Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-08-10
B A R B Z R L S NJ
The Iniquities Of a Baltimore Barber
How He Won Weak Women and then
Deserted Them.

About two months since, Charles B.
Ashbv, a Baltimore barber, who was pos
sessed of good looks, winning ways, Il
nice little moustache and a Dolly Warden
shirt, was engaged to work ut Buchman's
Continental Shaving Saloon On East Third
street. lie was u good workman and
gained favor with the frequenters of that
popular saloon. lie was ever ready to en-
gage In pleasant converse, explain and
entertain, leaving every one favorably i'm
pressed, with no Idea remaining that he
would turn out TO be the rascal IL, has
proven himself and capable of such crimi-
nal acts as he has of late committed.
lie wa. always admired by tue ladies'
indeed, he represented all those genial and
geutlemanly qualities that capture weak
females, aud enlist the admiration and
love of those maternal guardians who are
not rly-discreet. lie was one OF those
fellows calculated to electrliy the female
heart with love for himself-in fact, he
was regular "smasheri" but it must
not be forgotten that he also represented
those qualities that invariably bring
shame, humiliation aud sorrow 10 the ones
so easily captured, and perhaps rash
and ignOminiOus death.
one Of his admirers in Baltimore. The
reason he did this was because he couldn't
get out Of it-Or at least he couldn't get
out Of Jail until he did ii, having been
incarrcrHtcd for being crimin tlly con-
ncrted with the infatuated one. and this
was the only manner by which he could
gain his freedom. lie didn't particularly
want the WIFE but he did want his free
dom, and slightly altering the beautiful
words of Patrick Henry, he cried in
sonOrous tones" Give me liberty if ! am
compelled tu take wife, He was given
his liberty and the fair one he took and
protected for awhile, but soon grew cold
towards her, and forgetting his protesta-
tiOns of love and the promise lie 50 freely
made.when released from prison, he desert
ed his wife aud left her to the cold world.
On the first Of July he left this city for
Baltimore, where he remained until the
2th, when he returned here. On
the llth, however, he was married to
another of his score Of admirers, who had
stood by hin through good and bad re-
| port, the latter article always being very
limited in quantity aud of II most inferior
| quality. Immediately after he returned
| here lie resumed work and his gentleman
| ly department, every thing moving
smoothly until the 18th of the same month
when Alice GernOn, lady Of fair COM
pleXion, jot black hair, sky-blue eyes and
faultless form arrived here in quest of the
perlidious T.. b. A. She found him plyin <
his vocation at the continental, and request
ed TO sec him privately, both leaving ut
the same time. Charles was surprised to
sec Alice, whose affections he gained sew
cral years ago, and that time promised to
marry her. But Alice meant business and
told Charles she had heard he was mar
ried to some other woman when on his
visit to Baltimore. Charles protested his
innocence and gave new proofs Of his af-
fectiOns for Alice by chuckling her under
the chin and imprinting upon her rosy
cheeks warm kiss. This pleased hel
and she thought he was telling her the
truth. They then both went to hOte
and registered rs man and wife, occupy
Ing the same room. The next mornin e
Alice left for home, believing that she
would yet be Mrs. Ashby, before many
suns would set.
The woman whom Ashhy but a few
days before married heard OF Alice's visit
TO Wilmington and concluded that all was
not right. So she came up Oh the 25tl
aud lectured her recently-made husband
He denied having seen Alice since he lef
Baltimore. This seemed to satisfy he
and she left for home the same day.
Alice, in the meantime, found out tina
the man she loved almost to madness wa
really married, and fortified with conclu
slve proof of such proceeding she re
turned here ON the 26lh and confronted
Ashby with il. lie still denied the charg
but accompanied her TO a hotel, where IL
admitted all. She instantly took from he
pecket large vial filled with laudnun
andI dIexpressed determination to take it
He endCavored to get il away from
her, but failed, and only wa
successful in recOnciling her ani
saying everything would soon he well
lie then left for his boarding house an,
after taking supper returned TO the hOte
and repaired to the room occupied b.
Alice. She confronted him and handle,
him the vial empty which was but fcv
minutes before full Of laudnum, tellin!
him that lis contents were within her
She then fell upon her knees and praycl
fervenlly that her sins might he forgiven
and that Ashby might soon he brought l.
contritiOn. When she uttered amen,
she fell over.
Ashby now concluded that things wer
, serious and Immediately summoned
physician who in due time arrived an,
administered an emetic, without mucl
effect. The dose was then repeate
! which produced more satisfactory results
The lady had to be constantly exercised l.
keep her from going TO sleep and it wa
not until half-past nine O'Clock at nigh
that she was considered out of danger
, When she became conscious again she eN
pressed regret at having been unsuccessful
and determination TO try some othc
means by which her life could he taken
Sine grew desperate and concluded +
choke herself, and the services of tw
|, men were required TO hold her hands dur
ing the whole night TO prevent her frOr
carrying out the rash attempt to choke her
7 self On the morning following Alice wa
/, paeiiled by Ashby telling her he woul
, soon marry her if she would only dcsis
from what she had determined upon. T
this proposition she asscnted with alacrit
and both started for.tho Monumental City
= since which time we have heard nothin
= Of their whereabouts.
Peter Scheeler, another barber, who seem
: to be - party to most Of Ashby's tricki
l also left with the pair. The whole part
left town with but few friends, lots of bill
5 aud sorrowing creditors. Perhaps the
left behind valuable lesson or two whic
@ undoubtedly contain moral.