Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-07-23
A SCREW LOOSE
The Career Of Mrs. Wharton, Of Baltimore.
Charged with Poisoning General
ketChum.
Remarkable EeeeHtrieities in the Early Ca.
resr Of the Lady-An Interesting
Story.

; grgDh gives a sketch Of the life OF Mrs.
; Wharton, the woman now under ar.
rest and Indictment in Baltimore fOl
: murder by poison.
Ellen g. Nugent was born in Phila-
deiphis about forty five years ago,
Her father, George Nugent, was 3
) most prominent and successful mer-
chant Of the day, doing large im-
porting business Of fine goods, silks,
: etc. In character he was strictly up
right and honorable, living, IS It were,
. by 3 set rule Of irmness and justice TO
| all. ais daughter, Ellen, was by his
second Wife-he having been previous
IL married to 8 Cuban woman, by
whom he had two children, both boys,
one Of whom is now a respectable and
prosperous citizen of Philadelphia
There were SIX other children by the
second wife, four sons and two daugh-
ters. Both Of the daughters are mar
ried, and also reside in Philadelphia.
Mrs. Nugent has only been dead
/ few years, having Outlived her hUs-
band, who died about the time of the
great California gold excitement.
Mr.. Nugent did not remain long in
Philadelphia after the birth of his
daughter Ellen or Nellie. He had
been very successful in business. and
I finally concluded to retire, which he
did, purchasing lovely place at Gulf
Mills, on the banks Of the Sch uylkiIl.
| OF all the children, his daughter Nellie
/ was his idol. He lavished every at
tentiOn upon her that money could
command. Especial pains were taken
! with her education, and she spent a
| considerable time at Bishop DOane's
Seminary at Burlington, New Jersey.
The interest OF the story now COM
! mences. The scene was the Gulf
/ Mills House, and the time about
twenty-five years ago. AT this time
I Nellie was q most lovely girl. About
| twenty years OF age, OF slender and
! graceful, yet queenly bearing, with
magnificent jet black hair Of unusual
! length, dark eyes and fair com plexiOn
such was her physical beauty. But
1 those who knew her well say that was
! the least Of her attractions. 1t was
rather her engaging manner, her win
/ ming ways, her dashiBg, inspiring dis
| position, that bound captive at the
/ chariot wheel Of Cupid so many of
/ her male acquaintance.
1t was about this time that she be-
Es@-4 ~ ACN 9AlR a eAl1AAAA -A4eee AA1Ao = N1A
since been inOrdinate with her-and
that was, the desire TO dIess nlagnifi-
/ Gently. Her father spared no ex-
/ pense to crafty her iightest Whim,
and gave her money enough to ciOthe
a duchess. As a consequence, there
was no more regular attendant at the
then fashionable bazaars than Miss
Nugent. Her father allowed her to
carry the purse Of duchess, and con-
sequently the reader can judge Of his
surprise when outside bills that hsd
been contracted by his daughter to
the smOunt of thousands OF dollars,
were sent ia TO him for settlement; ]
and all this heavy running into debt
had taken place IN q comparatively
short times and without the slightest
premOnitOry intelligence. The debts |
were paid by the father, and the cur
rent Of events drifted along toward
the most remarkable feature Of this
remarkable WOman's life.
Miss Nellie was a brilliant center of !
a large circle Of people of the best |
class. Invitations TO her marriage |
extended to ali her friends, created a /
little stir OF excitement; first, because ii |
was unexpected, and second, the hap |
py man, a Mr.. Williamson, had been |
but a casual visitor, and his matrimO. |
nial attentions had not been suspect |
ed. The old gentleman, Mr.. Nugeut, /
was also taken by surprise, but as in |
all other matters, whatever Nellie set /
her heart upon she could most Ger
tainly do, the fathers consent being a |
matter Of course. The day fixed for |
the wedding came, and great prepaTa !
tious had been made for the event. /
Mr.. NGgert determined that the /
daughter, who was queen of his heart, /
should be mated IN q regal manner.
Never had the young girl looked so |
lovely, as did the bride, seated in her /
satin and lace, with her attendant /
maids about her, and waiting, with I
the love-light in her eyes, for the hap |
DIV groom 1t was now nearly the /
hour for the ceremony, and still he |
had not come. " Where is Mr., Will |
Iiaunson?" aud Why don't he |
Gomez" were now frequently asked /
by those who were present. The hour /
al which the nuptial knct was to nave
been tied struck with a dismal Hss9ng, !
and yet no bridegroom. The minis /
ter was there with book and gown, the
guests were there, the beautiful bride
was there, and everything was wait
ing for the appearance OF the tardy
gentleman from the city. The faith
er's brow began to darken and the
brides cheeks to pale. Another dis
NAL hO1r wore away, and its death
knell was told by the clock, and still
no groom; and another hour, and still
no groom. Possibly ne may have
met with an accident; let messengers
be sent" And messengers were sent
in haste, while the guests sat in
silence, and the bride, now thoroughly
convinced that her lover was false,
raved and sObbed live one mad.
The minutes few away on wings Of
lead until the messengers returned,
who, instead Of bringing with them
Mr. Williamson, or announcing at
once some reasonable cause for his
non appearance, beckOned the father
mysteriously apart and whispered in
his ear, The news could not be kept
secret, and ia a moment it was
known. Mr.. Williamson had not
the marriage, and knew
nothing about it. Subsequent inves-
showed eOnclusively that the
had not the slightest fOun-
datiOn, 80 far as any intention Of Mr..
Williamson was concerned, and taking
this fact into consideration, it is not
strange that people now began to
speak mysteriOusly about the young
lady, and to intimate fOfGibly that
something was wrong in her hesd {
This bitter suspicion now began to
shape itself into the sOlemnity OF a fact
in the mind Of Mr.. Nugent, ana after
careful pOndering OF the matter it was
decided TO have Nellie removed TO an
asylum for the insane. But within a |
lay or two of the time fixed for her [
surrender to the asylum, Nellie sud-
lenlv disappeared, and in d little while
he father received Intelligence that
is daughter had elOped with young
Harry w. WhartOn-had
proceeded with him to Philadelphia, I
md had been there married. In a ]
hort time the runaway couple re- {
,eived assurances Of forgiveness, and
,aturned to the house at Gulf Mills, {
rbev also for a time lived 1T Norris {
own. and fn Philadelphia again. IL !
vasn't long after marriage until Mrs.
Wharton was in financial difficulties 5
gain, which were again settled by her
nduIgent father. II
Alter this, her husband, who was s
,sptain now was stationed at Fort /
Z zearney for some Eve OF seven years.
Ms. Wharton accom- panied him, as {
indeed she did IN al his Walderings, {
sven going down into Texas with him
)n one OCCASION But while out on t
he plains the eyesight Of the Captain c
lad become detective, and ne and his {
wife returned to Philadelphia again. {
At the breaking out Of the war the i
captain got a commission in Dele +