The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-10-10

A Marvellous Event.
Mrs. Janet Mowbmy aud her four sons III \
Al, 1928 at Hagwick Hall. In the eoun .. y,
pnrham, England. Mrs. MoWoras VIZ ~
tall, powerful woman. OF great chIis: s ON.
bravery, in her tiity-fourth year. he $500 syn,
were aged respectively fhiny..oms WI Msr
seven, twenty-four, ana t"cn't pe nor
w. a,fSest sons were married, and Their
,r.sves and families lived with her. Ine
rn,,mgest. George, was wild and dissipa,ed>
and Rad given his mother much troaole'
Tie was deepiv in debt, and had been re-
.,,ea,edls threatened with arrest. Mrs: Now
bray was wealthy, and kept in her bedroom;
beside quantity Of valuable piase' large
sum OF money. ,, o,, On
:, On Christmas eve Mrs. Mowbray's son an
f1anphter.in-,aw raid visit to the residence
rf n relative. Mr.. Chaker. Of Chatersourg.
THE domestics. relieved from duty, were IN
shc;r own nortiop Of the dwelling enjoying
.he Festivities Of the season. The watcG-
ruan who was ordinarily OH duty In the
kitchen garden, took a hasty survey OK MS
bent, and Joined The Jewellers in the kltchch.
On Christmas night they were to have n
smsll gathering of friends and nel?hDois,
and Mrs. Mowbray began to consider thc
arrangements necessary. She Wo'isa redulte
the old punch-bowl, and the ladies ana COZ
lets. which she kept in the closet OF hcr peg
room. She would 90 and get them al oncf.
She wont accordingly and entered the closet
and took out the silver and laid IL Oil tlic
shelf. ready for removal next morning. ~
the same time she took out large, oio-ls'!-
toned caryiug-kniit, and fork OF 4 quaint l'at-
tern and tenosited them also on inc Shch'
She then returned to the parior. A'teG si
fling and n,lsiny for some time. sic TOOK up
The Bible and fumbled for her spec'ae'eS.
She could not find them: and at icnsin ie-
membcred chat she.had left them on the stieA
in the closet. She ut once returned ZOE thelii.
Entering her bedroom, she placed the can.
die ON the dresSing-.abe and lighted small
)amp. with which she entered the closet:
AS she took the first step inside the closet
she heard the sound Us of some one breath
ing heavily. She looked up and saw r'@iil
before her the face Of man. She was
brave, resolute woman. She advanced
step and observed that mans flcad. arms.
and body were through the small Wllluo" ~
the end. as though in the act OF WrlGGitS
himself through the opening. In the man
right hand was pistol, ard his left hand had
hold Of n shelf which ran along the side OF
the closet. TIE nan raised tie pistol ano
fred. Mrs. Mowbray in an instant sclzea
the huge carying-hnifc which lav Oh the Shell
and sdvanced toward the rutfian. He was
struggling TO Withdraw himself from the
window. His hands were on the sill ana
his head somewhat raised, leaving his throat
somewhat exposed.
Being unable to work himself out OF the
aperture, he raised the pistol rs though to
hurl it ut Mrs. Mowhray. The courageous
old lady made one step forward, and uasilco
the keen blade across the mans throat, iaylhG
il opcu from car TO car She then Chilly
retired, closed the closet door, blew out the
lamp, and taking up her candle returned 10
the paror, first having satisfied herself THAI
not drop OF blood had stained her dress OF
hands.
Half an hour after midnight her children
returned home They found their motlicf
seated by the fire. screnely reading her Bible
They greeted her aiicctionatcly, and prepared
to retire for the night. Mrs. MowbIy SAID:
"Boys, remain behind little: wish to
speak to you. You, my daughter can retire.
When she was alone with her cnildrcn she
said, with dignity and callnncss, 4" My chill
dren, / have killed man! You Viii mud
his body fast in the SINAI! window OF the
closet of my hcd-room.'
Her sons stared al her IN amaZemcnt. They
under some mental disorder: but when she
related to them plainly and nationally, and in
her own straightforward. tcrsc fashion, the
story us just told, they saw that she was tell
ing them IL simple fact.
"Go,' said she, "and make what arrange
ments YOU please. will wait here. and you
can tell me what course is best to pursue in
this NATTER
The sous tool; the light and went TO their
mothers room. They opened the door, and
there, sire enough, was the body Of man
hauging half through the window. The
floor was 4 pool of blood. With difficulty
the eldest son got rear enough to the body
without stepping into the gore to raise The
head, which was dropping on the chest. lie
gr,Sned the hair and lifted the head so that
the light might fall upon his face. AS he did
SO. cry OF horror escaped from all.
"Grcat God it is our brother George"
"What do YOU say" asked Mrs. Now
bray. in a voice horribly calm, from the
doorway. whittier she had followed lnpcr-
cciyed. George! what do you mean!"
The oldest son dropped his head to pre-
vent, il possible, his mother recognizing 1t,
and all of them endeavorcd to explain their
nxclamations and get their mother away
from the spot. 1t was in vain.
"Boys," she said, in her well-tnown tone
OF authority, " stand aside and let Inc see
tho face Of the murderer have sain.'
With that she put her sons aside as though
they had been mere lads, and walked through
The slippery gore that lay upon the floor up
10 the body. She took the candle from the
unresisting grasp Of her lirst-born, and with
q hand that tremhled not lifted the head Of
the dead man so that the light shone full
upon it. She gazed at it steadily for halt Il
minute, then said, gently lowering it until
1t rested upon the breast again, "Its my
boy George"
Mrs. Mowbray was the only one in that
household who remained calm and emotion
hess. The family were in the widest state Of
sorrow. The three brothers with difficulty
extricated the body from the window. The
authorities were notified, and everything was
kept US quiet as possible. The inquest was
duly held. Mrs. Mowbray WAS fully eXone-
rated, and the body was tenderly prepared
for burial. The real story was known to
few outside the family and authorities. 1t
was believed by them that George, instead
OF going to Deyonshire, had remained lurk-
Ing in the neighborhood, and had planned
the robbery, and, if need be, the murder Of
bis mother. He knew that she would be
alone on that night, aud that she had Il large
sum Of money and valuable jewels in her
room. The old nurse, who had held George
in her arms when he first saW the light, took
care Of the body and prepared it Tor the
tomb.
She dwelt tenderly on the familiar marks
upon the limbs and face, which she knew SO
well, each Of which had story OF youthful
daring or folly connected with it. Ia due