The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-08-02
From the phiadclphia Telegram, July l5.]
Baf from the Private Life of
Mrs. Wharton.


Mrs. Wharton.
b. Loue for Dress-A Hedding and III
Braegroom-Runs Away to Aroid an
e Ayzum-A Loring Wye-h sh
Insane.
For women this is certainly the age
promise and prominence. We find
en- on every haud leaving the hearth
kne and stormiug the intrenched posi-.
los of male humanity They have
rried the rostrum and pulpit by force,
a are now laundering at the portals
the franchise. But in a graver and
cidedly a tragic sense we fud them
tterly entering into competition with
en. We allude to the simooo or tidal
ere of murder that has but lately swep;
ross our continent, and has left at this
Try moment three prominent women,
ith blood upon their hands, stranded
BON the beach ofjustice. We allude,
course, to Mrs. Laura D. Fair, the
alifornia murderess, Mrs. Lydia Sher-
au, the Birmingham Borgia, aud Mrs.
ajor Harry w. Wharton, who is the
test sensation Of the day in connection
9th the great Baltimore poisoning case.
ar present purpose is therefore to lay
efore the public some facts that are
pt known, facts culled by .aborious
sarch 10 private avenues Of informa-
on, aud which, combined, contain to a
britain extent the private life of Mrs.
harton, and throw a great light upon
hat will most necessarily be her only
round of defence.
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE.
Ellen G. Nugent was born in this
Bty about IS years ago. Her father,
leo. Nugent, was a most prominent
pd successful merchant Of the day,
ping large importing business Of fine
pods, silks, &c. In character he was
Srictly upright and honorable, living,
it we're, by set rule Of frmness and
tstice to all. His daughter, Ellen, was
his second wife, he having been
feviously married to Cuban woman,
whom he had two children, both
bJs, ouc of whom is now respectable
bd prosperous. member of our COM
unity. There were six other children
( the second wife, four sous and two
aughters. Both ofihe daughters are
arried aud living in the city. Mr..
Fugent did not remain long in Phila-
elphia after the birth Of his daughter
llen, or Nellie. He had been very
lccessful IN business, and finally con-
uded to retire, which he did, pur-
hasing lovely place about mile this
de of Conshohocken, at spot called
ulf Mills, where. with his family
rowing up around him, he settled down
pass the closing hours Of his life
mid the sylvan scenery of our beaufi-
IL SchuykilPs banks. Of all the chill
zen his daughter Nellie was his IDOL
[e lavished every attention upon her
lat money could command. Especial
bins we're taken with her education,
bd she spent considerable time at
Bishop oane's seminary in Burlington,
j And now the real interest Of our
Bory commences. Nellie has grown up
nder our pencil into beautiful woman
pod. and her mature character is
eginning to determine itself The
,eeDe is the Cult Mills House, and the
me is about twenty five years ago. by
&e universal voice Of those who knew
er at that time she was certainly a
ost lovely girl Abous twenty years Of
be Of slender and graceful ye: qaeenly
barring, with magni6centjet black hair
4 unusual length, dark eyes and fair
&mplexiQu-such was her physical
eauty. But those who knew her veil
3y that was the least OF her attractions.
was rather her engaging manner, her
pshiug, Inspiring disposition that bound
eptive at the chariot. wheel of Cupid so
baDy oil her male acquaintances.
LOVELY WOMAN FOND OF DRESS.
4 1t was about this time that she began
develop passion that has ever since
zen iDordinare with her, and that was
e desire to dress magni6cently. Her
ther spared 20 expense to crafty her
ghtest whim, and gave her money
ough to clothe duchess. As a cou-
quence, there was DO more regular
eendant at the then fashionable bazarrs
our city than Miss Nugeut, whose
.rriage got to be familiarly known, no
bubt, to the salesmeu within. AS We
I've said, her father allowed her to
rry the purse of a duchess, and, con-
*queutly, the reader can judge of his
brprise when out side bills that had
BEN contracted by his daughter to the
mount Of thousands ofdollars were sent
] to him for settlement, aud all this
anning into debt had taken place in a
bmparatively short time, and without
Rightess premonitory intelligence
Ehere had the money gone? Hardly
pom herself, since, although always
1fegantly attired in obedience to
.ashion's latest mandate, this debt e1..
ess was too absurdly large to be an.
iwered for Oh the ground of personal
bxpendition. But littlesinEestisation
showed. It was found that this money
bad been expended for laces, silks,
|ewelry, &C., which we're lavished with
10 imperial hand as presents upon her
oung friends. This was certainly q
fttIo eocent-;o and nuite enough to