New Orleans Republican., 1872-10-04

IS EAE@ OAAEs1hA9"
From the New York Her ald.I
IL the early part Of the year 1862 young
:southern girl named Maud Virginia Carrie
tan, member of one Of the most respecta
DIE EasniIies of New Orleans, was entered al
d. puPit in st. Xavier's Academy, Wabasl
avenue, Chicago, an institution under tbs
care Ut the Sisters Of Mercy. The same
wing lady died last Saturday, at BaYOnne
Msw Jersey, under very melancholy Cir
azlYnstances, and her history in the years
that interviewed from her entrance as
vupl in the Academy until her sad end is
as romantic and unfortunate as can well be
imagined The narrative has been procured
FROM the police authorities of BayOnne, who
have since Saturday been investigating the
circumstances Of the lady's death, their sus-
picIons having been aroused that all was
not right.
when Miss Carleton first came to Chi,
cago she was just twelve years old and IN
the first flush of her early girlhood. She
vas at that time happy, careless child,
but with every indication that she would,
as The years rolled on ripen into a beauti-
full and accomplished woman. Her wealth
of golden locks and clear hazel eyes were
@he envy of all her companions, while the
aTuiability Of her manners and the sweet
ness Of her disposition had won the love
and affection Of her teachers. This was
EhCrtIy after the commencement Of the
civil wal, and her relatives, who were re-
ported to be extremely wealthy, had sent
her North to be educated, the unhappy pre-
Eudises which have since prevailed between
North and South having not sufficient
strength at that time to prevent the South
eEn. .aristocracy from sending their sons and
daughters to the seats of learning in the
North TO acquire first class education.
Time passed away, and the promise of
Miss Carleton's girlhood was more than
fulfilled. She had become a beautiful
woman, and at seventeen years of age was
tho acknowledged belle of an institution by
nc means deficient in female beauty. In
1867, SO high was her character, and SO
unanimous was the esteem in which she
WAS held by the Sisters, that the following
testimonial found among her papers after
deathy was presented TO her:
Gard of merit presented to Miss Maud
Virginia Carleton, for politeness, lady-like
department., Improvement in study, and OBJ
seFvance Of rules.
st. Xavier's Academy, under the direc-
tl1n of the Sisters of Mercy.
Christmas vacation, 1867.
There are three great periods in woman's
GFe--har education, her wOOiDg, and her
marriage. The first Miss Carleton had hap
uiIy passed with credit to herself and her
teacbera, but the second was as yet to her
an untrOdden path With her beauty and
her warm Southern blood, however, it could
net long remain mystery, and, like most
Young ladies, she met her ideal in the per
8en of a man named Frederick W. Michel
SON. and fulfilled her destiny by falling
a1adIy in love with him-a feeling which
was cordially reciprocated on his part
Nicholson who was a German Jew, had
handsome face and pleasing address, and
was no laggard in his wooing as the
uair managed to have many a stolen
interview, "all the sweeter for the theft"
despite the vigilance of the Sisters, who
were not in the habit of giving much en-
eoUEagement to the love affairs of young
ladies not out of THERE steens 1t may be
well to state that in the confusion of the
war and in the subsequent visitation of the |
yellow fever in New Orleans, Miss Carleton
lGst her parents, and she was therefore her
own mistress, free to WOO or wed whom she |
chose, when she would leave the academy.
In 1863 she married Nicholson, being nine
teen years of age, and this was the first
step irFthe downward path which led her
to her unfortunate life and her untimely
and tragic death on Saturday.
Before marriage men are all amiable and |
women angels; after marriage the reverse |
frequently proves to be the case. 1t was SO |
with Mr.. and Mrs. Nicholson. Whether |
from ineompatibility of temper or some |
other cause, the hot love soon cooled, and |
instead of happiness the pair found misery |
IL
guarrels between the two became frequen |
and four months after the marriage Michel-
Sgn. who had been driven by desperation |
I0 commit an act of dishonesty, blew his |
brains out, and left Miss Carleton widow |
almost before she had known what it was |
to be a wife. Her grief for her sudden loss |
vaas not very profound, and, after realizing |
#I3gG from the sale of her husbands effects,
she came to New York. Nicholson had his
i18 assured for $4,000, but the company re-
fused TO pay the amount, alleging that the
suiGide was not the result of insanity. Be
Elre leaving Chicago his widow instituted
to recover the money, but up
ta the period of her death the matter had
.aat been settled, She was, however, in com
LBEta4lle circumstances, as she had means
unlimited from her relatiyesin in New Orleans,
in addition to the $780,
When she came to New York about two
PEARS ago, she led for a time q gay and
1zcrrY life, and seemed to have completely
Forgotten the bright promise of her girlhood
sBd the happy future which che might work
rat for herself. Her beauty, flashing dia-
nonds, and reputed wealth, soon brought
Ter hosts Of friends. among them one gen
leHan, Thomas 7. Wight, clerk in
Broad street firm. Wight, who seemt d
o have some slight knowledge of her pre-
7iOasly, paid her marked attention, accom-
Iamied her to the theatre and took her OF !
or drives in the park. The remainder t !
he story ie given on the authority of CHI {
f Police Whitney, of Bergen Point. 7
esIlt of the affair with Wight was an u . =
awful connection, and the pair took room s
n East Eleventh street, and, it is reporte
iVed together as man and wife. After a
fme Mrs Michels0n's health commenced t
0 fail, and she had recourse to the advice E
E Dr. Gillett, who perceived that she had '
Ike most women who f0rsake the paths Of
frtue and lead an unsteady life, acquired I
fs seeds of pulmonary consumption. The \
gmptoms however, were not serious, and l
luae slight remedies were prescribed.
She still continued TO have plenty of !
anev. which she spent freely, according
the statement of the servant girl who 4
as with her when she died, she having for l
luIe time past paid the expenses of the
About three months ago she
alled on DIR. Gillett, and complained of =
sing very i'll. When the doctor examined
CT he found she was far gone in consump-
on, and he told her that nothing but ex- ,,
.eme care would preserve her life. He
change of air and an alb
sHee from the city, and, in consequence,
Tight went TO Bayonne, bought a lot with
Iaud's money! and erected d cottage. the
VT Of which has not yet been paid. Mrs.
ichelson continued to decline rapidly. OF
ad notwithstanding all that science could
, for her she died on Saturday morning.
10 wore on her fingers at the time of her II
sath diamond ring, valued at $1,000, and\ I
costly pearl ring. al
When Wight returned from the city be I,
ok the rings from hefsfingers, and telling al
20 servant he was going to New York to 81
AXE arrangements for the funeral, and u
at he would be back in the evening, he a
f. He did not return that night nor the d.