Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-07-27

VINO LOCed Her IN Ter FuTitY.
The following incident is related in the ST.
Louis Democrat of the 10th instant:
OF all the utterly ada sndoned women of
Almond street Annie johnson is one of tn e
worst. the most reckless and depraved. She
probably has not drawn a sober breath for
several years The police docket is black
with her name, and she is as well known at
the caaboose as the turkeys cat. 1t is
difficult to imagine, while looking upon the
bloated features and listening to the bias
phemous language of the poor creature. that
'once she was pure as the beautiful snow"
Yet such was the case. Up to a certain pc
riod of her life she was innocent and respect
ed and her prospects were as fair as those of
n majority of young women. There is moth
ing new or strange in the story of her fall.
Thousands have fallen in a similar manner,
but very few ever descended so low as Annie
johnson.
In the days of her innocence and beauty
she was passionately loved by a young man
named VIM. H. Harrison, who resided in the
State of Ohio Harrison was not the only
lover Annie boastcd of, nor was he the favor
ite of her bosom. She rejected him, and gave
her heart to another, but not her hand She
home a ruined and d"spised outcast Harri
son sought her far and near, but on entering
upon life of shame she took new name,
and studiously avoided i meeting with any of
her old associates.
At length after losing all hope of finding
the object of his first and only love, Harrison
met her in this city last Thursday. She was
fearfully changed. but he at once recognized
her, and the love of his youth revived in his
bosom, and notwithstanding her repulsivc ap-
pearance. he worshped her as in the old days.
At the time of the meeting Annie was beastly
drunk, and was in charge of policeman. who
had arrested her for vayrancy. She had en-
gagged Col. Robert Claiborne to defend her in
the Police Court, and to him Harrison applied
to know how he could serve the prisoner
He told the lawyer Of his early and unabated
love for Annie and Unlimited that he was
anxious to marry her. degraded as she Was
Col Claiborne saw that this was a good chance
to get his client clear Of the charge Of va
erancy. and finding that the man was in earn
est. he made arrangements for the wedding at
Justice Cunnngham's office. Harrison spent
nearly the whole of Thursday night in walk
ing with Annie through the streets. for the
purpose of eettiag her sober; buI she was so
thoroughly soaked" with bad whi>key aud
beer that nothing less that a season at water.
cure establishment would purge her bosom
of the perlous stuff which she had for years
been imhibing on Almond street.
Accordingly. when the bride appeared be-
fore the Justice to undergo the marriage Ger
emony. she was still drunk and her manner
was far from the accustomed nodesty Of
bride.
The first difficulty that presented itself to
the bridegroom was the marriage fee Of So
for the Justice. lie searched his cl"thes and
could not reSurrect single stamp. lie called
upon the bride to lqaidate, the fec was
required in advance.
'Ain't it bad enough" said his bride. with
an oath. 'that must marry such man, with
our having to pny for it %
The fee being settled, the Justice told the
bride to take the hand of the bridcgrnnm.-
Annie objected to this, and said ''she wouldn't
take any mans hand" On being urged. he
changed her mind. and slapped her baud into
that Of Harrison with report like pistol.
The Justice was proceeding to tie the knot
in due form. when the bride interrupted him
with an oath and told him to make it short"
1t was the most ludicrous marriage ccre-
mony ever performed. The spectators. in
cluding Col Bob. Claiborne were cOnvulsed
with laughted. When the knot was firmly
tied, the strange couple walked out with
swaggcr, and started for Ohio. Harrison
thinks he can reform A nnie. and thus she
will make him good wife. We hope he will
not be disappointed.