The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-11-04
A Singular Murder.

The London papers record singular
murder committed by clergyman, Rev.
John Shelby Watson, man of sufficient
literary note to have been mentioned In
book entitled s'Men of the Times" and
also in the Dictionary of DR.. Allibone, of
this city, which contains list of impor-
tant works, original and translated, by
this unhappy man. His victim was his
own wife, slain by him in moment OF
passion or phrensy. The strange feature
of The crime is that it was perpetrated on
Sunday, October 9th, and the murderer
continued to go about his business as usu-
al till Wednesday. On that day, in re-
morse or insanity, he swallowed dose of
poison, having first despatched this note
to friend
I have killed my wife in a fit of rage, to
which she provoked me. Often has she pro
vok ed me before. but never lost restraint over
myself with her till the present occasion, when
| allowed fury to carry me away. her body
will be found in the room adjoining, the key
of which l leave with this paper. L trust she
| will be buried with the attention due to lady
of birth She is an IrishWoman. Her name
! is Annie.
The friend, physician, hurried to the
spot, found Mr.. Watson speecaless aud
| suffering from the effect Of poison. In
ssthe little room Of the library" the scene
| is thus described:
There horrible spectacle confronted them.
Huddled up in corner of the room, her knees
! touching her chest, her hands convusiveiy
! clsnched, and her head fallen to her chest, was
! the body of the unhappy lady, her clothes cat
urated with blood, which still seemed to ooze
! from the body in dark, almost purple, pool.
| On examining her, DR.. Rugg found her head
smashed i'll, and i'll places beaten almost TO q
! Jelly. There was, in addition to numerous
other wounds, fracture on the occiput sufli
| cient probably, to cause death both her tenn
pies were beaten in, and there a deeI
wound in the middle of the forehead.
The reporter of the London Eveniag
Standard adds
1t is impossible to speculate at present upon
| the motives of the crime. Mr.. Watson himself
saws in his letter that he did it in fit of fury
and those who were acquainted with the de
| ceased lady concur in saying that she was source
| in temper. On the other hand, the servant
! girl, who has lived with them three years, say
| that she was never a witness to any quarre
| between them. 1t is quite evident that q
| quarrel must have suddenly arisen, in which
probably, some observation was made by The
lady which goadsd Mr.. Watson on to madness
[
which be clearly traced as the instrument
by which the murder was committed; but {
small hammer was found in the room, and it Il
possible it may have been used, but, if SO, j
has been so effectually cleansed that it bear
no marks of the use, neither do the fire irons
The police, however, have taken possession o
them, and they will be submitted to a mucE
closer examination than the cursory one the,
have und dergone. small bottle, containing
a very diluted mixture, in which there Wer,
clear traces of prussic acid, was found on
chair by the bedside by Or. Rugg, and it slst
has been handed over to the police. Eithe
the courage of Mr.. Watson must have failed
him, or he must have thought that he had take:
enough, for full half of the mixture wa
found in the bottle.
In every aspect it is horrible and pc
culiar case. 1t is shocking to think of {
man of high attainments, mature age, anC
clerical character hurried to such crime
by sudden burst of passion while or
the other hand how subtle must have beer
the insanity that escaped all observation
till this outbreak. We have too the sim
gular self-command exhibited by mar
who had committed such an act, and will
the terrible secret on his mind, yet fo
three days preserving an unconcerned de-
meanor, In another letter or paper O
directions, the unhappy man spoke of re
lations in this country
know not whose business it will be to lool
to property left, my little possessions viii
be my books and furniture. My only brothe
was living, when l last heard of him. five o
six years ago, in America, at 81 Grand street
Williamsburg, and neice wish him. He is m,
heir if he is still alive l know not if [ hav,
any other surviving relatives. One quarter
wages will soon be due to my servant, and
should wish the sum to be more than double,
| for her on account of the trouble which sh
will have at the present tins, and the patience
with which she has borne other troubles. Ii
my purse will be found Is 10.
L leave number of letters, many of then
very old, with which l hope that those wht
handle them will deal tenderly.
The books are very useful collection for
literary man.
Among the works of Mr.. Watson, al
of which are enumerated in Allibone'
Dictionary, are lives of George Fox
Richard Parson, Sir William Wallace
John Wilkes, William Cobbett, and
great number of transations, many O
which were published in Bohn's Classica
Library. 1t appears from the account o
the hearing in the cases, that he had en-
tirely recovered from the effect of the poi
son, and would of course be committee
for trial. 1t may afford solemn warn,
ing to all choleric husbands, and also, tt
all scolding wifes.-Phaa Age.
A REMARKABLE PHENoMxNeN.-Ar re-
| Ill L.