The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-08-31
A STRANGE NARRATIVE.
DHE EARLY LIFE OF hrs. WHdRTON
THE BALTIMORE GEORGIA"

lHE EARLY LIFE OF hrs. WHdRTON
THE BALTIMORE GEORGIA"
Singular Rumors as to Her Lineage
Some OF the Peculiarities or Her
Youth-Prodigalitya and Practical
Jokes-Tricks on Her Lovers-How
She Came to Marry at Last-Is She
Insane.
The latest development in the Wharton
mystery at Baltimore is the publication of the
following interesting letter from lady friend
of the accused widow:
PHILADELPHIA August 20, 1871.
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 pub
lie curiosity, and throw at the same time some
light upon the causes leading to the crimes
with which she stands charged as having per-
petrated.
Mrs. wharton was the daughter Of a French
gentleman of superior education and reputed
wealth, who was, with his family, long resi-
dent of Norristown, Pa. Mr. Nugent was
greatly esteemed for his elegant manners,
he had been married and had lost his first
wife before coming to Norristown, and moth
ing whatever was known of the mother of his
elder children, although rumor asserted that
she had been quadroon. This report took
rise from the fact of the extreme darkness and
mulatto tint visible In the complexlons of the
children by the first wife. Although they had
no other foundation for their belief the people
ofNorristown at first refused to associate with
his family, eud for several years they were
virtually ta6ooed by what was called the best
society of the place. Few caste prejudices,
hoUauor can ypithafa nd oroqt wealth. when
euch wealth Is Judiciously expended In propi-
ytiating or overcoming them; and after time
the s:best society" of Norristown became
aware that visitors to the Nugents were enter
This discovery opened their eyes to the fact
that the Eugents were not so very dark after
all and that perhaps the mulatto tint Obser-
ve6fe in them was due rather to French than
to African blood. And 90 society, in its usual
graceful and generous manner, took them up,
and made pets Of all of them and belle OF
Ellen.
The father, being tender and indulgent to
all his children, was especially so towards
Ellen, and supplied her munl6cently with the
means OF keeping up grand appearance, appear Is,dn IN
she 80 gracefully adorned. 30 lavish was she
in attire and expenditure, that the report soon
spread abroad that she would be heiress to i'm
mense wealth-that her father was second
Girard, &c. The repor. drew around her
surrounded BY bevy of suitors, all ready to
60 to the death for a smile of encouragement
from her lips.
Yet even whilst the idol of her father and
the centre Of attraction to o score OF honor
able men, Ellen Nugent was In the habit Of
which would, had she been poor girl, have
consigned her to prison cell. Being the
child of wealth and petted darling of society,
however, neither exposure nor loes OF posltlen
followed her dellnquencies Her failings were
by common consent hushed up, or, at worst,
furnished q little gossip amongst those who
had become cognizant of them. Indeed, some
Of her escapades were 30 reckless and undis-
gulsed that 1t seems scarcely possible to be:
leve the brain which conceived and executed
them to have been in a sane condition-men-
tai alteration, one would think, could alone
have prompted them.
She was In the habit of spendil z the greater
part of her time with friends In th city. Most
Of those whose guest she was knew her "pecu-
Iarlties," but were willing, for the sake of her
to oyeGoox nem
Shent family Of this city, she asked her hostess
to accompany her upon shopping expedition,
exhibiting at the same time huge roll OF
notes which her father had given her for the
purchase OF her winter OUTFIT The lady &C.
selection Of silks, velvets and other expensive
material, but was somewhat surprised when q
few months later the blu for the goods pur.
chased by Ellen was sent to her husband as
having been contracted by herself. or course
Mr.. Nngent was informed Of the matter, and at
once uquidated the bill. Whilst upon visit
to the same friends, shortly after, she called
upon gentleman who was acquainted with
her host, and represented to him that her en-
tertainers were greatly straitened In circum-
stances, and had sent her to ask him for q loan
of q few hundred dollars. The gentleman sp.
fN har q rAn ooon taff nF
Miss Ellen, put heroff with some excuse until |
he could inquire II the money was indeed |
needed by his. friend. OF course the whole |
matter was discovered to be q pure fabrication,
but upon being asked for an explanation, |
Ellen exhibited no discontinue whatever, but |
laughed the whole affair off as "a joke"
For long time articles were being missed /
ct the houses she visited before suspicion /
allghted upon Miss Nugent; but after time |
circumstances indicated that she had sppro-
priated the missing property, and during |
temporary absence her trunks were opened, |
and perfect museum Of stolen property was |
discovered thereIn-articles, tor the most |
part, which could never be OF the slightest use /
to her. Upon going to her trunks alter the \
stolen goods had been removed and restored
Ito their respective owners, she manifested |.
neither the smallest confusion nor mortifca-
tion, but without voluntary remark or expla.
nation proceeded to set In order her belong
ings She stayed the length of time she had
laid out with these friends, and the clrcum.
stance seemed neither to Impair her pleasure
nor cheerfulness In The slightest degree.
We have been told that she would spend
hundreds Of dollars for costly laces, which
laces she would bestow on the servants of /
the houses she visited as literally as though
they had been cheap cotton fabrics, thus vast
ing large sums In making presents to people
Of inferior station articles Of which they knew
neither the value nor the use. She was very
fond of playing practical jokes, and utterly
careless as to the damage she inflicted upon
property or feelings In having her fun. The
most innocent Of these jokes Of which we have
beard was the pinning up, on bitter cold
eanter night, the overcoat Of q visitor 30 that
he could not possibly wear 1t home, and was
obliged to brave the inclemency of the wealth
or without 1t, she having used whole paper
OF pins upon 1t. On another occasion she pre-
vailed upon one of her admirers to kneel at
her feet under some pretence, and then sprlnk-
Led over new and expensive coat bottle of
assaf9tida. II
Her reckless behavior gave great pain to
her family, and when at home she became the
objee$ Of unceasing care and vigilance. Be.
coming disgusted by this surveillance, she re.
solved to leave home for good and all, and de-
termined to marry. She had three suitors.
whom she favored about equally, and to these
three she wrote on the same day, telling each
LA. - Il