American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-08-14
The Boston Tragedy.

The telegraph reported last week
the murder of Mrs. DR.. a. IL. Hobbs,
by Mai. Thos. L. White, of Carroll
county in this State. We CLEAN from
our exchanges the following particu-
lars of the affair:
Major White took supper with his
host and hostess as usual. After
supper the three rose from the table,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Hobbs went up
stairs to the parlOr, where they ell
gagged in conversation. Maj. White
repaired to his chamber overhead,
and read in a loud voice. This read
ing disturbed Mrs. H., who was of a
peculiarly nervous temperament, and /
remarked to her husband, 81 do |
wish the Major would cease Fl |
nally, in despair at the continuance
of the reading, Mrs. Hobbs went up
stairs and inquired, "Why, Major,
what in the world do you read so
loud for ?" "To expand my lungs"
was all the reply which was vOuch-
safed, and Mrs. Hobbs returned
down stairs. Major White came af-
ter her down stairs with a pistol in
his right hand. Clinging to her hus-
band, Mrs. Hobbs screamed in fear:
g He's coming with a pistol" This
cry seemed to hasten the movements
of the Major, for he immediatelytired
from the stairs, the ball passing
slantwise through the parlor door.
Mrs. Hobbs dashed the door to and
leaned against it. White had reach
ed the foot of the stairs, and fired at
the door from the outside. The ball
passed through the door, struck Mrs.
Hobbs Immediately behind the left
breast, and passing across the body
and out through the right arm. She
fell back upon the floor and expired
almost instantly. Her frantic hus-
band looked for moment at the
dreadful spectacle, and then rushed
bareheaded from the house to the
Fifth Police Station OH Dedham
street, near by, where he declared,
My wife is shot Y and went back
to the house Sergeant Harris
horn followed closely, and entered
the door moment after. Seeing
White in the middle of the room
with a pistol in his hand, he adj
vanced toward him, when the latter
turned around and exclaimed: Pm
your man, and this giving up the
revOlver) is what | did it with" He
quietly submitted to be taken to the
Station House, where he was locked
up in cell to await examination. In
: reply to a question as to the cause
, of this dreadful act, he could only
say, "There is no cause that will
Justify what have done," and SEEM
ed very much depressed in spirits.
The accused, Major White, is a
T man about 80 years of age, 8 feet, 81
inches high, and weighs about 120
pounds. He has brown haia, a large
reddish or sandy mustache, large
light blue eye, Roman nose, and is
: rather thin favored than tleshy, and
somewhat pale. His appearance is
, quite genteel. Since the war he has
been out of health, and during tho
past winter was in Mississippi fol
I the benefit of his lungs. His &C
quaint nee with DR.. Hobbs dates
back ten years, and before the wal
he transacted considerable business
for the doctor. He has been on in
J innate terms with the family, and
has boarded with the doctor for some
!, time, and was under treatment fol-
: his lungs Mrs. Hobbs, number
of years ago, was Mrs. Laurie, ant
Y boarded at the house of Mr.. and Mrs
!. Dame, i'll Avon-place. Her maidel
n name we believe, was Miss Katie
q Sylvester. DR.. Hobbs formerly liyet
n at the corner of Dedham-St. anC
!. Shawmut ave. with his first wife
This was probably a dozen or fifteel
years ago. We'are informed that sOmt
n time after, Mrs. Laurie was house
d keeper for DR.. Hobbs previous t,
;, his marriage to her. Mrs. Hobbs, i
appears, was divOrsed from her frs
> husband and DIR. Hobbs was also di
vorced from his first wife, who is still
T. living, an exemplary and respecte,
IL lady. White was in the South Bosto!
insane asylum about eight years agl
> at which time he had made an al
3 tempt take the life of Mrs. Hobbs
D. He appears to have been completed,
l. infatuated with her He has of lat
v. years been much better, but since hi
10 return from temporary absence
, month ago has manifested create
y signs of excitement. Friends of tn
ne family had demonstrated against hi
boarking at the house, under the Gil
J., cumstances, considering it danger
,,f oIs.
y The accused was arraigned in til
III Municipal Court, the Hon. o. Brew
as ster appearing as his counsel. Whit
k. appeared calm, and Mr.. Brewste
ne waived examination for him, and h
:. was committed to Jail to await exam
W ination.