Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-03-01
A MAR TELOUS EVENT.

Il VI II IL ELOCO II IIAN l..
Mrs. Jane Mowbray and her four sons
lived in 1928 at Harwich Hall, in the
county of Durham, England. Mrs.
Mowbray was tall, powerful woman, of
great energy and bravery, in her fifty
fourth year. Her sons were aged, re-
spectivcly, thirty-four, twenty-seven,
twenty-four and twenty-one. Fer hus-
band had been dead many years. Her
two eldest sons were married, and their
wives and families lived with her. The
youngest, George, was wild and dis
sipated, and had given his mother much
trouble. He was deeply in debt, and
had been repeatedly threatened with
arrest. Mrs. Mowbray was wealthy, and
kept in her bedroom, besides quantity
of valuable plate, large sum of money.
On Christmas eve, Mrs. Mowbray's s
sons and daughters-in-law paid visit to
the residence of relative, Mr. Chakcr,
of Chakersburg. The domestics, relieved
from duty, were III their own portion of
the dwelling, enjoying the festivities of
the season. The watchman, who was
ordinarily on duty in the kitchen garden,
took hasty survey of his beat, and
joined the jewellers in the kitchen.
On Christmas night they were to have
small gathering of friends and neigh
bors, and Mrs. Mowbray began to con-
slider the necessary arrangements She
would require the old punch bowl, and
the ladies and goblets which she kept in
the closet of her bedroom. She went
accordingly and entered the closet and
took out the silver, and laid it on the
shelf, ready for removal the next morn
ing. At the same time she took out a
large old-fashioned carving-knife and
fork Of quaint pattern, and deposited
them on the shelf. She then returned to
the parlor. After sitting and musing for
some time, she took up the Bible and
fumbled for her spectacles. She could
not find them, and at length remembered
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 table, and lighted
a small lamp, with which she entered
the closet.
AS she took the first step inside the
closet, she heard the sound as of some
one breathing heavily. She looked up
and saw right before her the face of a
man. She was a brave, resolute woman.
She advanced a step, and observed that
mans head, arms and body We're
through the small window at the end, as
though in the act of wriggling himself
through the opening. In the mans
right hand was pistol, and his left
hand had hold of a shelf which ran along
the side of the closet. The man raised
the pistol and fired. Mrs. .Mowbray in
an instant seized the huge carving-knife
which lay on the shelf, and advanced to-
ward the ruffian. He was struggling to
withdraw himself from the window. His
hands were on the sill, and his head
somewhat raised, leaving his neck ex-
posed.
being unable to work himself out of
the aperture, he raised the pistol as
though to hurl it at Mrs. Mowbray.
The courageous old lady made one step
forward, and dashed the keen blade
across the mans throat, laying it open
from ear Dear. She then calmly retired,
closed the closet door, blew out the lamp,
and taking up the candle, returned to
the parlor, first having satisfied herself
that not drop of blood had stained hel
dress or hands.
Half an hour after midnight, her chill
dren returned home. They found theil
mother seated by the fire, serenely read
ing the Bible. They greeted her affec
tionately, and prepared to retire for the
night. Mrs. Mowbray said, "Boys, re-
main behind little. wish to speak te
you. You, my daughters, can retire."
When she was alone with her children
she said, with dignity and calmness
=" My children, have kill man. You
will find his body fast in the small win
dow OF the closet of my bedroom"
Her sons stared at her in amazement
They at first imagined that she must bt
laboring under some mental disorder
but when she related to them, plainl,
and nationally, and in her own straight
forward, terse fasion, the story as jus
told, they saw she was telling them
simple fact.