The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-02-01
LOVELY WOMAN.

Woman, Goods best gift to man" has sof
late asserted her individuality in the role of
crime, land the cause Of crime, in marvellous
degree. First, and sensational at the time,
was the killing of Col. Crittenden by Mrs. Lau-
| ra D. Fair, in San Francisco. She is now
under sentence Of death. Next is Mrs. Ruth,
in Kansas, imprisoned, and awaiting trial for
the poisoning of her husband, in conjunction
with DR.. MondIicott, who is under sentence
Of death. We know something about Mrs.
Ruth. She was Mrs Voulare, Of St. Lou
| is, her husband prominent lawyer Her
| intimacy with Ruth, caused separation and
| divorce from her first husband, not before,
however, he had been shot with a pistol ball
through his body by Ruth, with pistol
handed him by the woman. She afterwards
I married Ruth, and then was an accomplice in
his "taking off" She is highly educated,
beautiful and accomplished.
| Next is Mrs. Wilson, of Newark, N. j.,
who was the cause of Geo. Bolts killing Gen
0. S. Hastead, for which Bolts was hung on
Friday last.
Then comes Helen Josephine Mansfield,
about whom the difference first originated
that caused Stokes to shoot aad kill Jim
| Fisk. Stokes trial has not come off yet.
Mrs. DR.. Burleigh, or Miss Pagan, attracts
the public attention, by shooting with intent
to kill, a Mr.. Thompson, and actually killing
Mr.. Hall, on Utica street carl
AS sensation, connected with the charge
Of horrid crime, in which lady of accom-
plishments and high social position, is. the
central figure, the trial of Mrs. Wharton, for
the alleged poisoning Of Gen. Ketchum, looms
up. This is one Of the most remarkable
cases on record, which has been the means of
throwing more light, or rather darkness, on
chemical science than all other agenc ies of the
10Th century Science, thus obscured, and
contradictory, was the means Of the lady s ac-
quittal of the fearful charge
Mrs. Fannie Hyde, beautiful English
woman, several years in this country, next
appears on the tragic stage. She was employ
ed 10 the cotton factory Of Mr. Watson, a
wealthy manufacturer Of Williamsburgh, n
Y. She had been recently married Previ-
Gus to that event, Watson had taken liberties
with har. His advances to her of late had
been exceedingly annoying, and Watson had
been forbidden the house Of the Hydes by
the husband aud wife. At the factory, on
Friday last, he repeated his familiarity, when
she drew a pistol and shot him dead. Watson
was married man, and his family lived in
luxurious ease in Connecticut, while he play
ed che gay Lothario in New York. Mrs
Hyde is in prison, and her counsel say the
Developments will shog that she has de-
feasible case.
These are some Of the more prominent
cases, now fresh in the public mind, where
woman has developed the haroies.
The petition Of IS 600 women to Congress
for the right Of suffrage, isprobably the grand
est stride yet taken. in condensed form, for
the assertion by the "weaker vessels" for
"eqaality before the law" Ben Butler is
hopeful, notwithstanding the ungaIlant rebuff
received by the petitioners from the Senate
Judiciary Committee, that the privilege Of
voting and holding Office viii be granted, if
not this year, then the next.
i The female sex is certainly progressive, es
: pecially north of " ason and Dixon's line