The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-02-22
A Bride IN
Richmond, Va, Feb. 81 Dispatch to the Ne
York Herald

tASANAhloho' N"', NSb." NiSF"tNA Nv
York Herald.l
l am in receipt of a dispatch from
Fayette County, West Virginia, which
states that a most shocking outrage and
terrible tragedy occurred in the neigh
bOrhood Of Mountain Cave, in that
county, a few nights since. Nearly
eighteen months ago the people Of the
same county were shocked by a fatal
affray, which took place neal the same
locality, between two citizens, named
John O'Cole1nan and Madison Neab in
which the latter was killed. 1t is I'M
fortunately my duty now to record the
murder of q sister Of Madison Neal, not
more than one-half mile from the spot
where her brother was sent, without
warning, to IN untimely grave.
1t appears that the lady, who was a
bQXOm and charming mountain maid,
was wOoed land won by a Mr.. Potter, a
! very respectable, industrious, and wOr-
the day set apart for the wedding, and
the twain were united i'll the holy bonds
of wedlOck. But, then, the course OF
true love does not always run smooth,
| and so it was with the newly-married
couple.
The marriage was celebrated with
all the usual ceremony and festivity.
The neighbors ate and drank land
danced to their hearts content until
| midnight, when the welded two were
left to retire. They had scarcely re-
tired, when they were disturbed by the
hideous sounds of a charirGri that were
| waited towards them by Il breeze SO
still that it scarcely disturbed the float
ing white mountain mists. AS the
serenading party neared the residence
of the married pair the dlscOrdant
sounds of blowing horns and the beat
ing of tin-pan tambOurines were OcCa-
siOnally interrupted by the more shrill,
| sharp, and OminOus crack OF .muskets,
! shOtguns and rifles. Soon the party
| arrived at the house, and then the noise
of their horrible instruments, coupled
| with the intermittent discharges of the
| firearms, produced d most alarming
| effect upon the bride and bridegroom,
1t was found that the screnaders num-
bered eight pesOns so disguised, how
| ever, that they could not 10 recognized
| from any point of observation in the
house. Just at this ju%ncture it Oc-
| cured to the bride, who, fearing thai
| their intention might he more hostile
than complimentary, to ask the party
in to take some refreshments, and thus
apDease any animOsity they might en-,
tertain. , She accordly advanced to the
door, accompanied by her step-daugh.
ter, and opening it, she stood on the
threshold with a lighted candle in he1
hand. Almost simultaneously with hen
appearance there was a vOlley free
from four guns at her, the contents Of
one striking the doOr-post, glancina
and entering the BRIDES. Mrs. POtter's,
ear, and lodging in the centre of thu
brain. With d shrek and a cry Of
agony the unfortunate bride of a few
hours fell to the ground, from which
she was shortly afterward removed BY
her husband and to the wedding bed
The Villains who perpetrated thi!
cowardly and barbarOus outrage dis
appeared in the darkness, but in a more
sudden manner than that in which the.
came. Mrs. Potter, after suffering tht
most excruciating agony, expired two
days after the outrage occurred. 4
physician who was called probed the
wound, and gave it as his opinion tina
Mrs. Potter's death was caused by
hard tow wad discharged from a gun
in the hands of the serenading party
1t is gratifying to announce that tn
parties have been arrested, and three
of them were committed to the Jail O.
Fayette County for trial.