The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-09-20
Raltimore'S Borgia,
A SINGULAR LETTER FROM ONE OF MRS
wHARroN's FRIENDS.

The Baltimore American publlshes
the following letter, purporting to have
been written by an early lady friend OF
Mrs. Wharton, now imprisoned on the
charge of poisoning:
PHILADELPHIA, August 20, ISL
Much interest having been manifested
throughout the entire country on The
possible guilt of Mrs. Wharton,
have thought some account gathered
from persons who knew her intimately,
as Ellen Nugent. might crafty public
curiosity, and throw at the same time
some light upon the causes leading to
the crimes with which she stands
charged with having perpetrated.
Mrs. Wharton was the daughter OF
French gentleman of superior educa-
ton and reputed wealth, who was,
with his family, long a resident of
Norristown, Pennsylvania. Mr.. Nu-
gent was greatly esteemed for his ele-
CANT manners, and for his graceful and
profuse hospitality. He had been mar
ried and had lost his first. wife before
coming to Norristown, and nothing
whatever was known of the mother of
his eldest children, although rumor as
serted that she had been a quadroom.
This report took rise from the fact of
the extreme darkness and mulatto tint
visible in the compilations of the chill
dren by the first wife. Although they
had no other foundation for their be-
lief, the people of Norristown at first
refused to associate with this family,
and for several years they were yirtu-
ally tabooed by what was called the
best society of the place. Few caste
prejudices, however, can withstand
great wealth, when such wealth is ju-
diciously expended in propitiating or
overcoming them, and after time the
"best society" of Norristown became
aware that visitors to the Nugents
were entertained with great profusion
and elegance. This discovery opened
eyes'to the fact that the Nugents were
not so very dark after all, and that
perhaps the mulatto tint observable in
them was due rather to French than
to African blood. And SO society, in
it's usual graceful and generous man
ner, took them up and made pets of
all of them and a belle of Ellen.
The father, being tender and indul-
gent to all his children, was especially
so toward Ellen, and supplied her
munifcently with the means Of keep
ing up grand appearance in the ar
istocratic and exclusive circles which
she so gracefully adored. So lavish
was she in attire and expenditure that
the report soon spread abroad that she
would be heiress to immense wealth
, that her father was q second Girard
, etc.
, This report drew about her a crowG
!, of eager admirers, and she was soor
surrounded by a bevy of suitors al
ready to 60 to the death for smile O
encouragement from her lips.
Yet, even while the idol of her father
and the centre of attraction to score
of honorable men, Ellen Nugent was
in the habit of perpetrating frauds and
indulging in practices which would
had she been poor girl, consigned
= her to prison cell. Being the chile
l of wealth and a petted darling Of socie
, ty however neither exposure nor los
! of position followed her delinquences
Her failings were, by common censen
hushed up, or, at worst, furnished [
little gossip among those who had be
: come ,cogniZant of them. Indeed
some of her escapades were so reckless
4 and undisguised that it seemed scarce
1 ly possible to believe tho brain which
3 conceived and executed them to hav
e been in sane condition-menta
r alteration one would think, coul'
;, alone have prompted them.
D She was in the habit Of spending til,
I greatest part of her time with friend
in this city. Most of those whose gnes
she was knew her "peculiarities," bu
were willing, for the sake of her charm
ing company, to overlook them. o.
one occasion, while sojourning with
: prominent family of this city, she ask
ed her hostess to accompany her upo
!, shopping expedition, exhibiting a
= the same time huge roll of note
r which her father had given her for tn
q purchase of her winter outfit. Th
a lady accompanied her. to LEWIS, an
j., assisted in the selection of silks, vel
vets and other expensive material, bu
was somewhat surprised when a fe,
% months later the bill for the goods pun
e chased by Ellen was sent in to he
a husband, as having been contracte
is by herself. Of course Mr.. Nugent wa
q informed Of the matter, and at one
if liquidated the bill. While upon
# visit to the same friends shortly aftel
she called upon gentleman who wa
4 acquainted with her host, and repre-