Connecticut western news., 1872-10-25
A MARVELLOUS EVENT.


 lived in 1928 at HarwiQk Hall in the coun- ty Durham, England. Mrs. Mowbray was tall, powerful woman of great ener- gy and bravery, in her fifty-fourth year. Her sons were aged respectively thirty 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 dissiratcd, and had given bis mother much trouble. He was deeply 'n debt, and had been repeatedly threatened with arrest. Mrs. Mowbray was wealthy, and kept in her bedroom, besides quantity of valuable plate, large sun of money.
 On Christmas eve Mrs. Mowbray's sons and daughters -in-law paid visit to the residence of relative, MT. Chaker, of Chatersburg. The domestics, relieved from duty, were in their own portion of tho dwelling, enjoying the festivities of the season. The watchman, who was ordi- narily 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 small gathering of friends and neighbors, and Mrs. Mowbray began to consider the necessary arrangements. She would re- quire tho old punch bow, ,and the ladies and goblets which she kept in the closet of her bedroom. She went accordingly 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 large old-fashioned carving knife and fork of quaint pattern, and de- posted them on the shelf. She then re- turned to tho parlor. After sitting and musing for some time, she took up the Bible and fumbled for her spectacles. She could not find them, and at length remem- bered that she had left them on the shelf in the closet. She at once returned for them. Entering her bedroom, she placed the candle on the dressing table, and light ed a small lamp, with which shc 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 anG saw right before her the face of man. She was brave, resolute woman. She advanced step, and observed that a mans head, arms and body were through the small window at the end, as though in the act of wriggling himself through the open. ing. In the mans right hand was pistol, and his loft hand had hold of shelf which ran along the side of the closet. The mar raised the pistol and fired. Mrs. Now. bray in an instant seized the huge carving knife which lay on the shelf, and advanced toward the ruffian. He was struggling tc withdraw himself from the window. Hi: hands were on the sill, and his head some. what raised, leaving hls neck exposed.
 Being unable to work himself out O the aperture, he raised the pistol as thougl to hurl it at Mrs. Mowbray. The cour ageous old lady made one step forward and dashed the keen blade across the man! throat, laying it open from ear to ear She then calmly retired, closed the close door, blew out the lamp, and taking ul | her candle returned to tho parlor, frs having satisfied herself that not drop o blood had stained her dress or hands.
 Halfan hour after midnight her childrel returned home. They found their mothe seated by the fire, sercnely reading th Bible. They greeted her affectionately and prepar ed to retire for the night. Mrs Mowbray said, "Boys, remain behind little. I wish to speak to you. You, m, daughters, can retire."
 When she was alone with her children she said. with dignity and calmness, "M children, I have killed man. You vii find his body fast in the small window c the closet offmy bedroom"
 Il Her sons stared at her in amazement They at first imagined that she must b laborng under some mental disorder; bu when she related to them, plainly an rationally, and in her own straightforward terse fashion, the story as just told, the saw that she was telling them a simpl act.
 "Go," she said, "make what arrange mcnts you please. I will wait here, an you can tell mo what course is best t pursue in this matter.''
 The sons took the light and went t their mothers room. They opened tn door, and there, sure enough, was the bod of man hanging half through the window The floor was a pool of blood. Wit difficulty the oldest son got near enoug to the body without stepping into tn gore to raise the head, which was droopin on the chest. He grasped the hair an lifted the head so that the light might ia upon the face. As he did 50, cry ( horror escaped them all.
 "Great God it is our brother George.
 "What did you say ?" asked Mir. Nov bray, in voice horribly calm, from tn doorway. whither shc had followed unprt ceivcd. "George! What do you mean? The oldest son dropped tho head to prt - vent. if possible, his mother recognizing i and all of them cndeavored to explai t their exclamation, and get their motht away from the spot. It was Tn vain.
 Boys" she said, in her old, well-know tone of authority, "stand aside and l, me see the face of the villain have slain
 With that she put her sons aside though they were mere lads, and wake through the slippery gore that lay ups the floor up to the body. She took q |. candle from the unresistlng grasp of h