The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-17
IA Hi~gulAr Tragedyr.,o,t

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"A asingnlarwt tragedy reoahtly Be
oufrod in aMemphis, Tennessee, the
facts of whieha~en substautialry1as
1oa0ws;,o9C .gigglsiD ,ibbir ri
The chief actor in this drama an " Was
q young man named Robert. Fcrgiu,-
SOP, late graduate of the Medical
University of Philadelphis, ind who
bore a reputation, TOR mildness ma
| good behavior, and Who j. was! fast be-
Coming orecognized among his iTo-
fession as youth OF gredt peonaSsei
After Fergusop's return from Phila-
| delphia, ewhere he hadsproseented his
studies in medicine with great dill
gence, and graduated with first hos
nors, he became connected in Sbtisi-
ness with one of our popular phYsi!
clans, and was, to oil. appearances,
advancing along the road to iprofes-
sional renown with rapid strides.
But it seems thnt good fortune did
not benefit him. He became reckless,
and finally it was rumored among his
many friends that he had become
enamored with q young woman. of
great beauty but deprayed hnbits, and
had neglected his business, so that
he could enjoy her society. She had
other suitors, among them young
man who was considered warm
friend to Ferguson. Their meetings
were clandestine, but ere long, Fer
guson became aware of the false &c
tions of tile courtesati whom he loved.
A coldness ensued between him and
his friend. One. might, they met in
q drinking saloon.. The meeting -ro-
suited fatally to. the falsefriend. Fer
guson shot him, and was Immediately
arrested, but, through some ahodus
optran9i, he was released on bonds.
After his release, he went to Nash
vile, but love for the beautiful
courtesan caused him to return to
Memphis. xro .
The woinorJ who, BY her beautiful
PERSON and educated wiles, had caused
him to forget his duties to society
and his profession, 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.
She wound the coil, and rs she. en-
ressed her victim, her eyes would
seem to rend his heart. + In her de-
sire to, fully mature her plans, she
seemingly descended lower .into-tl,e
pool of degradation, and cultivated
the acquaintance of men who were
noted for their desperation and vii
lainy. But in her train she brought
many youths Of good family, whom,
through good address and assiduous
attention, she had ready to do her
bidding. Ferguson saw that he was
in danger from his many rivals, and
insisted that they should leave for
California.
She made some trivial excuse,
remarking, "You will go on a longer
journey next week" She spoke
truly, but little did, she know that
her. coils were enyeloping, not only
her intended victim, but herself. On
the night of the 18th of March, she
concluded to put into execution her
fiendish object. Her accompiices-
men of depraved nature-were in
structed rs to the time when Fergu-
son was to be assassinated. The
courtesan made m appointment with
Ferguson. True to his word, he
came AS he entered the saloon, he
was invited to private apartment
adjoining the saloon. where parties
We're in the habit of drinking, wines,
80. ! Yonker entered, and was intro
duced by the woman. He ordered a
bottle Of wine. AS Ferguson was
Fitting glass Of the sparkling beve-
rage to his lips, the courtesan raised
her glass, femarking, ferguson,
this is the signal of your death!' and
as she drained the glass, Yonker,
with cleaning Bowie-knife, made n
lunge at the breast Of Ferguson.
His situation flashed across his
mind as the cold sharp steel pene-
trated his left shoulder. With a
quick bound, he placed himself in a
corner of the room, and drawing q
navy sized pistol, he shot Yonker
dead, just as the wonld-be assassin
attempted to fire Mt kim with Der
ringer pistol. The courtesan, foiled
in her designs, fired at Ferguson,
who fell, covered with blood, in the
corner where he stood ut bay. Ex-
cited Mt the sight of blood, the
woman continued her shots, wound
ing Ferguson in four places. She
then rushed upon him with knife,
Il A. l.