The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-06-02
ELoPEMENT EXTRAORDINARY.
Attempted fight Of a Chicago Belle
with a Negro.
An Intercepted Letter Leads to
her Capture.
The Natural Result of Radi-
cal Teachings.
the Chicago times, 21st.

SSNSA 49, ~
ternoon, a wealthy and prominent citi-
zen, who resides in a marble front iii
the vicinity of Prairie avenue and
Twentieth street, appeared as com
planning witness against a negro who
gave the name of Smith. The charge
was threats" The gentleman who
preferred the complaint testified that
the negro had been employed in his
family for about a year, and had, by
his strict attention to all his duties,
gained the confidence of himself and
wife; but that recently he detected
him in a 'villainous proceeding and
events had occurred which induced him
to believe that the gentleman of color
would attempt to take his life. The
nature of the 'villainous proceeding,
he desired to be excused from explain
ing, and-Justice Stnrtevant- did not
insist upon a recital of the embarrass-
ing particulars, On the oath of the
witness that he believed his life to be
in danger, the dusky prisoner was
placed under bonds of 1920 to keep
the peace. Not having any friend
with that amount of worldly posses
sions, the f%orbidding bolts and bars of
the county Jail closed upon him, and
he now fingers in a 'noisome dungeon,
SAT the close of the examination at
the police court, the case seemed to be
shrouded in impenetrable mystery.
The witness-a stern, austere nan
refused to give any explanation what
ever, and the negro played the part of
innocence in an admirable manner.
The Times reporter, however finally
came into possession of all the facts,
which fully explain the entire mystery,
and, exhibits a phase of human nature
which is disgusting and revolving in
all its aspects. Names, from charita-
BILE motives, are suppressed, for the
reason that to publish them-would lac
crate the feelings of a father ond moth
er who are already stricken with the
weight Of a terrible grief-a loved
daughters disgrace.
There lived in the family of the gen.
tlemen to whom reference has been
made, his niece, a young lady of &C
knowledged beauty and refinement,
her father being a prominent citizen
of Keokuk, Iowa. She was treated
and considered as n of the family,
and was especially admired by several
young gentlemen, who have been i'm
pressed by her personal charms, her
social requirements, her intelligence,
and her high standing in community.
AS has been stated above, the negro,
Smith. was treated with great kind
ness bys' his employer, and the most
implicit confidence was reposed in him.
He was permitted the freedom of the
house, and was, it is to be presumed, a
sort of favorite, or pet with the ladies.
Such, at least, from subsequent reve-
4~atioas, would seem to be the case.
The niece was thus brought into daily
contact with the coachman, and, as a
muttcr of course, an acquaintance
up between them. But this
was not all. From some unexplaina-
BILE cause, the young lady became IA
with the dark-skinned represen-
tative of an inferior race, and actually
held him in high estimation as a friend
at first, and finally IS a lover. This
state of things was carried on in a sur
reptitious manner. and there wa none
the household who even suspected
that any improper intimacy existed
between them.
GA few days ago the niece express
&C. a determination to return to her pa
in Iowa, and this very natural
on her part, was not opposed
by her uncle or his wife. She, accor-
made suitable preparations,
oade IN effectionate good-by to all her
and, as was supposed, started
"The next day the letter carrier de-
ivered a dainty, perfumed note, ad-
dressed to the negro Smith. The gen
leman of the house received the let
er, and casually glanced at the super
cription. 1t was in the haudwriting
# his niece, and postmarked Calumet
t was but the work of a moment to
ear open the envelope, and devour
he contents. 1t was brief, but the
words contained a terrible mean
ng. The note read as follows:
"CALUMET, May II.
"MY DEAR FRIEND True to the
promise I made you before 1 left, 1 am
iere, awaiting your coming. Do not
lelay, but let me see you at the earli-
st possible moment, and we will go
,ogether to the place of which you
spoke. My trunk has been forward
d to Detroit, Come quickly, for 1
I'M lonely without you. /
Your affectionate MARY.
sstP. S-You will find, in my room,
photograph of my sisters babe.
Please bring it with you. Do not dis
ppoint me, for / cannot live without
i,
"Had a thunderbolt descended up
N that household the CONSERVATION
ould not have been greater than that
obtained in the note which demon-1
trated the guilt Of one they loved.
The uncle was almost beside himself1
With indignant rage, and it is stated
hat he acted more like a mailman
han a person endowed with reason.
He Immediately sought the assistance
f the police, and placed the whole /,
in their hands. In the mean ]
ime Smith had made preparations to j.,
cave, stating it as his intention to go :
o Cuba to join the ranks of the rebels, '
the revolution now pending on that ,
,land. At nine o'clock in the even :
ne he took the Michigan Central train :
t the TweBty-second street station, :
Apply in the thought that he would +
luckily be joined by his infatuated :
harmer. But he was not permitted :
L---.-r-s I'M IL 11a I'll fofo1