Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-10-31
4 M1Avn,Uus EVENT.

4 M6AvEEUUs EVENT.
- Jsnet Mouhsay aad her ssur sons
Nvsd IN 1923 g Haruick Hsn. IN the
essnay Drhan. England. Alrs. New
cssy ~ tall. powerful vsmau q grsa,
esssgy .and bsasssy. h hes Ghy-lSurth
9eas. Her sons vefs aged respectively
1niFty-tesr. twenty-seven. twsuty-iour. and
= sS1y;Saf: Her hssbasd had been desd
Ian GRyVys--.sn snsz1see sssg vesa
married. and theissNlvss and fa~iliesl lived
with her. The youngest, George, was
Wild and dissipated. srd had given his
mother much trouble. He was deeply 10
debt. and had been repeatedly threatened
with arrest. Mrs. Mowbray was wealthy,
and kept in her bedroom, besides a guam
tity Of valuable plate. large sum OF mo-
ney.
On Christmas eve Mrs. Morbray's sous
and daughtsrs-in-law paid . visit to the
residence Of q realtive, Mr. Chakcr, Of
Cha.ersburg. The domestics, relieved
from duty. were in their own portion Of
the dwelling. enjoying the festivities Of
the season. The watchman, who was or
dinarily 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 the old punch bowl. and the ladies'
and goblets which she kept in the closet
Of her 6sarcom. She went accordingly
and entered Che 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.kuife and scrk Of . quaint pattern.
and deposited them on the shelf. She
then returned to the parlor. After sitting
and riusing some time, she took M the
Bible and fumbled for her spectacles-
She could not find them. and at length re-
membered 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-t table. and light
ed small lamp. with which she entered
the closet.
As she took The first step inside the clos
ct, she heard the sound a. of some one
breathing heavily. She looked up and
saw right before her the face Of a man. -
She was brave. resolute woman. She
advanced 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 tie OPEN
ing. In the mans right hand was pistol,
and his left hand had hold of shelf which
ran along The side Of the closet. The man
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 rufaan: He was struggling to
withdraw himself from the window. His
hands were on the sill. and his head some
what raised, leaving his neck exposed.
Being unable to work himself out of the
aperture. he raised the PISTOL ss though
to hurl it at Mrs. Nowbray. The eur
ageous 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 mp
her candle returned to the parlor, first
having satisfied herself that not drop Of
blood had stained het dress or hands.
Half an hour after midnight her chil.
dren returned home. They found their
mother seated By the Ere. sercns1y reading
the Bible. They greeted her afeeticnately ,,
and prepared to retire for the night. Mrs.
Mowbray said, "Boys. remain behind .
little. I s!sh to speak I, you. You. my
daughters, can retire"
When she was alone with her children,
she said. with dignity and calmncss, "My
children. I have killed man. You will
end his body fast in the small window o,
the closet Of my bedroom"
Her sons stared at her iu amasement.-
They d first imagined that she must be
laboring under some mental disorder; but
when she related to them, plsiniy and ra.
tionally. and in her own Straightforward
terse fashion, the story - Just told, thcy
saw that she was telling them . simple
fact,
&C.," she said, "maks what arrange.
ments You please. / will wait here, and
you can tell me what course is best to pur.
sue in this matter"
4 The sons took tho light and went tc
.ssf .-HCtaas.: !scm. They crened the
door. and there, sure enough. Vas the body
Of man hanging half through the win
dov. The foor was . pool Of blood
With difficulty the Oldest Son got neal
enough TO the body without stepping into
the gore 10 rsise the head. which Val
dropping on the chest. He grasped the
hair and lifted the head 30 that the ligh,
might fall upon the face. As he did 80,
. cry Of horror escaped them all.
"Great God il Is our brother George
i "What did you say Z" asked Mrs. Nov
bray. in . voice horribly calm. from th,
doorway, whittier she had followed unper
eeivcd. George! What do you mcanr
| The oldest son dropped the head to pre-
sent. II possible. his mother recoguisin,
il. and Ill of them endcavored 10 explail
their e1clanatio6. and get their mothel
! away from the spot. Il vas in vain
boys" she said, in her old, wel.- -knowl
tone Of authority. "stand sside and le
he see the face q the william I have sla!n.
! With that she put her sons aside I
. though they ~ere mere lsds. snd talke,
through the slippery gore that lay upo,
; The door up to the body. She took th
, candle ffon the unresisting grasp Of he
J frss-born. and. with hand tha, tremble,
! mot. lifted the head Of the dead man =
: thsa IL light shsne full upon Il. Sh
, gsassa q il steadily for half minute, the
> said. gently lowering il, until il resss
.yea ths breast again, ITS my bc
Georee."