Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-12-31
A STORY FROM BOSTON

How GOOd-LOoking Poor Man Married
Rich Young wOman-Educntcd Bru.
talisy-Life at Long Brnrch-DIvofce
nypocracy and kidnapping
An Observation-Disclosures in several of
the Boston morning newspapers Of
Wednesday last, offering q reward of $1,000
for the return of Corunia Lewis, a Child
seven years of age, who, it alleges. was
kidnapped from the St. James Hotel on
the afternoon of November % by man
who is infinitely described in height ana
appearance, and manner, but whose namo
is;not given.
Nine years ago, William II. Lewis was
young man blessed with more than the
usual share of good looks, splendidlv edn
Gated, who was studying to be a physician.
He was poor-sO poor that he had hardly
a penny that he could call his own-but
what he lacked in wealth lie made ny in
q gentlemanly bearing, which attracted to-
ward him every person with whom be came
in contact About this time he met Miss
--, then just budding into woman
hood, and one Of the acknowledged bellies
of fastidiOus Boston. She was ricA-so
rich that her friends firmly believed that
she had more money than she knew what
to do with, being an heircss of very
wealthy estate in the vicinity Of Boston
that of the Burlington family. She be-
came infatuated with Lewis, and in the or
binary course of such events, married
him. It was o case of love on her side.
of money on his.
Soon after the marriage, LOWS, who
had been q nobody before, blossomed
forth into the most stylish young married
man in town. His friends did not ascribo
this gorgeous change to any sudden rise in
the price of pills for, i'll fact, he quite
abandoned the study of his profession.
His wife, in her fond simplicity. placed all
her means at his service, and he took her
money and used it unsparingly, while ut
the same time he repaid her with GOODNESS
and neglect, preferring anybody elses
company to hers. This cut her to the
quick, but she still chung to him through
it all, in the fondness of her love. As the
years rolled on his GOODNESS ripened into
outrage, insolence, and infdelity.
Shortly after they were married they
concluded to take house, and Lewis, de-
sirous of astonishing his poor friends, re-
solved to build a stunning mansion in the
vicinity of the Hub. Savin Hill was the
place selected, n beautiful spot near Dor
chester, from which is magnificent panO-
ramic view of Boston harbor and its
islands. The wife opposed this selection,
but notwithstanding that it nearly craZed
her, the house was built according to
Lewis plans and specifications Mt Il cost of
$2O, OOO OF her money. After IL had been
finished, Lewis refused to live in If, and
Immediately entered upon fast life. The
company he kept was none of the best,
and he is accused of having on several oc-
casions introduced dangerous men to his
wife for the purpose of entrapping her in
TO such q position as would enable him to
gain an advantage over her. At last hi
man nature could stand the perpetual
abuse. insult, and infdelty no longer, and
about year ago Mrs. Lewis applied to
the supreme court for divorce.
Last summer Lewis cut great swell al
Long Branch, but upon whose money has
not TRANSFERRED. Putting up at the Mansion
House, he represented himself as being
''single man." He lived in tho most OK
travagant style, and was courted by the
most fashionable society. Visitors at the
watering place last summer may remember
young man, dressed very neatly, and
with his coat usually held together by 4
single button, the button-hole supporting
rose. He was known among the mar
riageable bellies as the "handsome bachelor
from Boston" He was thought to be 4
millionaire, and drove the finest turnout
that the stables afforded.
On his return to Boston he pretended
to be religious. He gave out that he had
been converted to the Episcopal Church,
and went to a place of worship Of that
con munion pretty regularly. saying his
prayers behind q nineteen dollar book,
while IS the same time he was busy circu-
lating vile ISLANDERS among his friends
about his wife, than whom no purer woman
! ho ,E
to a conclusion yet, Lewis having sue
ceeded in obtaining an order for q jury
trial. Mrs. Lewis claims to have strong
and positive evidence Of her husbands in
fidelity, and it is quito probable that she
will succeed in obtaining q verdict in her
favor.
The frequent brutality of Lewis treat
mont to her mother was noticed by the
little girl Corunia. young as she was, and
whe never William came to visit his wife OF
late the child would express it's hatred to
its father by clinging to its mother. Lew
! is reciprocated that dislike of the child
He would once in while put his arms
around her, but Corunia realized inStinc-
| lively that the embrace was a cold one
At last, finding all other means useless,
with view of influencing his wife to with
draw the suit or compromise the matter,
he kidnapped the child and its whereabouts
is yet unknown.
SEQUEL.
A peculiar and interesting case is pend
ing before the Tombs police court, Nov
York. Mrs. Serene Lewis, of Boston,
lady of wealth and social. position, and dl-
vorced from her husband, mysteriousy
lost, about three weeks ago her only
daughter, Corunia, beautiful child or
seven years. Detectives discovered the
girl in that city Sunday morn
ing, in charge of hor father, DIR. VIM. Ii.
Lewis The doctor was arrested on an
order issued by Judge Chapman, OF inc
Supreme Court of Massachusetts, an"
taken with the child before Justice logan
and examined on the charge of "kidnHPrc
ping his own daughter" BY request %
counsel, the case was postponed for TWEEN
ty-four hours, to enable Mrs. Lewis 10
come on from Boston. Both parents are
said to be devotedly attached to the chliu,
who, at the same time, appears to %
greatly distressed at the prospect OF DeihS
torn from her father. This strange 90
nestle drama is of more than ordinary
;ntarast from the HIGH social standing u