Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-01-24
Lovers Troubles in Cumberland, Hid.

vet tried at the present term OF court was that
If John s Coleman. indicted for assault, with
intent to kill Miss Orpha Miller, his torncr
hetrothed. The parties were neighbors' Ghil-
dren. and first cousins to each other. They
had from these causes been on terms OF lntl-
macy from childhood, and Il mutual affection
snr,ibg IN which led 10 their engagement IN
November of 1872 They were to dc married
on the Dist and every preparation had been
made to celebrate the happy event, but on the
18th Coleman met with au accident on the rail-
road which crushed a foot and ankle and Grip.
plcd him for life Because OF this accident
THE MARRIAGE DID NOT TAHE PLACE.
at the appointed time. and although the Gu
gagement continued nearly nine months, The
two became cstrangcd; their betrothal was de-
clarca at an end by Miss Miller, who was deep
IL offended ut reported remarks made. and she
commenced receiving the attentions of other
sritors, among the number Mr.; Clarke. At
this Colemau's love for the girl, which had
been partly smother d by their disagrccmcnts,
was rckindlcd, and his jea ousy was cxcl!ed 10
a high pitch. He even threatened to kill his
apparently successful rival.
A MEETING IN THE WOODS.
On the morning of Monday, August &c, last,
he met Miss Miller Iii Il path IN the wo"ds
about a half mile from her home, as she was
puing 10 ncirhbur's. He asked her to sit
down and talk to him. Which she did; tile IN
tcrycw lasted SIX hours, and was no doubt one
of those repctc with reproaches, explanations
and frrpivings that many have experienced
and the modern novelist delights to sketch.
But whcnit came to proposition from Coleman
for 4 re-cngagcmcnt, Miss Orpha promptly IL
icctcd it and was firm in her refusal.
ARGUMENT OF THE REVOLVER.
Finding his case apparently hopeless hi pro
dued revolver, and asked her 10 shoot hn
or he would shoot her. She replied that she
would not do anything Of the kind, when he
aimed the revolver Il! her. As she turned to
look away the weapon was discharged, the bail
entering near the ccDtrc of The breast. h1l!ct,
Ing very dangerous but not necessarily fatal
wound. She fell to the ground, when Coleman
started off and went home hiding the pistol
on the way under some bushes Miss Miller
law there about three hours, when she Suttl-
GENTLY revived to get upon her feet and man,
| aged to walk, though very slowly, about hall
the distance to her home, then meeting Il neigh
Dor farmer, who assisted her The remainder Of
the way.
HER CONDITION WAS CRITICAL
for several days. but strong constitution sue
cesstuliy stood The shock, and she recovered.
The bullet, however, has never been extracted.
Before her 6naI recovery and prior To the sit
ting of the October court the parties, strange
| to state, again became reconclEcd although she
again refused Colcman's offers to marry. 1t
| was proved upon the trial that Miss Miller had
rcpeatcdy SAID she believed the shooting to
have been accidental and this. with the recon
citation of the two and the previous good char
acter OF Coleman for peace and quiet, had con-
siderable weight with the jury. Coleman $
conduct in leaving her immediately alter the
shooting was excused on the idea that he
BELIEVED HER TO BE DEAD,
and being naturally weak minded he CONCLUDED
his only safety was in flight from the spot and
denial Of any knowledge OF the affair.
The defense set up was purely accidental
for the purpose of trying to effect change in
her resolution, when it was accidentally dis
charged. Hou Henry W. Hoffman made a
very able and earnest appeal to the jury, where
| by he no doubt increased the sympathy they
already felt for the aged mother of the accused,
whose heart was nearly broken by the loss OF
| three sous during the war, and now wounded
afresh by this terrible accusation against anoth-
CT Mr. HUffnan's eoqucnce was effective,
and many in the courtroom were viSlbIy Affect
ed by it. The jury were out three hours and
ahalf When they brought in 4 verdict OF Not
guilty.
CONGRESS-. In the United States Senate,
yesterday, Mr.. Thurman presented memorial,
signed by leading men Of the District of Co.
lumbia, complaining of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in
the District Government, particularly III the
action of the Board of Public Works. Mr..
Thurman gave notice that he would move for
select committee OF investigation as soon as
the charges were sustained by testimony, which
| would soon be produced. Iu view Of the grave
nature of some of the charges, a strict investl-
CATION OF the affairs Of the District Government
would not be out Of place. The bill for the
protection of the public works at the mouth OF
the Mississippi was taken up, discussed to some
extent aud fually rccommiltcd. The finance
question was then taken up aud discussed by
| MIR. Stewart in opposition to initiation. The
annual Postroute bill was taken up, amended
and passed; and also a bill to provide for the
payment Of the bonds Of The Louisville and
Portland Canal. MIR. Frclinghuysen introduce
ed bill to facilitate the distribution of public
documents, providing that the postage on no
| single public document shall exceed twenty live
cents, and that they may be exempt from the
requirement of prepayment of postage when
seut by members Of Congress Or Heads of De-
partmcnts.
In the House of Representatives, the West
Virginia contested clcctian cases were discuss
ed without any action being taken. Mr.. Co
burn, Of Indiana, from the Committee on Mill
| tary Affairs, offered Il resolution providing that
Court of Inquiry, consisting of five officers to
be appointed by the President, be convened to
investigate the charges against General How
ard, the committee to report upon moral as
we'll as technical and legal responsibility" for
any offences that may be discovered. The re-
solution was ordered to be priutcI and recon-
mittcd.
CASES OF INSANITY On Wednesday after
noon VIM. L. Cave, steady aud respectable
young man of this city, whose mind had be-
come dsordered Oh the subject Of religion, hay