Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-01-09
s SHEPHERDSTOWN JEFFERSON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. SATURD


Mucn PoIsoN.- Several months ago a
young girl named Annie Gallagher, liv-
ing with her people in Berlin X Roads,
Jackson county, after having read Lou
lisa M. Alcott's "Works," fired with
ambition to hew her own road through
this world, left her pleasant surround
ings and went out into the immensity
of cruel and unsympathizing humanity
to work. She had q nice home, was re-
specially connected, but Annie wanted
to do for herself. Of limited education,
she did not meet with "howery beds Of
case" and finally engaged at the Mills
House, in GAINESVILLE, as waiting girl in
the dining-room. She was young and
pretty, and these dangerous qualities
proved a more serious circumference to
her intentions than she had calculated
upon. She repelled, however, all imper-
tinent overtures, and went on her way
resolved to work for living. The hu
man heart may for months, or even
years, hold out, but weak moments will
arise, and in weak moment Annie saw
a young man, transient boarder at the
Mills House. The young man also saw
Annie, and in few meetings the girl.
gave the young man her virgin love.
By some means, Annie left the Mills
House and came to Columbus. She OBJ
tanned employment in her chosen work
as dining groom girl at the Zettler House.
Letters PASSED between her and her
lover, and all went well until last Fri
day, when she received a letter from
him accusing her of faithlessness. She
had placed her young hearts happiness
in the keeping Of her sweetheart, and
this false charge was too much for her:
She procured quantity of blue vitrlol
and a dagger After securing these she
purchased, not exactly shroud, but
fine night dress and double extra
pair of hoes, sometimes called stock
ings. This was Friday afternoon, and
after waiting on the guests at the let
tier House, she induced one OF the
girls to DO the remainder Of her work,
She then returned to her room and $50
the girls say,) took a bath. She then
arrayed herself in her clean garments
and swallowed the blue vitriol and lay
down on the bed to await death. She
had by her side the dagger, which we
learn she intended to use if the vitriol
failed. She was found at 9oclock in
fearful state of sgony, and the girls
communicated the fact to the office,
when Mr. Grant, one of the clerks,
hastily dashed off for medical aid. Dr.
Stern was soon at the bedside OF the
would-be suicide, and gave the proper
remedies to neutralize the effects OF the
prison His efforts were soon attended
by results which indicated that the
life of the girl would be saved. Last
evening Annie was progressing toward
convalescence sp!endidly, and will, in a
few days, be on her feet again. She
had taken too large dose, or all the
physicians in the city could not have
saved her. Annics shroud and new
stockings are yet unoccupied by her
corpse, and it is likely the agony she
has passed through VIII not lave ten
dency to induce her TO use them again
for the purpose they were Intended
when purchased. The young man who
is the cause of this almost tragedy is
named Lawrence-more generally
known as young Don Lawrence, son OF
gambler, we believe. If Annie recov-
ers, which seems likely, she will doubt
less begin anew her resolve to work
her way through this world, shutting
her heart against the seductive and de
moralizng influences of the tender pas
sion. She is young, pretty, and so far
as the proprietor of Zettler knows, is
deserving of the keenest compassion
and tenderest pity,-Colum5us Sunday
NewS.