Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-27


in 1928 at Harwick hall, in the county of Dur
ham, England. Mrs Mowbray was tall, pow
erful woman of great energy and bravery, in
her tifty-fourth year. Her sons were aged re-
spectively thirty-four, twenty-seven, twenty-fouI
and twenty 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 disspated, and
had given his mother much trouble lie was
deeply in debt, and had been repeatedly threat
ened with arrest. Mrs. MOwbray was wealthy
and kept in her bedroom besides quantity OF
valuable plate, large sum OF money.
On Christmas eve Mrs. Mowbrays son and
daughter-in-law paid a visit to the residence OIL
relative, Mr.. Chaker of Chatersburg. The do
mestiCs relieved from duty, were in their own
portion of the dwelling, enjoying the festivities
of the season. The Waterman, who was ordin-
arilv on duty in the kitchen garden, took a
nasty survey of his beat, and joined the revelerS
in the kitchen.
On Christmas night they were to have a small
gathering of friends and neighbors, and Mrs
Mowbray began to consider the arrangements
necessary. She would require the old punch
bowl, and the ladies and goblets which she KEEP
in the closet of her bed room. She would &C
and get them at once. She went accordingly
and enteredlthe closet and took out the silver
and laid it on the shelf, ready for removal neX
morning. At the same time she took out
large, old-fashoned carving knife and fork OF
quaint pattern, and deposited them also on the
shelf. She then returned TO the parlor. Aftel
sitting and musing for some time, she took ur
the Bible and fumbled for her spectacles. Sh(
could not find them; and at length remembered
that she had left them on the shelf in the closet
She at once returned for them. Entering hel
bed room, she placed the candle on the dressing
table, and lighted small lamp with which she
entered the closet.
As she took the first step inside the closet she
heard the sound asaof some one breathing heav-
ily She looked up and saw right before her
the face of a man. She was brave, resoute
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 wriggling himself through the opening
In the mans right hand was pistol, and his
left hand had hold of a shelf which ran along
the side of the closet The man raised the pis.
toll and fired Mrs. Mowbray in an instant
seized the huge carving knife which lay on the
shelf, and advanced toward the rufian. He
was struggling to Withdraw himself from the
window. His hands were on the sill and his
head somewhat raised, leaving his throat some
what exposed.
Being unable to work himself out of the
aperture, he raised the pistol as though to hur
it at Mrs Mowbray. The courageous old lady
made one step forward, and dashed the keen
blade across the mans throat, lying 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 hay
ing satisfied herself that not drop of blood
had stained her dress or hands.
Half an hour after midnight her children re-
turned home. They found their mother seated
by the fire, serenely reading her Bible. They
greeted her atfectionately, and prepared to re-
tire for the night. Mrs. Mowbray said "BOys,
remain behind a little. wish to speak to you.
You, my daughter, can retire"
When she was alone with her children, she
i l.
| have killed a mani You will find his body
fast in the small window of the closet off my
bed room"
Her sons stared at her in amazement They
at first imagined that she must be laborng under
some mental disorder; but when she related to
them plainly and nationally, and in her own
straightforward, terse fashion the story as lust
told, they saw that she was telling them Il sim.
pie fact.
CO." said she, "and make what arrange
ments you please. | will wait here, and you
can tell me what course is best 10 pursue in this
matter"
The sons took the light and went to their
mothers room. They opened the door, and
there, sure enough, was the body Of a man
hanging half through the window. The floor
was pool of blood. With difficulty the eldest
son got near enough TO the body without step
ping into the gore, to raise the head, which was
dropping on the chest, He grasped the hair and
lifted the head so that the light might fall upon
his face. As he did SO, cry of horror esca ped
from all.
Great God! it is our brother George!"
"What do you say?" asked Mrs MOwbray, in
voice horribly calm, from the doorway,
whittier she had followed unperceived. George,
what do you mean2"
The Oldest son dropped his head TO prevent. if
possible, his mother recognizing it, and all of
them cndeavored TO explain their exclamation
and get their mother away from the spot It
was in vain.
'Boys," she said, in her old, well known tone
OF authority, "stand aside and let me see the
face of the murderer have slain"
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 to
the body. She took the candle from the unre-
sisting grasp of her first-born, and with a hand
that trembled not, lifted the head of the dead
man so that the light shone full upon it. She
gazed at it steadily for half minnie, then said.
gently lowering it until it rested upon the breast
again: TITS my boy George"
Mrs. Mowbray was the only one in that house
hold who remainedicalm and emotionless. 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 as quiet as
possible. The inquest was duly held Mrs.
Mowbray was fully eXonerated, and the body
was tenderly prepared for burial. The real
story was known to a few outside the family
and authorities. 1t was believed by them that
George, instead Of going TO Devonshire, had re-
manned lurking In the neighborhood, and had
planned the robbery, and if need be the murder
OF his mother. He knew that she would be
alone on that night, and hat she had 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 for the tomb
no fbo 70 I;,,
the limbs and face which she knew so well, each
Of which had story of youthful daring or folly
connected with it. In due time the funeral took
place. The corpse was laid in the familtyyault.
Only the family and one or two relatives attend
ed Mrs. Mowbray spent the best part of each
day by the side OF her dead son. She showed
externally no signs of emotion. Before the lid
was closed she kissed the forehead and cut off a
lock of his hair.
The day after the burial she gave directions
to her eldest son TO pay all the dead mans
debts, which was done at once so far as known.
Gloom settled over the hall. The wing of the
building in which the tragedy occurred was
closed up, and Mrs. Mowbray removed to Il bed
room up stairs.
On the fifth day after the funeral, post chase
drove up to the door of Harwick hall and from
il stepped George Mowbray, looking better than
he had looked for many a long day before he
left home. The servant, who opened the hall
door started back, and almost dropped with
fright. His EXPLANATIONS caught the ears OF
Mrs Mowbray and her sons, who hastened to be
dumbfounded. George was as much astonished
as any of them, and gazed from one to the other,
perfectly lost in bewildered surprise. There was
no doubt about IT, George MOwbray whom
everybody believed dead and in his grave was
living and before them.
Mother" said George, advancing towards
her, "what is the matter? my return is easily
accounted for. On reaching Tawvale, found
that my uncle's family had been unexpectedly
summoned TO London, as my eldest cousin, Sir
John Gray's wife, was thought to be dying.
took nights repose, and then started home
again, and here am"
Mrs Mowbray walked up TO him, gazed into
his face, aud then without a word, folded him
in passionate embrace. Each of his brothers
graspcd his hands and kissed him, as they were
wont 10 do when he was boy and the pet OF
the family. The old nurse, aroused from hel
MONDAY slumber, embraced and wept over him,
and the servants gathered around with wet eyes
and congratulaiory expressions.
All this time George knew nothing of the true
reason for this singular reception. Soon, how
ever, the mystery was explained 10 him. The
effect upon him cannot be described.
Measures were Immediately taken TO have the
BODY OF the man who had been buried as George
Mowbray disinterred. This was soon done and
as the living George stood beside the dead man
the resemblance was seen to be the most extra
ordinary. The marks on the face and hands
CoTesp0nded with those on Georges, the scar,
on the legs were similar also, and the hair, eve.
brows and finger mails were maryclopsly alike
Who the dead man was, was never aseerteined
After Georges return, however inquiries ,yer,
q 4 nov Il a ~