Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-08-05

Pearl. Paris (July p Correspondence
Court Journal.
A ScOundrel Punished-A Horrible
Story of Crime.
The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle ofSunday
last contains the following story, for the
correctness of which it vouches in every
particular:
In one of the mountain counties of Geor-
gia there live two families, each before the
war noted for its wealth and refinement.
Since the war the families (whom we
shall call respectively R. and L., though
they had, like nearly everyone else, lost
everything by the conflict, stiTl retained
the high position in society which they
had for so long time filled. Mr.. L. was
married man, ffty-ive years of age,
while Mr.. r. is a young man. recently
married to very beautiful woman, be-
tween whom and daughter of M. l.
about the same age there exists very
intimate friendship. Some days ago Mr.
R. was compelled to 60 to Atlanta on
business, leaving his wife entirely alone
in his house, as the only house servant,
cook, slept at the negro quarter, half
mile from the dwelling. Mrs. R., as she
had been advised by her husband, went
over to Mr.. LIS, and requested his
daughter to spend the night with her I'M
til her husbands return. This Miss L.,
after obtaining her mothers consent, pro-
missed willingly. Having accomplished
her purpose, and feeling very much re-
lieved in mind, Mrs. r. returned home
spent the the day performing the usual
household duties. When the morning
had passed away and the afternoon came,
and the sun set withou bringing her
friend, she felt no alarm, but thought
that the latter had decided not to come
until after tea, when her father, across the
field which separated the two houses, would
escort her. Accordingly the evening meal
WAS eaten, household affairs arranged and
the cook dismissed for the night to her
distant cabin at the "quarter." About
nine o'clock Mrs. r. began to feel little
uneasy, as Miss L. hrd not yet come,
when servant came up to the house and
brought note from her expected friend,
stating that,she would be unable to spend
the Il; ght with her, as she had promised,
for her father, from some cause or other,
had positively refused to give his consent
to the arrangement. After delivering the
note the servant took bis departure and
the brave woman prepared to spend the
night by herself. Feeling shat she had a
protector in large and very fierce yard
dog belonging to her husband, she took
him into her bedroom. and, after securing
the house, lay down and resigned herself
to sleep.
About twelve o'clock she was awakened
from her slumbers by noise in the house
and the angry growing of the dog dis
covered that the hall door had been forced
and that some one was standing at her
room door seeking an entrance. Speak
ing as loudly as her fright would let her
Mrs. R-asked, "Who is there?' A
mans voice, which she did not recognize
replied by telling her to 'open the door"
Again she asked the same question, and
again received the same reply, the stranger
adding that if she refused he would break
the ID door down" During this ola
logue the dog, still growing, crouched
upon the floor as if ready to spring.
Thinking to intimidate this man, who
sought her ruin, Mrs h cried to him
that if he forced the door she would shoot
him. Laughing scornfully, the ruffian
threw bis weight against the light door,
burst it open and entered the room
when, quick as thought, the savage dog
sprang forward and fastened on his meek.
The man, astonished at this sudden attack
attempted to kill the dog with a knife
which he held in his hand, but unsuccess-
fully, and the powerful animal dragged
him to the ground, still retaining his hold
upon his throat Stunned at first by this
unlooked-for deliverance, the woman, in
a few seconds, regained her pr seuce of
mind somewhat, ran screaming from the
house, never stopping until she arrived at
the place of the LIS, where her cries soon
aroused the family. Her tale was rapidly
told, and the servants were preparing to
60 to the scene of danger, when sud
denly Mr.. l.. was missed, and his wife,
} almost on the instant, as if struck by a
sudden prosentiment, screamed "Merciful
God it must be my husband p With a
cry of horr or, the party set forth, and ran
as fast to the house of Mrs. r. as the
latter had run away from it a few minutes
before Arrived there they found the
man still on the floor, and the dog still
grasping his throat. Beating him away
from bis prey, they found the suspicious
: of Mrs. L. but too correct !; it was hel
husband-but tho teeth of the dog hac
done their work, and he was dead.
1t appears that he had returned to hi
; home at five o'clock on the previous even
ing, and hearing Of the departure of r.
| and the intention of his daughter to spen.
r the night with the Young wife, he pos