Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-03-01
Ho sim Liv..-A Case Of Love and Despair.

The inmates Of the city workhouse
wers regaled with decided sensation on
Tuesday afternoon. II all came to pass
as we shall presently make known. Soon
after, his election as superintendent OF
the wo rkhouse, Colonel Alfrisnd had oc-
casion to visit the city hospital in quest
of dru, ygist to take charge of the labora-
tory at the Bridewell. As luck would
have it, he found in one of the wards
Young German apothecary named John
Bropp, who had been there for two
months under treatment for pneumonia.
He had t.onvaesced sufficiently to leave
the hospi .al, and Colonel Alfriend at once
engaged him, having received the best as
surances of the young mau's fitness for
the position he was expected to fill. In
a short time he was installed in the med
ical department of the workhouse, and
retained the place until the first OF the
present year. He gave the most perfect
satisfaction. Indeed, he is believed to be
without superior as druggist, having
,been apprenticed to the business for seven
years in one of the first drug establish
ments in Germany. Those who know
him say that his general education is
also very excellent, and he is supposed to
be descended from aristocratic stock in
the Faderland. A few months since
Bropp took the vsrioloid, and young
woman named Massey, one of the frail
inmates, offered to wait upon him. This
offer was sanctioned by the Superlnten-
dent, who assigned Bropp and his nurse
room apart from the other prisoners
and forbade all communication with them.
Here is where tho romance comes IN.
The female was very devoted in her
attentions to the invalid Bropp-in fact,
he regarded her as "ministering angel
for all she had fallen. When the deli
rum wrought by the fever had passed
away, leaving his senses clear once more,
he found the frail sister still beside his
couch doing her utmost to soothe his
aching brow" and cause him to forget his
physical inGrmities as far as possible.
The soft pressure Of those hands, the
compassionate gaze of those eyes, and
the gentle tones of that voice were too
much for Bropp, young aud ardent as be
was. Forgetting the dark gulf between
the unchaste woman and himself, blind
to her total unworthiness, and thinking
only of the gratitude she had awakened
in his breast, he fell victim to her dan
gerous chsrms-fell, like Lucifer, never
to rise again to the moral plane whsreon |
he formerly stood. She had him securely |
in her tolls. The result was secret mar
riage, legally solemnized after Bropp rose |
from his sick bed. This probably was the
date of his real misery For good cause he |
was discharged by Colonel Alfriend about |
the 1st of January. la search OF en-
ployment he went to New Orleans, taxi
ing his prostitute bride. Failing to OBJ
tain situation he returned to Louisville.
Whatever may have been the poignsncy |
of his remorse at his nuptial misstep, it
was never betrayed to his acquaintances.
On Monday evening he appeared at the |
workhouse, and manifested his wonted |
Of spirit, spending the time
in conversation with the superintendent /
and others. By invitation he remained
all night, and came into town on the |
workhouse express (Black Maria) Tues
day morning. When Col. Alfriend was
about to return to Beargrass with his
motley human cargo from the Police
Court, Bropp stepped sp and told
Alfriend that it would be necessary for
him to take passage again, as he had left
a pistol at the workhouse. He accord
ingly went back with Colonel Alfriend.
About four o'clock he strolled into the
shop, seated himself on a
low, rude bench, and commenced snap
ping his pistol. 1t was thought by the
and another man present that
Bropp was simply fOoling" with the
weapon, and they paid no particular at
sention TO him. Not being able to ex.
plode his own pistol. he picked up one
belonging to the blacksmith, and putting
it against his left side fired. BE in
stautly fell back, and the parties in the |.
shop ran to him aud found that be had
shot himself in the left side through the
lower part or just beneath the lung.
Bropp was conveyed to the CITY Hospi-
tal as speedily as possible, and DR.. ]. W.
Crawford was summoned to attend him.
The Doctor probed the wound, bnt failed
70 Discover the track Of the ball Il is,
however, ssnnesed to have lodged in the
spine. Bropp was thought TO Be in q
5ying condition, and, At his request, the
Rev. Mr.. Daubert, lOf the German Luihe-
ran Church, was talled in to administer