The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-19

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simply to give away Unfortunately
costly gifts. But something more
strange was yet to come. The debts
were paid by the father, and the cur
rent Of events drited along towards the
most remarkable feature Of this re-
markable woman's life.
Miss Nellie was the brilliant centre
Of large circle of people of the best
class in that vicinity. So that when,
shortly after, each and all of them re-
ceived an invitation to the marriage Of
that young lady, you may be sure it
created some little stir of excitement.
At length the suspicious hour rolled
round and all the invited guests assem-
bled at the Nugent mansion to witness
the marriage of the beauty. Great
preparations had been made for the
event. Mr.. Nugent was determined
that the daughter who was queen Of
his heart should be mated in regal
manner. Never had the young girl
looked 80 lovely as did the bride, seated
in her satin and lace with her attendant
maids about her, and waiting with the
love.light in her eyes for the happy
groom.
The hour at which Le nuptual knot
was to have been tied struck with a
dismal clang, and yet no bridegroom.
Messengers were sent in haste, and on
their return they announced that Mr..
williamson had not contracted the mar.
rage, and knew nothing about it.
Subsequent investigation showed con-
clusively that the marriage had not the
slightest foundation, so far as any in
tention Of Mr.. Williamson was con-
cerned, and people began to intimate
that something was wrong in her head.
Mr.. Nugent, after careful bordering
Of the matter, was resolved to have
Nellie removed to an asylum for the
insane. 1t wanted but a day or two Of
the execution Of the asylum project,
when one morning it was found that the
beautiful bird had flown in the night
from the paternal nest. But in a very
little while the father received intelll-
geuce that the daughter had eloped with
young Lieutenant Harry w. Wharton,
had proceeded with him to Philadel-
phia, and had been there married.
The runaway couple had not been
long from home until they received as
surances Of forgiveness and returned to
the house at Gulf Mills They also
for a time lived a. Norrstown, and in
Philadelphia again 1t wasn't long
after marriage until Mrs. Wharton was
in financial difficulties again, which
were again settled by her indulgent
father.
After this her husband, who was cap
tain now, was stationed at Fort Kear-
ney for some five or seven years. Mrs.
Wharton accompanied him, as indeed
she did in all his wanderings, even 60
ing down into Texas with him on one
occasion. While out upon the plains,
the eyesight Of the captain had become
defective, so he and his wife returned to
Philadelphia again.
At the breaking out OF the war, the
captain got commission in a Delaware
regiment, and eventually was appointed
general disbursing agent, having his
headquarters in Eutaw street, Balti-
more, right near his house in "Hamil-
ton place" With the exception of a
short time they lived in Washington,
this was his homo mp to his mysterious
death in 1867.
Such are some OF the salient points
and bold outlines in the career OF this
most remarkable woman. Notwlth-
standing the growing suspicion that she
also poisoned her husband and son, it is
the universal testimony that there never
was more loving wife She was most
passionately devoted to him, and follow
ed him everywhere. We have also
seen that money was her great weak
mesa. She was nearly always in diff.
culties OF this kind and would borrow
from any one This is of course to be
accounted for in great manner by her
inordinate passion for dress. Wherever
she went she was bound to move in the
most fashionable circles, which she in.
variably adorned by her beauty and
engaging department
We do not purpose, as we said at the
start, so touch upon the particulars OF
this most remarkable case. Mrs.
Wharton now stands before the bar of
Justice, charged with murder and at,
tempted murder, and it seems to be the
general opinion that three or four items
will be added to the list, two OF them
the murder of husband and son. The
facts the public are already familiar
with; the theory that will embrace
every case can never be arrived at The
whole story only goes to show that,
keen as has been the scrutiny OF hu-
man character these thousands Of years,
it has still unsoundcd depths and undis-
covered latitude, and this Monumental
City tragedy, whose central figure is an
elegant lady of the first circles of soci-
ETY., only adds another stigma to the
lengthy list that our poets, philosophers
and scientists are called upon to solve.
Our sole purpose is to lay before the
public some facts that are not known.
Facts culled by laborious search in pri-
vate avenues OF information, and which,
combined, contain to certain extent
the private life of Mrs. Wharton, and
throw a great light upon what will
most necessarily be her only ground of
defense.