Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1869-08-03
TFrom the Augusta tGa.) Chronicle, July col
FEARFUL DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.
A Wife Protected from DishOnOr by
Faithful DOe-sThe Nan Killed.

the particulars of a most singular and fearft
tragedy, which recently occurred In one
the mountain counties of this Slate. TIL
gentleman from whom we received the IN
formation, has requested us to give neithe
the name of the county in which the horn
bic scene took place, nor the names of th
actors in IT.; in the first place, because tn
families OF the parties are among the bes
and most respected In the county and shoull
moi be subjected to this additional mortifea
tiOn for an act which they can in no manne
be held responsible; and in the second place
because publicity would now in no way sub
serve the ends OF Justice, as the guilty nart-
has already expiated his crime by so fearful
a punishment. We will only preface our ac
count of the matter by stating that our infor
nation was derived from n well-known an,
lnghly-esteemed gentleman of this city, ant
may be safely relied upon as perfectly cor
rect in every particular.
In one Of the mountain counties of Genr-
gla there live two families, eac before tn,
war noted for its wealth and refinement
Since the war tho families (whom we sbal
call respectively Il. and L. }, though they
had, like every one else, lost everything by
the conflict, still retained the high position
in society which they had for so long a time
held. One OF them, the i. 8 lost several Of
It's members, as well as its fortune, by the
war, and at the commencement of our story
consisted OF Mr.. L., gentleman fiity-five
years OF age, his vile, nearly the same age.
and an unmarried daughter of about twenty
i've. Within a quarter of mile of their
house lived one Of the RS, young man,
who had recently married a very beautiful
young lady of the country, and having left
the parental mansion, was farming by him
self on small tract of ground. The two
families lived some distance from the county
town, in sparsely inhabited section OF the
county, and beng each the nearest neighbor
oil the other were of course OH terms OF great
intimacy. Between the young wife and the
daughter of Mr.. L. fast friendship was soon
formed, both being nearly the same age and
OF similar tastes and disposition, and relying
upon each other for company in the daily
absence of the two gentlemen, who were en-
gagged IN experimenting the business of the
farms.
A few days since Mr.. r. informed his wife
that lie had received letter which would
compel immediate attendance IN Atlanta.
where he would have to remain for several
days, and as it would be inconvenient for
him 10 take her with him to that city, ad-
Vised that she should ask her young neigh
Dor TO stay with her during his absence.
The next morning he set out in his buggy
for Atlanta, and his wife during the morn
ing went over TO L. house, for the purpose
Dl inviting her young friend TO stay with her.
When she arrived there she told tho Young
lady of the absence of her husband, repre-
senting how lonely she would find her house
nj night from the fact that she employed no
house servant, and the cook, together with
lhe few laborers employed on the farm,
slept at the "negIo quarters, nearly half
mile from the dwelling. house, and ended bv
asking Miss L. TO spend the night with her
until her husband returned. The young
adY, after consultation with her mother,
readily assenled to the proposition, and
promised 10 come over during the afternoon.
Having accomplished her purpose, and feel
ng very much relieved in mind, Mrs r. re.
urned home, performing the usual house
lould duties.
When the morning had passed away, and
he afternoon came, and then the sun set,
without bringing her friend, she felt no
llarm, but thought that the latter had de-
,ided not to come ill after tea, wher her ia
her, across the field which separated the
wo houses, would escort her. Accordingly
he evening meal was eaten, the household
lffairs arranged, and the cook dismissed
or the night TO her distant cabin ut the
quarters" About O'Clock Mrs, II. began
'-Aer = ffAAtI HutAHJf us HAANS L. D1fl lUt
'ome, when servant came up 10 the Noise
md brought note from her expected friend
Iiating that she would be unable TO spend
he night with her, as she had promised, for
Ter father, from some cause or other, had
refused 10 give his consent To the
Alter delivering the note the
ervant took his departure, and the brave
woman prepared TO spend the night by her.
ell. Feeling that she had protector in a
arge and fierce yard dog belonging to her
husband, she took him to her bedroom, and
Ilter securing the house, lay down and re-
igned herself 10 sleep.
About ~ O'Clock she was awakened from
Ter slumbers by noise in the house and the
ngrY growing of the dog, and discovered
hat the hall door had been forced and that
ONE one was sanding at her room door
eekng an entrance. Speaking as loudly as
Ter fright would allow, Mrs. r. asked
Who is there ?" A mans voice, which she
lid not recognize, replied by telling her to
Open the door," Again she asked the
anne question, and again received the same
eply, the stranger adding that ii she dared |
efused he would "break the d--d door
own" During this dialogue The dog, still |
erouched upon the floor as If ready |
o spring. Thinking to intmidate this man |
gho sought her ruin, Mrs. r. cried TO him |
hat if he forced the door she would shoot |
i'm. Laughing scorniully, the ruilian threw
lis weight against the door, burst 1t open,
nd entered the room, when, quick as
bought, the savage dog sprang forward aud
lstened on his neck. The man, astonished |
I this sudden attack, attempted TO kill tho
og with knife which he held in his hand,
ut unsuccessfnlly, and the powerful animal
ragged HIM TO the ground, still retaining
is hold.
Stunned at first by this unlocked ior de-
verance, the woman, in few seconds, re-
aimed her presence of mind somewhat, ran
from the house, never stopping
ntll she arrived at the place of the LIS,
Vhere her cries soon aroused the family
Ter tale was rapidly told, and the servants
Iere preparing 10 go TO the scene Of danger,
lhen suddenly Mr.. L. was missed, and his
rife, almost on the instant, as if struck by
hidden presentment, screamed "Merclful
iod il must be my husband p With cry
( horror the party set forth, and ran as fast
} the house OF Mrs r. as the latter had ran
way from il few minutes before Arrived
lere they found the man still on the floor.
nd the dog sill grasping his throat. Beat.
lg him away from his prey they found the
lspicions of Mrs. l.. but too correct; it was
er husband; but the teeth of the dog had
one their work and he was dead
1t appears that he had returned to his
ONE at o O'Clock ON the previous evening,
nd hearing OF the departure of r., and the
ltenIion oil his daughter TO spend the night
Iith the young wife, lie positively refused 10
How her TO do SO, assigning some frivolous
luse for the refusal. That night he left
ome, saying that he was going 10 SIT up all
ight with sick neighbor, who lived some
liles distant; II is supposed that he con-
called himself in the woods until midnight.
nd then, influenced by unholy lust, forced
a entrance INTO the house of r. to violate
10 person of the wife OF the latter. When
le case became known the most intense ex-
tement prevailed in the county, and had
Ot Providence punished the criminal he
ould probably have been hung lo the near.
1t tree by the enraged populaee.
A French court was recently trying the
lse ol Pierre Momble, the author Of the as
at ST. Denis. This monster. af.
n having committed long series of crimes