Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-10-31
AMARYEIIlOlVS. IIlOlVS. EVENT.

Mrs. Janet MoWBraY. and her four
sons lived in 1928 at Harwick Hall,
in; IN the county Durham, England:
Mrs. Mo8bray was fail, powerful
woman of$great. energy and bravery,
In her. ifty.sourth year. Her sons
we're aged respectively thirty-four,
twenty-seven, twenty-four, and twen-
ty-one. Her husband had been dead
many years. Her two eldest sons were
married, and their. wives and families
lived with her. The youngest, George,
was wild and dissipated,. and had
given his mother much trouble. He
was deeply in debt, and had been re-
pestedly threatened with arrest. Mrs.
.Mowbray was wealthy, and kept in
her bedroom, besides a quantity OF
valuable plate, large sum Of money.
On Christmas eve Mrs. Mowbrays
sons and daughters-in-law paid a visit
to the residence of a relative, MIR.
Chaker, of Chatersburg. The do
mestics, relieved from duty, were in
their own portion of the dwelling,
enjoying the festivities of the season.
The watchman, who was ordinarily
on duty in kitchen garden, took a
hasty survey Of his beat, and joined
the jewellers in the kitchen.
On Christmas night they were to
have a small gathering Of friends
and neighbors, and Mrs. Mowbray
began to consider the necessary ar
raneements. She would require the
old punch bowl, and the ladies and
goblets which she kept in the closet
Of her bedroom. She went accord
ingly and entered the closet and took
out the silver, and laid it on the
shelf, ready for removal the next
morning. At the same time she took
out a large old-fashioneds carving
knife and fork of a quaint pattern,
and deposited them on the shelf.
She then returned to the parlor. AT
ter sitting and musing for some time,
she took up the Bible and fumbled
for her spectacles. She could not find
than, and at length remembered that
she had left them on the shelf in the
closet. She at once returned tor
them. Enter; ;1g her bedroom, she
placed the candle on the dressing
table, and lighted a small lamp,
with which she entered the closet.
AS she took the first step inside
the closet, she heard the sound as OF
some one breathing heavily. She
looked up and saw right before her
the face of man. She was brave,
resolute woman. She advanced a
step, and observed that mans head,
arms and body were through the
small window at the end, as though
in the act of wringgllng himself
through the opening. In the mans
right hand was a pistol, and his left
hand had hold Of a shelf which ran
along the side of the closet. The
man raised the pistol and fired. Mrs.
MoMAray in, an instant seized the
huge Carving knife which lay on the
shelf, advanced toward the rufian.
He was struggling to withdraw him
self from the window. His hands
were on the sill. and his head some
what raised, leaving his neck ex-
posed.
Being unable to work himself out
of the aperture, he raised the pistol
as though to hurlit at Mrs. Mowbray'
Tie courageous old lady made one
step forward, and dashed the keen
blade across the mans throat, laying
it open from ear to ear. She then
calmly retired, closed the closet door,
blew out the lamp, and taking up
her candle returned to the parlor,
first having satisfied herself that not
drop of blood had stained her dress
or hands. :.
Half an hour after midnight her
children returned home. They found
their motherseated by the fire, serene
ly reading the Bible: They greeted
her affectionately, and prepared to re-
tire for che night. Mrs. Mowbrsy
said, i" Boys, remain behind a little,
I wish to speak to you. You, my
daughters, can retire"
When she was alone with her chill.
dren, she said, with dignity and
calmness, "My children, I have kill
ed a man.. You will find his. body
fast in the small window Of the closet
off my bedroom" "
Her sons stared at her in amaze
ment. They at first imagined that
she must be laboring under some
mental disorder but when she rela- 81
ted to them, plainly and nationally,
and in her own straightforward, terse
fashion, the story as just told, they
saw that she was telling them SIM
pie fact.
Go" she said, "make what ar
rangements you please. I will wait
here, and you can tell me what
course is best to pursue in this mat
ter.