The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-08-07
A Young Girl Stabbed by her
Lover.

the most shocking tragedies that has oc-
CURED in our city for years. The vic
tim is a young girl about II years of
age, named Caroline Ketchum, whose
parents reside in Algicrs, but who has
been employed for the last two years as
a milliner's apprentice, About eighteen
months since she made the acquaintance
of young man namsd Salvador Car
lotte, butcher.
The acquaintance on the part of the
girl ripened into affection, and under
promise of marriage, as she alleges, he
succeeded in depriving her of her good
fame and woman's honor. Young, mex
perienced, and all but child, it appears
that she has clung to her seducer, des-
pite of outrage amlAviolence which his
fierce and domineering disposition has
frequently subjected her to. About a
year since, in an outburst of passion, he
struck her with knife, and inflicted a
severe and dangerous wound in her left
side. She recovered from this, and,
undetcrred by this attack on her life
kept up her evil Intercourse with him.
But, about month since, he an
nounced to her his intention of marry
ing auother person. II will make you
ashamed if you ]" replied the heart
broken girl. "If you fool with me I'll
lay you OUT" was the savage reply.
But Notwithstanding his dark looks
and threatening aspect, the girl did not
believe he meant her personal violence
And when he invited her Friday night
to accompany him 10 the City Park, she
received the invitation with JOY and
went with him accordingly. Arriving
there they proceeded to a secluded place,
near the centre oflthe Park, where the
young mau attempt d to exact from her
. prouftke that shsSyoald not attempt to
Interfere with his contemplated marriage.
This promise she refused to give, and al
most on the instant he attacked her with
the most savage ferocity. Three wounds
were inflicted upon her with keen,
sharp -bladcd knife, either of which will
prove mortal-one over the left breast
and two in the side. The girl then
grasped the knife with her hand and
held it so tightly that the keen blade
severed one of her fingers, and begged
piteously for him not to kill her.
Whether momentary pity took pos
session OF him or not, he at all events
consented to spare her in case she would
swear never to tell who had stabbed her.
This oath the dying girl has faithfully
adhered to. Leaving her, as he sup
posed, dying in the Park, he made his
way back to the city. But the girl had
strength enough left to drag herself to
the street, and from thence to residence
of Mr.. Baker, at the head of Bienville
street. To the family of this gentleman
she told her condition, and carriage
was immediately supplied, in which she
was brought to the Office of the Chief of
Police. Dr. Ritchic was Immediately
sent for, and after examining her wounds
pronounced them mortal, and directed
that she bc sent to the Charity Hospital.
To the repeated solicitations of Cap
tain Cain she refused to reveal the name
of her assassin but in her dclirinm shc
uttered his name. On this clue the
Chief aud Officer Marks set out to arrest
the murderer. After long and patient
search they found him, apparently asleep
in the Dryadcs Market The Chief at
once proceeded to the residence of Re
cordcr Becker, and, getting search
warrant started for his residence. Here
his clothes were found. The p,uis and
shoes were plentifully bcspriuklcd with
blood, but his coat had just been washed
by his mother Indeed the clothes were
found under her arm just as she was in
the act Of leaving the house with them.
Notwithstanding the thorough washing
to which it had been subjected, the coat
still disclUses one or two deep blood
stains
Ats o'clock last night the reporter, in
company with the Chief of Police, visit
ed the wounded girl at the hospital.
Sac was sleeping at the time, her face
flushed with fever, and breathing heayi-
ly. Her light brown hair, long aud dis
heveled, lay in thick shining masses on
the pillow. whore it pictured. as in a