Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-05-21
From the New York Sun, May II
Fearful Tragedy in Brooklyn.
ATTEMPT TO MURDER A YOUNG LADY.
Suicide OF the AssaiIant.

Yesterday morning at about one o'clock,
Miss Lizzie Scribner, of l Montague ter
race, Brooklyn Heights, awoke and found
a young man leaning over her bedside and
applying chloroform to her nostrils. The
iutruder's hand had trenbled as he ap-
piled the vial of ether, and his lack OF
resolution undoubtedly saved the young
woman. She turned suddenly, and facing
the intruder, recognized Samuel d. Tai
bot, disappointed suitor for her hand,
whose addresses she had re ected. She
sprang from the bed, and Talbot made a
murderous assault upon her, discharging
his pistol, and then fed. Miss Scribner
cried for assistance, and at length her
screams awoke the household. A search
was made, and Talbot was found dead in
his room, while Miss Scribner was suf-
fering under the wounds from Talbot's
pistol.
Talbot was in the dry goods commission
| business in New York. He reached home
late on Wednesday night, and went to his
room in the same house in which Miss
Scribner resides, No one appears to have
observed him. About quarter to o'clock
he entered Miss Scribner's room, her door
having been left partially open. He car
ried III his hand vial and towel satu-
rated with chloroform, and this he held to
her face until she had been nearly stran-
| gled. She awoke and called her sister,
Mrs. Flint, whose husband had been init
| mate with Talbot, and both rushed from
the chamber 10 another room. Talbot
madly followed them, and then fired upon
| Miss Scribner several times, but without
| fatal effect. One of the balls entered the
| left cheek bono and the other grazed the
middle of her left hand, which she had
raised to protect herself. Talbot then re-
turned to his own room, where, using the
same revolver, he shot himself, firing
twice the first shot missing, but the
second taking effect in the left temple and
killing him instantly.
Talbot and Miss Scribner slept on the
same hoor-the former in the rear, and
the latter in the front of the house. He
had resided there about eighteen months,
and was esteemed as friend of the family
his father having been On intimate terms
with Mr.. Flint. Miss Scribner had lived
in the house since last fall. The young
people frequently met each other, and were
on good terms until after Talbot had offer
ed her his hand in marriage and been re-
jected. He did not appear, however, to
care much about this disappointment and
his manner was by no means that of dis
carded sutton. He "took, however, to
drink" and his habits as one of the wit
nesses testified, "w were not of the best. -
Occasionally he complained of severe pains
in the head, but his actions were not indi-
cative of insanity ; and the cool delibera-
ton with which he planned the crime
shows him to have been perfectly sane.
Yesterday afternoon, Coroner Jones held
m inquest, and took Miss Scribuer's depo-
sltion, as follows
was aroused from my sleep about 1
o'clock by hearing slight noise like the
breaking of a door. Immediately I felt
towel saturated with chloroform applied to
my face. Was stifed, and exerting my
self, freed myself from the application
The gas was not burning in my room. 1
recognized the person who was in my
room, and who applied the chloroform to
my face. 1t was Samuel d. Talbot, the
deceased. was somewhat stupefied, but
was sufficiently conscious to be able to
spring from my bed, reach the head of the
stairs, and call my sister, who soon came
to my assistance, and directed me to 90 TO
her room. I did SO, and being faint from
excitement. threw myself on beg ed in the
| back Room. had iatn GAerc but few
minutes before Talbot came from the pas
sage way between the rooms into the room
where I was lying. My face was toward