Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-08-28
A TRAGIC LOVE. STORY.

A TRAGIC LOVE. STORY.
A great deal Of feeling has been created
at Charleston; South Carolina, by thu
suicide of William J. Oxner, aged twenty
two years.. who hailed from Winnsboro'
South Carolina. The Charleston "News'
gives the following narrative of the
| tragedy:
He was in love with young lady Of this
city, the daughter of a well-knoWn citizen.
1t seems that OXner met and was intro
duced to the lady while she was on visit
in Winnsboro' in 1873. AS the acquain-
lance increased Oxner fell violently in love
with her, but being addicted to the use of
strong drink, the young lady gave him no
further encouragement than to urge him
to join the temperance society and quit
drinking, in which event she promised to
receive his letters. This is all that is
known of the affair, except what can be
cleaned from the letters found upon the
person of the deceased. He arrived in the
city a few days ago, but it is not known
where he stayed. He was with a young
Winnsboro', until seven O'Clock Saturday
evening, and then went to see a friend who
lived in King street near Broad street On
Sunday morning, about half past one OF
two O'Clock. the father of the young lady,
who resides in Queen street, found Oxner
(yxh ho nth nn1rA 11Tip no of
form leading into the piazza of his resi-
dence. He thought he was drunk, shook
him, ard told him not to go to sleep there.
About three O'Clock he heard a noise, and
on going down found Oxner still lying
there, and thinking then that he was sick,
sent his son to the guardhouse for the hos
pital wagon. The policeman, who arrived
upon the scene soon after, found OXner
lying down
REGULARLY LAID OUT.
with handkerchief spread over his face, q
copper over each eye, and two empty Walls
labelled ''laudanum" lying by his side
One was an ounce and one a half-ounce
vial. He was put in wagon and carried
to the guard-house, still alive, but in AL
condition. DR.. Bailey was sent
for, and d stomach-pump not being at
hand, used the remedies usual i'll such
cases. OXner was walked up and down
for about an hour, but he was too
far gone to recover, and at the end OF that
time breathed his last.
A PREMEDITATED ACT.
The only evidence relative to the mo-
tives which prompted the act is that which
was found in the letters on the person of
the deceased. Pinned to his coat was an
envelope addressed to Miss ---, Queen
street, Charleston, S. G. On one side Of
this envelope, written in blue ink, were
the following words:
I DIE TONIGHT.
Must / call you my darling | love you.
If | would live one thousand years | could
never love anybody else but you. Take
my ring off my finger, and have willie
cut in it, and wear it for my sake. Good
Aiken, at w. P. O.
On the other side of the envelope was
written in the same ink:
Be sure and bury me by little Florence.
Tell Miss Ella i looked for her at Dollo.-
If you love me you will kiss me when | am
dead. Yours, WILLIE.
The following were the contents of the
letter enclosed i'll the envelope:
AUGUST IS, 1874.
Ify Darling-Good-bye / am going to
die tonight. The OILY fault | have is
drinking. [ have tried hard to stop it, but
| do not think [ can. When / die [ will
die thinking of my darling. Kiss me after
my finger to remember Willie. sGood-bye,
my darling. an now yours.
Bury me by little Florence.
In the sime envelope were several verses
cut from newspapers, and picture of the
lady, on which was written in blue ink:
Sweet -: Bury me by the side of little
Florence i never loved but one, and [
loved - I am dying for her Tonight
Goodbye, my darling. WILLIE.
Enclosed in this was the following letter
from the lady;
Mr.. Oxner-It is impossible for me to
come and see you before I go away. I
hope by the time | return you will be en-
tirely recovered. [ leave very early in the
If we never meet again On
earth, [ hope we will meet in heaven. Will
lie, l beg you to leave liquor alone. I
know you will grant my request. You
have made me feel miserable, but, if L on
ly know you will keep from drinking Ii
quor, [ will be happy once more. Hoping
you will soon be well, is the wish of your
true friend. -.
Show this note to ne one.
In his pocket, among a lot of miscellane'
GUS correspondence, was found a letter adj
dressed to John W. Aiken, Esq, S. and A.
Telegraph Rompany, Winnsboro', S. c.,
which had evidently been stamped, and
was intended to be mailed to its address,
This letter was opened by the coroner,
and WAS found to contain the following
letter
ner at the appointed hour. | am quite sur
prised to know that you are in the city.
Yours, In haste, -.
August IA.
And also the following note, which was
endorsed in pencil, in the deceased's hand
writing, s'From Darling -, June
18th, 1912:
Mr.. Oxner-Come! 1 will be happy to
see you.
The following is a copy of the letter en-
closed to Mr.. Aiken:
CHARLESTON, August Is, 1874.
jack am going to kill myself to-
night. l can't stop drinking. [ hope to 90
to Heaven. | will die tonight. Ask
--and- --- to stop if they
can. | will try and die as happy as posi-
tIn naNp1 loved hnt ono 1unn1nn, oxcn,At