The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-06
Tho Late Tragedy In boston : rho
Murder 0f Mea. EIAhhs

Tho Boston Traveller Of Wednesday eve J
ling gives Tho fo,lcyins particulars or the
ate tragedy In that city, a mention Of which !
vas made By, tslegraph yesterday,
A terrible tragedy occurred In the city last
,yening. The wife Of DR.. Alyah Hobbs, Of
No. 1906 Washington street, was cruelty
1.-The presence Of her husband,
" one who had boon considered friend,
md who had been boarding In the family.
The murderer's name was Major Thomas l..
White, man Of medium height, and about
thirty years Of age.
Last evening he took supper with his host
and hostess as usual who chattcd and
Inc fearful tragedy that was about TO take
place. Amer supper the three rose from the
liable, and Mr.. and Mrs. Hobbs went up stalrs
10 the parlor, where they engaged In CONVEX
sation. Major White repaired TO his cham
Der overhead, aud read In loud voice. This
reading disturbed Mrs. H., who was Of
peculiarly nervous temperament, and 70.
marked 10 her husband, 81 do wish the
Major would cease" Finally, 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 fort"
"To expand my lungs" was all the reply
which was vouchsafcd, and Mrs. Hobbs re-
turned down stairs.
Major White came after her down stairs
with pistol In his right hand. Speaking 10 |
her husband, Mrs. Hobbs screamed In fear; |
Giles coming with a pistol" This cry
seemed to hasten the movements OF the Ma |
Tor, for he Immediately fired from the stairs, |
the ball passing slantwlse through the parlor |
door. Mrs. Hobbs dashed the door to aud
leaned against 1t. White reached the foot
Of the stairs, and fired again at the door from
the outside. The ball passed through the
door, struck Mrs. Hobbs Immediately behind
the len breast, and passed across the body
and out through the right arm. She fell
back upon the floor and expired almost In.
SANITY. Her frantic husband looked for
moment at the dreadful spectacle, and then
rushed bareheadcd from the house to the
Fifth police station, on Dedham street,
near by, where he declaredi "My wife Is
shot I" and went back to the house. Ser
gcant Hartshorn followed closely and Gu
tered the door moment after. Seeing White
In the middle OF the room with pistol In his
hand, he advanced towards him, when the
latter turned round and exclaimed; "I'm
your man, and this [glying up the revolver
tod to be taken to the station-ho where
he was locked up In cell to await cxamin-'
alton. In reply to aquestion as to the cause
| OF this dreadful act, he could only say, "there
is no cause that will Justify what I have
done," and seemed very much depressed 10
spirits.
The accused, Major White, Is man about
thirty years OF age, i've feet eight and half
Inches high, and weighs about one hundred
large reddish or sandy moustache, large light
blue eyes, Roman nose, and Is rather thin
| favored than 1eshy, and somewhat pale. His
appearance isquitc gcnteel.
Major White came here In 1856, from Nova
Scotia. lie studied law In the office Of Gen.
eral William L. Burt, postmaster OF Boston,
and afterwards praeticei law In this city.
At the breaking out OF thr war he became
interested In the movement, and entered u
volunteer regiment, aud afterwards was In q
colored regiment, CT which he became major.
Since the war hc has been out Of health, and
during the past wiuter was Ia Mississippi for
the benefit Of his lungs.
His acquaintance with DR.. Hobbs dates
back ten years, and fore the war he Trans
acted considerable brsinc,s for the doctor.
lie has been on intimate terms with the fam
lily, aud has boarded with the doctor for some
time, and was under treatment for his lungs.
We are not aware yet rs to what the con.
tents Of the half destroyed letters found in
his room were, or that they had anything at
all to do with the matter.
Mrs. Hobbs q number of years ago was
Mrs. Laurie, and boarded at the house Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Dame In Avon place. IIcI
maiden name, we believe, was Miss Katie
Sylvester. DR.. Hobbs formerly lived at the
corner Of Dedham street and Shawmut ave
nue., with his first wife. This was probably
J a dozen or fifteen years ago. We are In
, formed that some time after Mrs. Laurie wa
housekeeper for DR.. Hobbs previous to hi
marriage to her.
. Mrs. Hobbs, Il appears, was divorced from
her first husband, (Laurie,) and DR.. IIobb
was also divorced from his first wife, who 1
still living, an exemplary and respected lady
White was In the South Boston insane
asylum about eight years ago, at which tim
he had made an attempt to take the life o
! Mrs. Hobbs. He appears to have been com
pletely infatuated with her.
He has Of late years been much better, bu
8 since his return from temporary absenc
q mouth ago has manifested greater signs o
excitement. Friends Of the family had re
monstrated against his boarding at tn
house under the circumstances, considering
4 II dangerous.
Tho accused was arralgned In the Mum
clpal Court at 1850 o'clock this morning
o Hon. A. o. Brewster appearing as his coun
A sci. White appeared calm, and Mr.. Brew
0 ster waived examination for him, and h
was committed to Jail to await examination
Mr.. Lincoln, the counsellor, who was ASST
ciated with Gen. Burt when White was !
! their office, was also present.
q A DUrCHMAS's ISsURASCE.-A certai
y Dutchman had effected an insurance on
o small house Of $4,000, although II had bee
built for much less. The house got burne
y down, and the Dutchman then claimed III
!. full amount for which 1t had been insure
lie but the officers OF the company refused
4. pay more than the actual value, abo
d $4,000. lie expressed his dissatisfaction
70 powerful broken English. interlading h
remarks with some choice Teutonc oath
l. of you wish it," said the actuary Of u
l. insurance company, Eve will build you
y house larger and better than the one bur
!, down, as we are positive 1t can be done {
|. even less than $4,000"
Of To this proposition the Dutchman o
Jected, and at last was compelled to take 4
|. 5000.
lc Some weeks after he had received q
10 money he was called upon by the insuran
agent, who wanted him to take out poll
Is Of life insurance on himself or on his wife.
W of you Insure your wlfe's life {
$4,000" the agent said, "and should 8
he de-" you would have the sum to solacc 20
~ heart.
"Dat be TAM" exclaimed tho Dutchma
IS; "You surancc fellows ish all tlefs II ! /
ry sure my wife, and my wife dies, and II go
to de Office to get my $4,000, do ] gifts {
ut dc money! No, not quite. You will say
me, she wasn't worth $40, 000-she vas yor
re about $4,000. If you don't like do S6,0
we will give you bigger and better wife
nd - -,
ut STRANGE CoIsCIDESCE.-The Syracr
Courier tells of a singular coincidence viii
,es happened In the family of respectable ci
zen of that city. "Tho birth Of a little CHI
In occurred some nine months since.
as mother was Ill at the time Of consumptio
ew Since the child came into the world 1t b
nts followed the physical conditions Of
mother with marvellous precision. Wol
l.. she be taken with vomiting the child woI
de be afflicted In the same manner; did
lr- health improve for a few weeks, marked |
A provement was noticed in the child; VIII
her health declined, the child's would q
de- begin to decline at nearly the same time.
IN shert time since, tho mother wis tai;
les much worse; the symptoms OF the ca
ed were Of similar character Finally
.re mother died aud only few seconds af
breathing her last Tic child followed II
i'd, eternity. The case 10 u strange one, she
ing how great lalGeuce unconscious sy
to pathy may exert over physical conditions
WHAT IS TuB DIFFERENCE Mr.. HeI
de- Wilson Indignantly claims thst the Uni
as States Senate Ia very honest body, beca,
-. A