The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-04

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or North Carolina.
HILIsBoROUGH, N. c., July l, 1873.
One of the saddest and most startling cases OF
female suicide, caused by remorse, that ever &C.
CURED in Orange county took place on Sunday
morning last, not more than four miles from this
ancient town. the county seat.
SAD SURROUNDINGS AND FATAL FACT.
At that point lived Mrs. Maria Murray, an &C
complished handsome and wealthy young widow,
whose husband, william Murray, died Of consump-
ton about two years ago. Previous to his demise
Mr.. Murray had employed as a sort OF overseer, or
"cropper," as they are termed here, man of low
associations and former desperate character,
named White, who was married, and who
resided on the premises, In one Of the outhouses.
After the death OF her husband Mrs. Murray
continued to employ White in the same capacity.
and the latter became assiduous and very atten-
tive to the young widow and her three small chill
dren. Gradually an intimacy sprang up between
Mrs. Murray and White, which, in less than year
from her husbands death, became 30 notorious as
to occasion some
"sCAN MAG" GOSSIP
among the neighbors, and this reaching the
widows ears she directed White to build another
house for himself at a distant point on the panta
ton, so as to remove any suspicious that might be
entertained on account o! his immediate presence
on the premises. This VIII lite did, but the intl-
macy between him and the charming widow con-
tinued, his visits being conducted clandestinely,
but with more regularity and frequency than ever
In fact, the removal OF Whites residence rather
served to afford more and better opportunities to
carry on their illicit intercourse. Matters had pro-
crossed IN this way for some time, when rumors OF
her husbands uniaithfulness and Mrs. Murray's In
timacy with him reached the ears OF Mrs. White,
and
FLAME OF JEALOUSY WAS KINDLED
in the mind OF that lady, who besides being low
bred and ignorant, Is virago and termagant OF
the most approved order. Her tongue set going
once the scandal soon became widespread IN con
sequence of which the aristocratic young widow
experienced the deepest modification. This feel
ng anS r 70 Oh IN
marched to the house of Mrs. White and threat
using her name in such a scandalous connection
with her mrs. white's) husband. But the
widow iOuHd she ,.,ana h her
inundated, flung back in the widows teeth
all the charges she had previously made
dared her TO put her threats into execution. Com
pletely nonplussed and backed down, the widow
to ste
ter the illicit relation Of the widow and White,
which before was only mere rumor, became an
established fact, and the deepest regrets were ex
pressed upon all sides that lady OF such high
social standing, so young, beautiful and accom-
plished, should fall a victim to the wiles Of SO de-
graded and disreputable a character as White.
TIE SEQUEL
and crushing consequences, however. OF her down
fail were yet to come. Some two weeks SINCE and
about two months after the scene with Mrs. White,
it became learlully apparent to the unfortunate
widow and her paramour that she
WAS PREGNANT,
and this SO alarmed them that they were driven
almost to their wits end to devise some means by
which the evidence OF their guilt could be con-
cealed. Look which way they would there was no
escape from the prying eyes and talking tongues
OF their inqulslve neighbOrs, and at last, In sheer
desperation, they decided upon the horrible plan
Of producing an abortion. thus adding an Infamous
crime to their previous guilt. White at once pro-
".
the expected result being achieved, they were so
far successful But the end was not yet reached
From that moment the fallen young widow became
apprehensive OF exposure, arrest and imprlson-
ment and the victim OF the most
POIGNANT REAORsE.
SO terrible were the stngs of conscience that she
made frequent attempts to take her own life, and
she had TO be constantly and closely watched. In
the meantime White fled the country for he would
most assuredy have been shot by some in dignant
relative Of Mrs. Murray's had he remained. This
made her more wretched and fearful still. She
first tried !audanum to put an end to her exist
ence, but was detectedby a brother-n-law In time
to save her. The same relative folled her in an At
tempt to cut her throat, and a third time she was
caught in the act Of trying to hang herself 1t was
now absolutely necessary that some one should be
maintained over ner. On the night OF Satur-
day last she retired with Mrs. Brown.
neigh nD both occupying the ,no. same
Mrs. Brown awoke and missed Mrs. Murray. She
at once gave the alarm and, light been procured,
looking everywhere else they at last went up
stairs to garrett where, hOrror-stricken, they be-
held the body OF Mrs. Murray
SUSPENDED BY HANK OF YARN
from a hook in the wall. II she had been cut down
at once she might, in all probability, have been re-
suscitated; but the terrified inmates ran for the
neignbors, and before assistance arrived life was
extinct She had stood one foot upon chair, the
other on a box, and when she had fastened the
yarn to the hook and around her neck she dropped
between the chair and box.
This is q most melancholy event, and it creates
the deepest and most heartfelt regret throughout
the entire county. An inquest was held yesterday,
but owing to circumstances not made public yet,
II adjourned TO meet on the 5th OF July.