The New York herald., 1871-03-28
TERRIBLE AFFAIR III OHIO.
Criminal Intimacy Between Young Girl and
Married Man-Thsy Soih 90 Into he Woods
to Commit Suicide The Girl suocaeds
the Man Changes His Miad.
From the cincmuou commerclaI. March 25.I

From the CINCINNATI Commercial. March 25.I
Passengers westward on tho Marc.ta ana Clncin-
natl Railroad Thursday and Yesterday, brought
tidnas TO the city OF sensation IN Greenfield, which
shook the ltte place to It's centre ana set the In.
habtants beside themselves with excitement The
community Was ia a ierment, rumor said, but the
cause was very unsatisfactory anG indefinitely
limited as a murder ana a suicide ana again as a
double suicide but 10 definitely understood that
horror OF some KIND occurred that warranted ana
invited investigation.
Greenfield Is pleasant little town on tae rail1 Dad
named, and distant eastward nom Cincinnati about
seyenty-five miles. IL numbers about 1000 inhabit
ants-a quiet. respectable community, that minds
Its own business aud Keeps posted In the current
history Of the world 10y reading the Cincinnati
daiies How II came 10 contribute darS page itself
Involves the recital OF wretched analr tnat for
several past has darSenou the sunshine ~ two
or three houses and eliminated last IN the tragic
end OF the woman.
THE CRIMINAL INTIMACY.
For several years past criminal intimacy existed
between John s. Blackburn and Mary Jane Lo,olI; II
was the scandal OF the place and tAe shame OF tue
mans family.
Mr. Blackburn Is ABOUT for,y-Gve years old pur-
sues the business VI hog ana cattle brokerage
wnicn frequently cahed him from home 10 this CITY,
Tor instance ana afforded opportunities FOR meeting
his unfortunate love where The prying eyes OF their
common scqaluIsnces coci not question their acts
add ocular proof to the general suspicion thai they
sustained a snrreptltious and iliclt love. Hc ia mar
and has five chi!dren--two daughters ani three
sons.
Miss Lowell was aboat twenty I've years OF age
unmarried and possessed OF rare personai atirac-
lions. She resided with her aunt, at Leesburg but
was known 10 visit Greenfield frequently, where she
invariably met Blackburn, and was known 70 bear
that she sustained the relation OF niece to Black.
burns brothers widow gave a decent color TO their
py the knowledge OF the gully haSon frequently
Jared upon the public ear and stamped the affair
with infany.
They went OF In the woods 10 take poison to-
gether. She LOOK II, but he went back on hs and
he is nsane.h This is the history N nref OF the
affair taken from the lips OF resident OF Green
field well acquainted with the circumstances from
first TO last, but 1t has now become matter OF pub
lie record, an inquest having been held anu that
snal furnish particulars.
on Wednesday night last, near midnight, F. r.
Mark, Marshal OF Greenfield, roused from ms
bed by Hugh Mgan who lives Ia Ross county,
about two miles from Greenfield, Highland county,
VINO told him That Miss Lovoll was lying dead at
Cln run. Beng questioned the informant stated
that be had his information from John S. Black
burn. his brotherin-law, who told him he saw her
take poison there tnat night and throw away Inc
bottle.
IL was not Marks duty to 20 into an adjoining
county, but The statement appealed TO the mans
humanity ana he mounted his horse reused men
from their beds along The road, made them mount
their horses and accompany him TO Gin Run, dis
MAJ, gloomy, secluded and nnnnabi;ed place about
Mllgan repeated the statement Of Blackburn, that
the woman was lying dead in the tlcket that he
her take poison and throw away the bottle, ana
~ particularizing sBlGckburns statement added
that she wanted Blackburn to take poison also, but
rode back TO Milligan's house and told HIM the
story. Miiligan would not believe him at frst but
gone he mounted his horse. In company with his
son, John Mlllgan, rode to the place, saw the body,
Dul was 30 me- ulu IlOt go near
rode back home and thence TO Greenneld 10 inform
Marshal Mark.
