-The Philadelphia u. s. Gazette of
yesterday says;-The tragic interest Of the spot
rendered terrible some time ago by the turning
alive Of the well known Janseusss, the Gale sis
ters, was heightened on Saturday night by the
assassination, in the full view Of two thousand
people, Of youhg courtezan by man who
claimed to entertain toward her an all absorbing
affection
The tale is not pleasant to nafrate, but as a
warning to giddy and thoughtless young meu
who see attractions in the delusve pleasures of
iniquly and depraVity, it may not pass without
the accomplishment of good
There lives in Wilmington an aged couple, of
slender means but of honest name. Their names
are Mitchell, They have a son named William
Howard. He is now but twenty-five years Of
age. He was the nain stay and support Of his
parents. lie ran US fireman Of a locomotive on
the Baltimore railroad. He soon got into bad
company, aud spending some night is in the week
in the city, formed the acquaintance Of ewd
women, His earnings be soon found insufficient
to carry him into that class Of company, and he
turned boldly into the straight path that leads to
destruction. There are those who tread il think
ing, after short advance, TO retraoa their steps
This boy Howard never did; very few ever do
lie then brcame thiri-rate gambler, and for
some mouths appears to have travelled from Phil
adelphia 10 New York, plying his avocation as
opportunity offered, sometimes having his pocket
full Of money, but oftener finding himself penui
less lie had been about a month in Phiadel-
phia up TO Saturday night, spending most of his
evenings at the concert saloons about the city
lie made the acquaintance, in the beginning OF
his visit, of girl named Margaret naer, waiter
girl at the Continental theatre. The girl was
deiman by birth, and came from Pottsyille to
the city about year ago The governor having
signed the bill prohibiting women from waiting
in this class of music halls the girl lost that &C.
cupation On Saturday night there we're no more
On lhnt night Mitchell expected to leave the
city for New York, and Margaret had promised
TO accompany him. They had been together
most OF the afternoon at a low drinking saloon,
at the corner Of lludson's alley and Chestnut
street, in the basement, called the Red Robin
lie was to call for her that night lie appears
to have called at the dwelling. She lived in a
house kept by a Frenchman, in Fifth street, below
Walnut When he asked for her he was told
she was at the Continental theatre.
As he went into the theatre, Officer Sparks
engaged there, hailed him and asked him what
he was going to do. lie searched him, knowing
him well, thinking he was going into the b:x
10 tight man nho was 10 company with the
girl. "Why, Ben" said Mitchell, ''do you think
would do such Thing as that? | want TO bid
Maggie good bye; l am going to New York to-
night" The officer was satisfied, and let him
go on to the box.
He entered the private box where the girl was
sitting. The box was crowded, and she was sit-
ting upon the lap Of another girl, watching the
performance. Stepping up TO her, be said,
ed f''
The girl appeared little alarmed, she said
''yes," in reluctant tone.
"Tell me, once for all, will you 90 with me to
New York 7" he repeated, with vehemence.
AYES, will, washer reply.
81 love you, he said, ''and you have gone back
upon me-" Her manner appeared not to please
him. lie drew five barrelled revolver, and
hred 1t at her. The first discharge sent hullet
through her shoulder. He again pulled the trir
ger, and sent ball through her temple. Before
he could be disarmed he sent third ball into
her side, between the first and second ribs. All
this took but a few seconds Wild excitement
seized the audience. The stage manager drop
ped the curtain and asked the audience if they
would retire, or if the perfOi nance should pro-
ceed. The multitude made no reply. Five
minutes afterwards it was announced that the
woman was dead, and that the house must be
closed.
The assassin was taken from the place to the
Central Police Station and locked up. lie bore
evident marks of intoxioation, though he stoutly
maintained tnat he was sober. On his Way to
the station hapsal he continued repeating, al
loved her 50 Oh how loved herr
When sssrqhed he had no money, but in his
pocket wns fgNhF t1e following letter:
II 'sfflga 5ELrHlA, March 30, 1864.
ny lsay MRReie; embrace this oppOriu-
n't7 qn to inform you am about
TO les4e fes % aEfiis tomorrow.
= conid not hRFeaArote until arrived in York.
faasll aaet snS eFmy friends at the depot aud
Y borrowed the enclosed money Of him uutil | got
home. had not time to come down to give il
to you, so thought would write letter, and
enclose the money in H. Don't let any of them
people around there know your or my business
Keep everything to yourself As soon as ar
rive in York, will send you the same amount.
and direct it as you told me 80 be sure aud 20
every day to the post-otiice. | have nothing fur
ther to say, only be sure and not drink anything
strong, for you know an opposed to that more
than anything else.
$50 no more at present, but give my respects
to Aunty, Kate and Clara, and accept the love
and best wishes Of your most ever loving and
most atfectionate friend.
WM. HOWARD MIToAELL."
This letter evidently had not been sent. Wa
learned, however, that he had given her s45
that afternoon, and that the girl had told others
that sue only cared lor the money he gave her.
and not for him. II was tho old story, Of which
metropolitan life affords so many Illustrations
and which the Proverbs of Solomon centuries
Old describe as graphically as it is described by
the Illustration Of last Sabbath night.
The moment the prisoner was put into cell.
he fell upon his knees and burst forth into
HOOD OF OF incoherent prayers. Lieut. Hender.
son brought him into the ante-room. The mn
ment he came out, said he:
"Aly Godl say that the girl lives Oh, how
loved herY I've got an old father and mother in
wilmington, and deserted them for her sake. /
did, gentlemen, and see how she used me Or
say that she isn't dead |"
Lieut. Henderson, seing that he was usarlv
frantic, said, ''Yes she lives"
.'oh, God !" he again calculated, "if could
only see her alive, you might take me out AMI
hang me to the next tree. loved her so.
didn't know what to do without her. / gave up
iaiher and mother for her, and she went back
upon me. II you can bring her well again. XIII
me 10 welcome, l couldn't live without her"
The wretched young man spent q terrible
night OF wakefulness. The dead body was eI-
amined by the COrOuer's Surgeon, when il was
manifest that the first shot killed her. with bpt
an instants pnng. The hall ont dirac,Iy ,h.a,,L