Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-11-19
Z Terms s. Of subscription-Invaria'
5,t.IEYANORiA GAZETTE
Love, Biga,ny ana Murder.

Love, Bigalny and Murder.
9 From the Worcester Mass Spy, Nov. l6.l
.4lT The most desperate, cold blooded and shock
inc b! case Of murder that has ever transpred IN
this county occurred in this city yesterday
afternoon at the house Of Mr.. Edward Curtis,
situated about three miles from the City Hall,
on the old turnpike road to Clappville, and
near GAINESVILLE. The relations of the parties
and the particulars Of the horrible affair, gath
/. cred from eye-witnesses, and from visit to the
scene of the tragedy, are as follows:
The parties were James Shepard, a young
man about twenty-five years of age, vino has
had for years disreputable name In this vic!n-
ity, snd his wife, aged about eighteen years.
Her maiden name was Laura Wesson. Some
three years ago, when she was only fifteen
wears of age, she was enticed away from her
home with her parents in this city by Shepard.
and marriage ceremony was performed, hut
during the same day she was rescued from him
and restored to her friends. He was arrested
for polygamy, he having wife at the time;
but this last marriage was declared null and
void Some six months afterwards she went
off with him again, an6 remained awhile, when
they senarated They were afterwards mar
ried again, and again separated. His treatment
to her was harsh and brutal, but in spite OF 1t
her infatuation was such that she would, at
his solicitation, connect herself with him again
after every separation.
Two weeks ago he was arrested for having
forged the signature Of her parents to permit
for her to be married, by which he obtained
marriage license, she being npd:r age; but when
the case came into the police court, she de-
cared that she should persist in living with him,
and abandoned her friends to 60 with him.
The case was accordingly placed on ME, and
she went with him to live in Lowell. She was
there but a few days when he got out ofmoney
and refused to support her longer, turning her
out of the house. She came back to this city
to her parents and declared that she would
never 20 with him again. Shepard followed
her here and endeavored to persuade her to
live with him again, but she refused and re-
manned with her parents, who reside only a
short distance from the scene of the murder.
Yesterday morning she went to Mr.. Curtis
house to assist in doing the houseWork. She
! had been there but short time when Shepard
came and had conversation with her, endeav-
oring to persuade her to 60 away with him.
She refused and he became angry. The wife
of q son of Mr. Curtis living in the house had
been confined the night previous, and her nurse
came out of the sick room and reproved him
for loud talking. He made abusive and threat
q ening remarks and left, saying he was going to
the city to cry his wife down in the papers:
4. He came to the city and purchased small
single barreled pistol and quantity OF cartrld-
ges, and while returning met an acquaintance,
to whom he said he was going up to Curtis to
kill his wife that he had just been after pls-
toT to do it with He arrived at the house be
tween two and three o'clock. In the yard he
inquired of James, son OF Mr.. Curtis a
young man, which room Laura was In, and was
told She was in the kitchen washing dishes
He then asked James to go IN with him, aud
started towards the door. James followed
q slowly, and as he entered the door ne heard
Mrs. Shepard cry out, " Oh, don't, Jim,
and saw her struggling with her husband, who
), had a pistol in bis hand. Young, Curtis seized
him and tried to hold him, and IN the strugg-
gle the pistol was discharged, doing no harm
Mrs. Shepard and Mrs. Greenwood, the nurse,
then ran across the entry into the sick room
Shepard followed, having reloaded his pistol
and was again seized by Curtis, and his second
shot was Intellectual Shepard then succeeded
in forcing open the door of the sick room and
entering shutting it against Curtis, who then
ran to call for his brother, who was near by
. As soon as Shepard entered the room he fired
q another Intellectual shot Mrs. Shepard then
threw herself upon the bed with the sick wo.
man. and he fired two more shots at her. Mrs.
q Curtis, the sick woman, said, Don't shoot
: me, /" to which Shepard replied, Don't fret,
won't hurt you; but [ am going, to shoot
Laura" His wife then got out Of the room,
and, as she crossed the entry towards the
Kitchen he fired again, the bullet taking effect
= In her right temple, and she fell dead across
y the Threshold The two brothers came IN just
IN season to see her fall and to see him go out
. at the front door.
.s Shepard Immediately took to the fields and
woods, going in the direction of Cherry Valley,
the spectators Of his murderous work being too
much excited and frightened to prevent it.
Information was sent at once to the police
Office, and City Marshal brennan, with some
SIX SIX or eight officers, and Coroner j.. Marcus
klce hurried to the spot, and arrived there
about a an hour after the deed was committed
The body was found lying where it fell, the
FAMILY Supposlng it improper to moVe.lt I'LL
tae arrival Of the coroner. 80
The officers were at once dispatched IN dlt-
mrent Ierent directions in search OF the murderer. -
those who went to Cherry Valley soon got on
his track, and followed him to several houses,
stores and factories, at each of which places
-, 'otu HuaG ue uau lOut, anu InAS"Vehou 80
Aieof any officer who should attempt to ar
rest him. At the house of his sister, in the
same village he gave up bis pistol and cart
lldges. On the arrival Of the officers there
she was not inclined to give intormatlon,n and
.aey were delayed in searching tor him. IheJ
q sslterTards found that he had been gone only
I'VE minutes when they arrived.
At all the places where he stopped ne pace
= nls acquaintances goodbye, saying they WoulC
never see him again, that he would take, hi!
own life rather than be arrested. Atone place
ne ne gave away his tobacco, saying he shoult (
nave. no further use for it. The officers toi
loSed him 10 the direction Of Henshaw pond
Where it is evident he took to the fields, golns
9Tards the water. By this time it was darl
), and a% impossible to continue the search, and tn
oncers returned SHis conduct when last seer
glVes rise to suspicion that he meditated self