The Marshal and his party reached the fatal SPOT
about four O'Clock on Thursday morning ana coun-
Lenauced the horror
The scene OF the tragedy is one Of singular wild
Ii lies In Paint wnsnip Ross county, at the
confluence OF Cn run and Paint creek. The run
divides Ross ana Hghiana counties, ana at this par.
tlcnar spot winds among steep and frowning sand
stone ciifs, 0vergrown with stunted cedars pine.
spruce and paw-paw bushes. The aspect OF the
place lis forbiddlng, and solitude is seldom dis.
turUeQ Dy human presence. Al night tie shrek OF
the owl Is heard among the echolng bluffs; during
tne day the hoarse croak OF the raven and the wild
OF the crow CRATE upon the In all Southern
ONO more wild and romantic spot could scarcely
honsemen were directed IN the chill gra, OF last
Thursday morning
On the right bank OF Ciin the body OF the
woman was found In a thIcket OF pa aw-paw bushes
Rigid III death, with mouth and features distorted
py the sharp agony OF the last struggle the woman
found, the eyes staring wide open and the whole
posture indicating the most terrible throes Of mortal
dissolution.
The poor creature was handsomely attired in black
ana there was scrupulous neatness OF toilet that
indicated taste and refinement. An alpaca dress,
black velvet cloak. black hat, feather veil and
black lasting galters comprised the outward cover
ing while all beneath was spoess white and OF nne
fabric.
Miss Lowell last seen alive by residents OF
Greenfield on last Monday evening. she arrived on
The tram from Cincinnati. She was seen IN Black
probably on Monday last for she visited her aunt il,
rnis city, and her face was known on the streets.
Her lItne, symmetrical ngure, blue eyes, pale,
handsome features and winning smiie which dis
closed beautiful set Of teeth, dwet upon by
fhe gossps OF Greenfield with admiration ana re.
gret, that her tragic fate Is known, ana. they
are 10 be believed, the dark history OF ner
nate life will not be closed with her grave. The
mutterings OF vengeance are distinctly heard hut,
alas they only proceed from the throats uf women,
hnd the law Is hinted at for requltal.
Blackburn is at home In Greenfield His condi-
ton, mentally and physically, is very bad. He -
suffering from deranged secretons ana TO all in
tents ann purposes insane THIS l. the candid.
honest opinion OF MS family physician, and
improbable that II Is
Blackburn tod his brother-in-law Milligan. that
lie and Mary Jane Lowell walked together from
Greenfield on Monday night to Mllligan's farm. and
there procuring horse, the pair rode down 10 the
wilderness, where the wretched woman offered up
her lie. lyon VIII find her dead there tell you,
he repeated again snd again to Mllgan. Il saw
her take poison and throw away the bottle. She
wanted me 10 take some, but would not, and she
took 1t, and died. tel you she Is down there,
dead.n
such was the plain ana terrible statement OF the
tragedy which this gniity man made reiterated
TO his knsman aud the frightful spectacle haunts
him still, racks his BRAN ana tears his bosom with
And vet what horrible suggestions the tragedy
provokes. What a mysterious surrounding the
closing hours OF the yonng womans life presents.
VINO prompted and planned that night ride In The
lonely 9lenf II was a desperate purpose that could
Tne mental eve sees the ealIty p overs ToI 5Ismo,
the well-todo man Of tile world, with the experl-
ence OF forty.hye years at his back and the respon
siblty OF q wife ana children, some of them grown
and one OF them married, on his shoulders and the
poor, weak, cnging thing at his side, dlsmount and
walk further into the gloom OF the glen that fatal
night: but Gid the eyes OF The see that life
wearied creature swallow poison ana not ATTEMPT
10 save her against nerselfr
The Incomplete post-moriem left the inquest un-
finished as far as coroner's jury OF investigation
could go. bnt public feeling rs aroused and public
scrutiny is busy with the mystery behind the actions
Of Monday night and Clear reckoning must be
nade before ihai feeling Is al!ayed ani that scrutiny
satisfied
TAX COLLECTOR ATTEMPTS 70 sC0 HIMSELF AND IS
POISONED BY HIS WIFE