Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-06-01
a Singular Tragedy.
"A ouADRUpLE MURDER IN MEMPHIS


man named Robert Ferguson, late cradunt,
OF the Medical University of Philadelphia
ana who bore reputation for mildncss ant
good behavior, and who was fast becomiu.
/ recognized among his profession as a youth q
groat promise. After Fcrguson's return from
Philadelphia, where he had prosecuted hi
4 studies in medicine with great diligence, ant
! gradIuted with first honors, he became con
nected in business with one of our popular
| physicians, and was, to all appearances, ad
vanclng along the road to professional renowu
with rapid strides. But it seems that good
fortune did not benefit him. He became
reckless, and finally it was rumorcd among his
many friends that ho had become ena,norcd
| with young woman of great beauty but dc.
| praved habits, and had neglected his business.
SO that he could enjoy her society. She had
other suitors, among them young man who
was considered a warm friend to ferguson.
Their meetings were clandcstine, but cro long,
ferguson became aware Of the false actions
OF tho courtesan whom he loved. A coldness
onsued between him aud his friend. One
night, they met in drinking saloon The
meeting resulted fatally to the false friend.-
ferguson shot him, and was Immediately ar
rested, but, through some n0dus 0pcraatI.
hc was released on bonds. After his release,
he went to Nashville, but love for the beau
tiful courtoSan caused him to return 10 Mem
phis.
The woman who, by her beautiful person
and educated wlcs, had caused him to forget
his duties to society and his profession, was
gathering the mcshes of death around him.
She had loved the man whom ferguson had
so ruthlcssly shot down, and the sight of his
dead body had aroused in her ptiless heart all
the passions of desperation and revenge She
wound the coil, and Us she carcssed her vic.
tim, her eyes would seem to rcnd his heart
In her desire to fully mature her plans, sho
seemingly descended lower into the pool of
degradation, and cultivated the acquaintance
OF men who were noted for their desperation
and vilainy. But in her train, she brought
many youths of good family, whom, through
good address IND issIti,lu;;s attaat;n,,, aha had
ready to do her bidding. Ferguson saw that
he was in danger from his many rivals, and
insisted that they should.lcave for California
She made some trivial excuse, remarking,
You will 90 on longer journey next week
She spoke truly, but little did she know that
hercois were cnveloping, not only her intended
victim, but herself. On the night of the 18th
of March, she concluded to put into execu-
ton her iiendish object IIer accompliccs-
men of dcpravcd nature-wcre instructed rs
| to the time when Ferguson was to be assassina-
ted The courtcsan made an appointment
| with Ferguson. True to his word, he came
| AS he entered the saloon, he was invited to a
private apartment adjoining the saloon, where
| parties were in the habit of drinking wines,
90. Yonker entered, and was introduced by
| the woman. He ordered bottle of winc.-
AS Ferguson was lifting glass Of the spark
ling beverage to his lips, the courtesan raised
her glass, fcmarking, (" Ferguson, this is the
| oion,l IF ,,n, In,tI, s,,l an, ,l,o Ii, !
the glass, Yonker, with cleaning Bowie.
knife, made lunge at the breast of Fergu.
! son.
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 navy sized
pistol, he shot Yonkcr dead, just as the would
be assassin attempted to fire ~ him with a
DcrrinSer pistol. The courtcsan foilcd in her
designs, fired at ferguson, who fell, covered
with blood, in the corner where he stood nj
bay. Excited Mt tho sight of blood, the wo-
man continued her shots, wounding Ferguson
in four places. She then rushed upon him with
q knife, and just rs tho keen point touched
his body, he fired fatal shot, and tho woman
fell upon her once loved paramour corpse
The crowd broke through the door and gath
cred around the forms of those who had fig
ured in this dreadful strife. Before the wo
man, whose fendish.likc spirit had caused
this dreadful havoc could be lifted from tn,
form Of Ferguson, he had died.
DiRT iTATING.-The Kaoiio Porcelain Com
pany, of Augusta, Ga, is the owner of one o
the finest beds of porcelain clay in the world
1t is located in the State Of South Carolina
about six miles from Augusta, Ga. Besides
making great variety of waro which is mucl
esteemed for its strength and beauty, th'
Company soils large quantity to Northern
purchasers, of which the Augusta press thus
discourscth: "This clay goes into the North
crn market whore it is used for great vario
ty of manufacturing purposes in candies, or
papor collars, in paints, perhaps in -four ant
the Gothamites possibly drink it, diluted will
a little Croton water, and small infusion o
the real lacteal fluid, in their morning coffee
So while thcv surfct us with politlca dirt