Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-03
UNION AND AMERICAN.
ATTEMPT. TO MURDER An
HEIRESS.
A Mysterious TransactiOn-Murde
Attack Upon a Young Lady
From the Detroit Tribune, October %.


MYSTERIOUS Transaction-Murd
Attack Upon Young Lady
From the Detroit Tribune, October q.
At the present time citizens living IN
the immediate vicinity Of the corner OF
Michigan avenue and Sixth street are
greatly agitated lest a murder ana possl>
blv other terrible crimes shall be com
mitted. While one family is the most
excited over the matter, the ieehng Oh
insecurity is prevalent through the entire
neighborhood. On Monday night last
bold and outrageous attempt was lhaae 70
murder a young lady named Mary Nan'
ford, residing with the lamlly Oh MT
Deering, who is the proprietor OF dry
good store on the corner above named
Sbewasmet bv some william at ornear the
corner of Eighth and Fort streets, earl In
the evening, and came very near losing
her life The wretch, whoever he was,
male three separate attempts to stab the
Young lady, and cut her hat in as many
places, appearances would indicate, with
razor.
Several days since an anonymous note
was sent 70 the house Of Mr.. Deerlng Tor
Miss Sanford, in which the writer reT
pouested private interview with her, con-
corning matters which the person sal9
interested her only. The writer selected
a certain locality and time for the meets
ing Mr.. Deering accompanied the young
lady, but as nothing could be seen OF the
mysterious parsonage at the appointed
place, they returned home. Another note
was then sent, which stated that the
writer wished to see Miss Sanford alone,
and appointed Monday evening as the
time and the corner of Eighth and Fort
streets as the place of meeting On this
occasion Mr.. Deering remained at home,
and another gentleman went as an escort
with Miss Sanford As they 'neared the
locality last referred to, the gentleman
walked down one side of Eighth street,
the better to observe any movements that
might be made, while she walked on the
other side of the street As she apS
proacheda secluded spot near Richard
sons match factory, an unknown man
jumped from near the fence and struck
the young lady powerful blow upon the
head. She Immediately cried for assist
ance, and the gentleman who had accom>
panied her, as a guard rushed to her ass
sistance. Before he could reach her,
however the would-be murderer had
dealt her two other blows, and, observing
that he was in danger q being captured,
fled toward Lafayette avenue. lie was
hOtly pursed, and every possible effort
made, but in vain, to capture him. Miss
Sanford was found not to have been Sc
riously injured, and was escorted back to
Mr.. behring's residence. Her hat and
the anonymous letters are now in the
possession of the police detectives, who
are endeavoring to ferret out the assas,
sin. We regret to state, however, that
the chances for arresting the scoundrel
sre not good. The attack was made so
suddenly that Miss Sanford had no OPP
portunity to see the face Of the party, nor
even fair chance to notice the kind OF
color or his clothing.
Since this event severalle letters have been
sent to Mr. behring's residence, all Of a
threatening nature, but by whom they
were written, or for what cause, remains
mystery, which the future can only
solve. There is entertained one solution
to the attempted murder, but this may or
may not be correct The statement was
made to Us by Mr.. Deering, and we give
it substantially as related Miss Sand
ford : parents formerly lived at Lyons,
Clinton county, Iowa, and were quite
wealthy 4 brother Of her father and
his wife lived in New Orleans, Louisiana,
and the family OF the former-Mary being
the only duughter-went to New Or
leans to pay visit to theirrelatlgeS there.
Miss SandloTd was then quite young.
She is now sixteen years Of age. While
at New Orleans her father and mother
were stricken down with yellow fever
and died there Her uncle and aunt
subsequently, moved North and took pos
session of the Sanford estate at Lyons,
Iowa. They cared for Mary as relations
should and lived in comfort and ease upon
the fortune Of her deceased father. Mary
ALWAYS PASSED and was known as the
daughter Of the surviving SandiOrd, until
very recently, when the facts were made
known to her that she was living with her
uncle that her father was dead and
that the property that she supposed be-
longed to her uncle was really her prop
erty. These things were made SO clear
to her that she could not fail TO unders
stand them and she began to assert her
rights under the circumstances. AIuln
thattime she was regarded by herrelatlves
as a dangerous person Ito them to have
about the promises. Grievances, real or
supposed, it matters not came thick and
fast, and Miss Sanford, having previously
formed the acquaintance Of the DeerlDg
amily-who were then engaged in the
dry goods and millinery business at Ly-
ons. Iowa-was afforded shelter by them.
About two months since the Deerings came
to Detroit Tor rather returned here) and
opened place of business, the same as
that managed by them in Iowa, On the
corner of Sixth street and Michigan ave.
nua They brought Miss SandlOrl with
hon, and She has since remained with
he family. This IS the story as related 70
US by Mr.. Decring, and heinforms US thai
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