Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-04-09

SAD ENDING OF a IRON the
New Orleans picayuue. TO day, just as the
sun ia at meridian, just as, with solemn sonnc'
tbe great bell of the old St. Louis Cathedral
tolls firth the hour Of noon, a soldier will pay
tho nenalty Of q crime for which military justice
knows but one ex piation. The United otates
barracks below the city has been The place
selected where the execution is 70 take place,
and the green sward OF the parade ground VIII
ora MANY hours be stained With the crimson
l;te. Hood OF the unfortunate man.
H. was 4 member of one of the companies
~ United States troops stationed near a
o,,lsop in one of the interior parishes OF Louis
ina Near the camp was the plantation OF
. wcalthv gentleman, who had sympathlzed
With the Union cause during the war, and Wno'
therefore,, was the object of special attention
m the part of the officers OF the I'M
then performing provost duty. The platter
had a large family. among whom was a daugn'
tor who possessed in a remarkable oegtee
t tbat rsrc trne of beauty, for which the women
&c tho Snnth are noted. She had imtlbed the
Sentiments OF her father, and, therefore,, TOOK
oreat Measure in entertaining the ohcerS VINO
Frequently visited the house.
1he First Lieutenant OF the company
Ambrose Black, ut once conceived a warm
| attachment for the beautiful young creoe' anu
| endeavored in every way 10 lnouce htr 10
share his feelings. Strange to say, however
The lady treated him in peculiarly polite Out
tor,,aI manner. that proved her heart was zee
toward him. This was q great shock TO DIS
vanitv, and he was at a loss TO understand IT,
FINALLY the explanation came, when ore OF ms
companions, ~p!ayfulIy rallying him upon his III
success, stated that he had discovered Why the
IadU refnsed TO spiic upon him. He had
accidentally witnessed an interview between
herself and private Alfred Blake, the solder
who had been detailed to guard the houie-an
interview which proved concluslvely that the
heart Of the young creole was lrrevocaoIy the
%private's and not the officers.
This intelligence was TOO much tor Llcuten-
ant Black. His pride was wounded IN its
m ost vital point. He had teen iorestali.
ed where his heart was most enlisted, and BY
ons of his own subordinates. Seeking Private
Blake at once, he poured out the vla!s OF his
wrath unon him, tainted him with his posi-
tion, and declared he would send him where
he should have no more opportunities OF
dallviug with a shameless girl while on duty.
Alfred Blake had borne much. but this coarse
aIlusion to the woman he loved better than
life fred heart and brain, and with one blow
be struck his officer PROSTATE upon the
ground in the presence of his company.
Then followed the trial, which was ren1cIcu
inexpressibIy touching By the presence OF ire
woman WHO had dared to love a private sol.
dier-the sentence of death to be preceded by
IMPRISONMENT at Ship Is'and.
70 day the sentence is to be enforced and
: the mpiesty OF the law sustained.
I'VE have let such OF our readers as com,
mepcad the perusal of the above, go quietly on
10 the end, without disturbing their symos
thetic feelings, or interfering with thelE emo.
tons OF grief, by a word. Doubtless they al
feel, solar, is we did, when we made the ex
tract tor republication, believing every word of
il. What will be their indignation, then, "her
We GOV add, that the whole story is a hoax-
and what is worse. an april tool" hoax
published in New Orleans on the lst OF April
and sent al! over the country. We let 1t all
stand now. having ourselves believed IN the
truth of the tale, and, "as misery loves compa'
n.y." quite willing that others should enjoy the
Same luxury Tor & few minutes, at least. The
story, however, is wonderfully we'll told, and
only equalIed by the account o! the killing Of q
couple, in Charleston, S. g., who, during the
war, were standing up in the house, TO be
married, and were both crushed by the falling
of q bombsheil through the roof! The 70
NANCE" being entirely spoiled, the writer OF It
will, doubtless. be denounced, in Improper and
reprehensibIe phrase, as "a ID tool, Tor
having fooled" others.