The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-09-20

fusion nor m0rtlhcatlon, bat, Wlthout
voluntary remark or explanation, pro-
ceeded to set in order her belor gings.
She staid the length Of time she had
laid out with these friends, and the
circumstance seemed neither to impair
her pleasure nor cheerfIlness in the
slightest degree.
We have been told that she would
spend hundreds of dollars for costly
laces, which laces she would bestow
on the servants of the house she visi-
ted as literally as though they had
been cheap cotton fabrics, thus vast
ing large sums in making presents to
people of inferior station, articles of
which they knew neither the value
nor the use.
She was very fond of playing practi-
cal jokes, and utterly careless as to the
damage she inflicted upon property or
feelings in having her fun.
The most innocent of these jokes of
which we have heard was the PIN
ming up, on a bitter cold winter night,
the overcoat of visitor SO that he
could not possibly wear it home, and
was obliged to brave the iuclemency of
the weather without it, she having
used a whole paper of pins upon it.
On another occasion she prevailed upon
one of her admirers to kneel at her
feet under some pretense, and then
sprinkled over new. and expensive
coat bottle of asaf9tida.
Her reckless behavior gave great
pain to her family, and when at home
she became the object of unceasing
care and vigilance. Becoming dis
gusted with this surveillance, she re-
solved to leave. home for good and ALL
and determined to marry. She had
three suitors whom she favored about
equally, and to those three she wrote
on the same day, telling each if they
would meet her at a certain hotel which
she named, she would marry them
then ard -there. The announcement,
was SO sudden that each gentleman
doubted his good fortune, and in turn
called upon, the lady's bosom friend te
know if she thought Ellen serious or il
this was only practical joke. After
the lady had seen the notes addressed
to all of them by Miss .Nugent she
made each aware of the fact that they
were deceived. One gentleman went
off in dudgeon, while the others hai
resolved to wait upon Miss Nugen
together and demand an explanation
of her conduct. Accordingly they
Mr.. Wharton and another-proceedet
to the hotel indicated in her note. AL
though apparently surprised to Sc,
them in company, she put a bold fac
upon the matter and tried to pass i
| off as joke. This would not answer
and a stormy scene was the conse
quence. Overcome by wounded affec
ton and modification, Mr.. Wharton
fell fainting upon the floor, when sh
calmly stepped over his senseless bod,
and left the room. After helping t,
resuscitate Mr.. Wharton, his riva
left him to recover his composure.-
!. This he did and sent for the lady @
his love. Mr.. Wharton was SO urgen
in his entreaties that she would be
come his wife, that she agreed t
marry him as soon as the clergyman
and bridesmaids were ready, an
they were married that very day. TIL
match, Notwithstanding the circum
, stance that preceded it, turned out,
is said, most happily and during tn
lifetime Of her devoted husband n
. stigma rested upon the fair fame G
Mrs. Wharton. 1t may be that hi
, death, and the sorrow occasioned b
) that painful event, developed the in
sanity latent in her nature. 1t ma
be proper here to state that her father
. more than once during her girlhoot
| applied to physicians for authority
have her confined in an insane asylum
her pranks and vagaries having des
, troyed his happiness and impaired hi
8 fortune. Although medical men OF
t lieved her brain to be somewhat affes
t ted, they could not pronounce her ma,
: her conversation being intelligent, h,
q wit keen, and her department in soci'
\ ty unexceptionable. All her friend
: however, regarded her as thorough
q irresponsible, and CLOSED over b.
t peccadillos because of this belief.
$ Mrs. Wharton may be a crimina
Q but if she be she is doubtless an insar
g one. No other theory will account f
I her peculiar actions; and the fact TIL
: the friends of her youth condont
t offenses because of her supposed il
v sanity should go far toward inducing
: jury to examine carefully but consciel
T tiously all testimony that may
d offered in proof of mental disease
s opposed to voluntary crime. If
e could be proved that she inheritt