The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-08-30
, REMARKABLE WOMAN.
leaves from The Private Life OF Mrs.
Wharton
STARTLING ECCENTRICIT1Es.

them on every hand leaving the heatth-
stone and .storming the eutrcnched po-
sitions of male humanity. They have
carried the rostrum and the pulpit by
force. and are now laundering at the
portals of the franchise.
But in a graver and decidedly trag-
- sense we find them latterly entering
into competition with mans We al
indie to the simeon or tidal wave OF
murder that has but lately swept across
our continent, and has Jeff at this very
moment three prominent women, with
blood upon their hands, stranded upon
the beach of justice. We allnde OF
coprse to Mrs Laura D. Fair, the Cali
fornia murderess, Mrs. Lydia Sher-
man. the Birmingham Borgia, and Mrs.
Major Harry W. Wharton, who is the
latest sensation Of the day in connec-
tiop with the great Baltimore poison
ing case.
We do not propose to sewrite for the
readers of the Telegraph the circum-
stances of the crime on the charge OF
tba commission Of which Mrs. Whar-
TIM stands arraiGued. They are now
extensively known, and the retclling
of the story would be but tedious
lengtheniug of our article. But our
sole purpose is to lay before the public
come facts that are not known-facts
cnlled by laborious search in private
avenues of information, and, which
combined, contain to & certain extent
the private life of Mrs. Wharton, and
throw u great light upon what will
most necessarily be her only ground of
defence.
Ellen G.. Nugent was born in this
city about forty-fye years ago. Her
father, George Nugent, smas a most
prominent and successful merchant of
the day, doing a large importing bust
ness of fine goods, silks, etc. In char
acter he was strictly upright and hon
orable, living, as it We're, by set rule
of firmness and justice to all. His
daughter Ellen was by his second wife,
he had been previously married to a
Cuban woman, by whom he had two
children, both boys, one of whom is
now respectable and prosperous
member of our community. There
were six other children by the second
wife, four sons, and two daughters
Both of the daughters are married and
living in the city.
1t is somewhat difficult to ascertain
who Ellen's mother was, speaking in q
family sense. She appears to have
been very beautiful, and at the same
time very obscure girl, living here il
Philadelphia. But as it is not particn.
larly with Mrs Nugent or the ot::eI
children that we have to do, it doe!
not raatt2r mu,h; bnt We viii rr,s'arl1
en- PEASANT, that Mrs. Nugent has beer
dead only few years, having outlivec
ler husband, who died about thu
time of the great California gold ex
citeme3t.
And now having cleared the loom o
our story of threads, we will pro
coed to weave the narrative of Mrs
Wbarton's life, whose most excitin:
scehe has just taken place in Eutav
street, Baltimore.
Mr.. Nugent did NOT remain long il
Philadelphia after. the birth OF hi
daughter Ellen. or Nellie. He ha
been very successful in business, an
finally concluded to retire, which b
did, purchasing lovely place about
mile this side of Conshocken, at spo
called Gulf Mills, where, with his Gam
lily growing up around him, he settle
down to pass the closing hours of III
life, amid the sylvan scenery Of on
beautiful schuylkill's banks.
Of all the children, his daughter Ne
lie was his idol. He lavished ever
attention upon her that money coul
command. Especial pains were take
with her education, and she spent
considerable time at Bishop Doane
Seminary, in Burlington, NJ. An
now tue real interest of our story con
mences. Nellie has grown up und'
our pencil into beautiful womanhoo'
and her mature character is beginuin
to determine itself. The scene is
the Gulf Mill House, and the time
about twenty-five years ago.
By the universal voice of those V
knew her at this time, she was certai
ly q most lovely girl. About TWEEN
years ago, of slender and graceful, y
queenly bearingu with magnificent j
black hair of unusual length, dark ey
and fair complexion-such was Ii
physical beauty. But those who kne
her well say that was the least of h
attractions. It was rather her eng
ging manner, her winning ways, h
dashing, inspiring disposition th
bound captive at the chariot wheel
Cupid so many of her male acquai
tanees.
It was about this timetn she beg;