Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-11-09

lFrom the New York Herald 23d1
Yesterday Fanny Wright, who is now
incarcerated in the the Toombs for the
homicide of patrolman McChesney, of
the Eighth precinct, on Saturday night
last, was visited by party of gentle-
men, including Captain Jourdan, Chief
Young, detective McCord and Others.
In response to a series of questions
she gave the following history of her
wretched life:
"About ten years ago L was living
happily with my parents at Poughkeep-
sic, in this State. Nothing that could
wish for was withheld. L was trained
in the Roman Catholic faith, and at
tended to my religious duties with
carefulness and pleasure until / was
corrupted by young girl of the same
age, who was my schQolfellow and
playmate. She had been reading nov
els to such Rn extent that her head be
came fairly upset, and nothing would
do her but TO travel out and see the
world. The dull life of a small coun-
try place like POughkeepsie would not
suit her tastes and inclinations, 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,
finally reluctantly consented to flee
from home, and we started together
one beautiful night for the city OF New
York. Here the poor woman gave
way to tears again, and sobbed hyster-
ically.)
o. our arrival in this city we took up
orr quarters with Mrs. Adams, at No.
81 Leonard street, and this was the
place where lost my virtue, and com
menced TO lead life of bitter, bitter
shame. My family ultimately succeed
ed in finding nv whereabouts and took
me home; but | would not listen TO the
voice of reason. L felt that L had Sc
lected my mode of life, and was deter
mined at all hazards to follow it out.
escaped a second time, and went back
to Mrs, Adams, where / was confined
of sweet little girl shortly afterward.
j used to keep myself very clean, and
dressed with great care aud usefulness,
From Mrs. Adams | moved to Mrs.
WIllnughhy's, at 10l Mercer street,
and lived there until the death of my
little girl, three years ago; that had an
awful effect upon me, aud 1 could not
help taking to drink TO drown my sOr-
row. From this period | date the COM
nleneement of my real bardships. My
father emigrated to California, and I
had no one LETT but Young brother.
He tried TO reform me, and also his
poor wife, God bless her; she used to
cry hers Ii sick at my Disgrace. Pre-
vious to thls the young girl who accom-
panied me from home in the first In &.
stance fell out lucky and got married.
Drinking was the only pleasure of my
life, and it was not long until il began
to have its results; / was arrested and
committed to the Island for six months.
got down before my time was up. and
again took to liquor aud street walking.
L used to walk all the time between
Green, Wooster and Mercer street, in
the Eighth ward. / was soon arrested
a second time and sent up again for six
months. During the last three years
of my life l have been sent on the
Island six times altogether for drank.
eGness and disOrderly conduct.
On the night the officer was killed
there she gave way again to tears and
rocked herself around on the bed ia a
fearful manner) was walking through
the street going home with a message,
and picking the kernels out of hick-
DRY nut with "A small knife, when the
officer came mp to me. I was almo.t
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. 1 never
had any enmity against the man; In
fact never 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. /
don't feel myself guilty of his murder,
when never intended to do it, and 1
know God will forgive me. :"
At noon yesterday the brother Of
Fanny, a respectable young man, re-
siding in tho neighborhood of Pough-
keepsie, called at the prison and had
an interview with his sister. A more
affecting scene it has seldom been our
lot to witness. Although q strong, TO
bust man, he fairly shook with emo
ton from a keen sense of grief and
shame. He remained with her for
nearly an hour. She was almost frantic
from violent outbursts of grief, and
after his departure became insensible.
Another interview would be more than
her health could bear.