The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-11-09
Crime.
The Story Of q Fallen Woman as
Given nv Herself.

From the New York World
Fanny Wright, the woman who killed Officer
McChesney last Saturday night, has been re-
moved to the Toombs and now occupies cell in
the upper tier of the female prison. The clothing
stained with the blood of her victim, which she
has worn since her arrest, was yesterday changed.
In reply to interrogations she made the following
statement respecting her life:
"About ten years ago | was living happily
with my parents at Poughkeepsie, in this State.
Nothing that could wish for was withheld. /
was trained in the Roman Catholic faith, and at
tended TO my religious duties with carefulncss
and pleasure until was corrupted by a young
girl Of the same age, who was my school-fellow.
She had been reading novels to such an extent
that her head became fairly upset and nothing
would do her but to travel out and see the world.
The dull life of small country place IKE
poughkeepsie would not suit her tastes ana IN
cllnat0ns, and from repeatedly whispering INTO
my ears and persuading me that we would be
great ladies, have horses, carriages, diamonds,
and servants of our own, | nnaAy reluctantly
consented To flee from home, and we started to-
;,cther one beautiful night for New York. Here
The poor woman gave way to telr again, ana
robbed hystcr!eally.) On our arrival in this city
we took IN our quarters with Mrs. Adams at No.
=. Leonard street, and this was the place where
] los. nv virtue and commenced 70 lead life Of
bitter, bitter shame. My family ultimately sue
'ceded in finding out my whereabouts and took
ne home, but | could not listen TO the voice of
reason. I felt that / had selected my mode Of
life, and was determined at all hazards to follow
it out. ] escaped second time and went back
10 Mrs. Adams, where / was confined of sweet
little girl shortly afterwards. l used to keep
myself very clean, and dressed with great care
and usefulness. From Mrs Adams | moved 10
Mrs. Willoughby's, at No lOl Mercer street,
and lived there until the death of my little girl,
three years ago; that had an awful effect upon
,ue, and could not help taking 10 drink to
drown my sorrow. From this period date the
commencement Of my real hardShips. My father
,milrrated 70 California, and | had no one left
but young brother; he tried to reform me- and
also his poor wife, God bless her; she used TO cry
herself sick at my disgrace. Previous to this
the young girl who accompanied me from home
in the first instance fell out lucky and got mar
ried. Drinking was the only pleasure OF my
life, and it was not long until il began TO have
Its results. i was arrested and committed to the
Island for six months / got down before my
time was up, and again took 10 liquor and street
walking. l used TO walk all the time between
Greene, Wooster and Mercer streets, in the Sth
ward. | was soon arrested a second time, and
scnt up again tJr six months. During the last
three years of lay life l have been sent on the
Island six times altogether, Tor drunkenness and
,lisorderly conduct. On the night the officer was
l.illed here she gave way again to tears, and
rocked herself around the bed in fearful
3nanner) | was walking through the street, going
lome with message, and picking the kernels
"ut OF hickory nut with small knife, when
The officer came up to me. was almost drunk
at the time, and much excited; did not know
what was doing. when, on the impulse of the
moment, l struck him with the knife l never
had any enmity against the man; in fact | new
.r saw him before until that time 1t is not true
that had only just come down from the Island.
] was down from there at least six weeks l
.,ont feel myself guilty of his murder, when l
never intended 70 do it, and I know God will
forgive me-