Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-12-10

| A. Covingtou," and requesting to see
him at once on inn portant business.
ST know John w. Covington." said
Sharp, Deliberately opening the door,
and advancing into the open air and
| darkness.
Beauchamp then lifted the mask that
he wore. SAYING: Don't you know
ne. colonel?"
':My God it's B-l" exclaimed
Sharp, but did not succeed in pro-
nouncing his enemy's name before the
latter struck him full in the face with
his clinched left hand. and stabbed him
to the heart with his rig ht.
Col Sharp was found dead on his
6oor- utep. Beauchamp returned to his
lodgings, and left town early in the
Eaorning, without being suspected, 1
believe. It is related that on ap-
proachirg his ho ne he conveyed TO his
wife the Intelligence of the deed by
tance.
The death OF Col. Sharp produced
profound sensation in Frankfort and
throughout the State. The Legislature
offered $1,000 for the detection and
apprehension of the murderer. There
vas dispo.i lion to mske political cap
make the ae-assination appear to have
been IN the interests of the anti-reIief
party One of the Frankfort editors
was 0arl1ly charged with accessory
knowled ge-some were not indisposed,
believe TO have him arrested. 1t was
through this editor, whose name was
DARBY, that Beauchamp was finally
pointed out and arrested, Sharp's fam
lily showing an iDdisposition to prose-
cute Tim, and thus make hopelessly
pub!in the cause of the act. But he was
finally brought to trial, and sentenced
to be hung During the interval be-
tween the senteuce and its execution,
great efforts wore made in his behalf,
delegations tol aides dressed in mourn
lug even going to the Governor of
Kentucky to intercede for the con-
demned. A son of the Governor was
imprisoned at the time for highway
robbery, and it was supposed that
when he was pardoned-as he ulti-
mately was-that the Governor might
do gracious thing. Tightening his sell
fish act of ciemency by pardoning
Beauchamp and his son together. But
he was infexible; political revenge,
perhaps, had to be gratifed.
The day of execution came. A short
time before tue hour designated, re-
quest WAS made by Beauchamp that
bis wife be permitted to remain with
him alone in his cell, for the last leave
taking, and this privilege was granted.
After awhile, as the time fixed for the
execution was at hand, the officers en-
tered the cell, and found the wife dy-
ing with the wound of q pen-knife in
her breast, while the husband was also
fatal ~ stabbed They had determined
to elude the law, and die together
But as the time for the execution had
come, Beaue lamp was taken in bis dy-
ing condition out upon the scaffold and
hung. Tie bodies of husband and
wife were removed to their home, and
buried together.
Subsequently this traglo romance Of
real life was made the basis of . novel
which was largely bought up by
Sbarp's friends. Later, about eigh-
teen years ago, drama was written by
John Savage the Irish poet, founded
on the Beau champ history. and was on
the point of being produced at Louis
vile.
ST was at the Louisville theatre that
uight, remember" lady in Ken
tucky told me; sit W s in September.
1858. The theatre was very full. I
forget the name of the play. but it was
understood that its incidents we're ta-
kon from the Beauch amp tragedy. and
Avonia Jones was to have the princi-
pal part The custain was about to
rise everybody was in expectation.
when IL was anuouDced that change
of programme had been determined
on, aud The Bride OF Lammermoor'
was played inssesd. Gov. Morehead,
it was understood, had come dow. on
the evening train from Frankfort, Just
in time to prevent the play, Offering
large sum OF money On behalf of the
Sharp family 10 lave It withdrawn and
not prod uceJ in Kentucky. There WAS
3 great excitement many insisted
on leaving the theatre and having their
~, ,,,ov, r.f,1,.5.,I