Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-01-14
Last Scene ina Tragedy
Story Of a Detective.


cases that ever came within ny
experienoe was that Of Lucille
Dntton. She was, in every res
pect, a woman Of the wofld--fas
cinating, brilliant, dashing, possess
ing an exquisite grace Of mannel
and rare conversational powers
that charmed every one who came
within the sphere of her influence
Until her crimes were known
and her arrest attempted, she
reigned here an acknowledged
belle. Even the most jealously
envious Of her own sex admitted
the wcndrous spell exercised by
her singular and surpassihg beau
ty. An actress, q vocalist, it
would have been no extravagant
eulogy to have called her a prima
donna. Tall beyond the average
of women, her slender, graceful
form was modelled into an exquisite
symmetry that would have been
q sculptor's ideal. Curling silky
tresses of nut brown hair shaded
a face fair and delicate as a child's.
Great luminous black eyes flashed
from beneath the beautiful lashes
with a strange mesmeric power
that few indeed had the power
to resist. This expression, COM
bined with her rare intellectu-
al gifts, made her regnant over
many heart that had never be-
fore felt the spell Of woman's
charms. She had come to New
Orleans as vocalist. Her en-
gagement was attended with a sue:
cess never before equaled by the
most accomplished professional.
Night after night the theater was
crowded with her admirers. Her
appearance was ever the signal of
an enthusiasm all but wild. AS
the weird light of the proscenium
flashed on jewel and gem, and the
queenly form, radiant in beauty,
stood before TIE multitude, who
swayed to the magic charm and
impulse of tone and voice, I
have often tancied her beauty
supernatural. Youth and age
alike felt its influence. There
was thrill in the low utterance
that tFembled on the air like the
soft vibration of a harp whose
strings the wind had struck, and
rising in iullness and strength of
tone until q rich, delicious harmo-
ny filed the vast building with a
magical cadence, which no ear
attuned to music could resist -
Her name was on every lip--her
picture adorned every window
along the fashionable thorough
fare. Before the charm of that
strange, wondrous beauty, fashion
forgot exclusiveness, society opened
its doors. Petted and caressed in
every circle, admired and loved,
her heart remained insensibie to
so much fattery, and the homage
of men and women was received
as if it were her due.
1t was at a time when her fame
was greatest, and her success In
fashionable life most assured, that
an event occurred which changed
it all and precipitated eatastro-
phe which ] can not even now re-
fleet upon withouta a sense of pain.
A few months before her advent
here, a series of the most startling
tragedies had occurred in Mon
.real. An entire family had
been poisoned by governess.-l
The papers were never weary OF
he episode of horrors the recital
surniahed. The instrument OF
his wickedness had fed, and with |
uch consummate skill had her
lipht been contrived, that not e
zen q trace of her was lett. 1t
that her beauty and
accomplishments had won the
Elections Of a youth, whose mar
.iage with her his parents opposed
Driven to desperation, Harlow
Vincent had, in a moment OF tren-
y. perished by his own hand.
5ver the corpse of her lover the
.oyerness had sworn a dire re-
'ence. How faithful she adhered
o her guilty oath, the rapid de-
ease of his relatives full well Of