The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-04-25
HORRIBLE AFFAIR IN MEMPHIS.
A Triple Murder---Vengance OF De.
PRAYED Woman. -

1TIppI" MuTucE'..vtngdn OF q lie.
PRAYED Woman.
An event has just transpired in Mem
phis which has caused an excitement un-
paralleled The chief actor in this seem
ingly unreal drama, which has in it a
touch OF the barbaric age, was Young
man named Robert Ferguson. late gra-
duate of the Medical University of Phil
adelphia, who bore reputation for mild
ness and good behavior, and who was
fast becoming recognized among his pro-
fession as a youth OF great, promise.
The tale, which seems unreal, is briefly
as follows:
After Ferguson 5 return from Phlladcl-
phia. where he had prosecuted his stud
les III medicine with great diligence. and
graduated with high honors, he became
connected III business with one of our
popular physicians, and was, to all APP
pearances, advancing along the road to
professional renown with rapid strides.
But it seems that good fortune did not
benefit him. He became reckless, and
finally it was rumored among hi; many
friends thar he had become cnamored with
young woman Of great beauty, but de-
PRAYED IN habits, and had neglected his
business so that he could enjoy her
charms. She had other suitors. among
them Young man who was considered
warm friend to Ferguson Their meet
ings were clandestine, but ere long Fer
guson became aware OF the false actions
OF the courteZan with whom he lived.
A GOODNESS ensued between him and
his false friend. One niaht they met in
d drinking saloon where desperate char
actels OF every description assemble night
ly. and debauch until the gray morning
drives them forth to their pursuits Of
crime ana degradation The meeting re-
suited fatally to the false friend. Fer.
ga>on shot him and was immediately ar
rested, but through some peculiar nsodus
operondt he was released on bonds. Z AZ
ter his release he went to Nashyi lille; but
a love for the beautiful courtezan,. and a
desire to again mingle in the Genes chat
had fascinated him and dragged him
from position Of honor and trust, caused
him to returnto Memphis Fatal action!
The spirits OF vengeance were abroad.
The woman who, by her beautiful person
and educated wiies, had caused him to
forget his duties to society and his pro-
tession, was gathering the meshes. of
death around him. She had loved The
man whom Ferguson had so ruthlessly
shot down, and the sight Of his dead body
had aroused in her pitiless heart all the
passions of desperation and revenge.
Slowly she wound the coil, and as she
caressed her victim her eyes would seem
to read his very heart. In her desire to
fully mature her plans, she seemingly de-
scended lower into the pool Of degrade
ton. and as surely dragged with her the
infatuated object OF her hate From a
sumptuously furnished house Of prostitu-
ton, called MADAM Lovcjoy's, !" she be-
came an inmate Of the Olympic theater,
on Second street, in the capacity of a
beer-glrl, and thence TO low den on
Washington street, ''Iha Cotto., Plant y
There she cultivated the acquaintance Of
men noted for their desperation and viz
lsiny But in her train she brought
many youths of good family, whom,
through good address and assiduous at
tention, she had ready to do her bidding.
Ferguson saw that he was in danger froln
his many rivals, and insisted that they
leave for California She made some
trivial excuse, remarking, ''You will 60
on a longer journey next week. y
She spoke tru.,, put little did she
know chat her coils were enyeioping not
only her intended victim, bat herself
On the night Of the 2sth she concluded
to put i'll operation her daring but fend-
ish object. Her accoinplices-m of de-
PRAYED natures-I1ammond, Yorker and
Bowics. were instructed as to the time
when Ferguson was to be assassinated
The courteZan made an appointment
with Ferguson. True to his word he
came. As he entered the saloon, where
parties were IN the habit OF drinking
wines, etc, Ionlier entered and Was in
troduccd By the woman He ordered a
bottle Of wine. As Ferguson was lifting
a glass Of the sparkling beverage to his
lips the courtezan, with the glitter of a
snake in her eye, raised her glass, remark
ing, Ferguson, this is the signal for
yourdeath, and'-as she drained her glass,
lonker, with cleaning bowie knife,
made a lunge at the breast of Ferguson
His situation flashed across his mind as
the cold, sharp steel penetrated his left
shoulder With quick bound he placed
himself in a corner of the room, and
drawing a harvested ristol he shot Yon-
ker dead, just as the would be assassin
attempted to fire at him with Deringer
pistol. The conrtezan, foiled in her de-
signs. fired at f.. guson, who fell, cover
ed with blood, in the corner where he
stood at bay. Excited at the sight of
blood, the woman continued her shots.
wounding Ferguson in four places, and
then rushed upon him with knife
Just as its keen point touched his body
he fired fatal shot, and the graceful
fascinating, and beautiful woman fell up
on her once-loyed paramour a corpse. =
The crowd broke through the door and
gathered around the forms Of those who
had figured in this singular and dreadful
strife
Before the fair woman, whose fiendish
like spirit had caused this dreadful havoc,
could be lifted from the form Of Fergu-
son, he had expired