Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-05-03
DRAMATIC INCIDENTS,

Hon. T. J. Mackey, Republican Judge
OF the sixth or Chester circuit court Of
South Carolina, at present in Washing
ton as the legal adviser or representa-
tive Of Gen. Hampton, is a gentleman
who, in London for example, would be-
come in one season the autocrat of the
English dinner table. He was de-
scribed to me by Gen. Calvert Butler,
Senator elect, as the most wonderful
conversationalist in the State, and ac-
quaintance not only affirns but enlarges
Buffers description In course Of a re-
cent conversation Judge Mackey rela-
ted the following incident, as having
come under bis judicial observation in
his administration of justice. which, ow-
ing TO the peculiar condition OF society
IN his circuit. Is partly statutory and
partly patriarchal IN its nature. The
ludg sc said that some two or three years
ago, while holding court at Winnsboro.
he noticed CIR! of wonderful beauty at
the country tavern where he put up,
and, upon inquiry concerning her,
learned that she belonged to a family
living there, related to the tavern keep
er and OF the class usually termed in
South Carolina ''poor whites" He
learned that she was soon to be married
to a young man of her own class, and
he took SO much interest in her fortunes
that he sent her a wedding present.
About six months afterward the Judge
was journeying by rail from one court
to another in his circuit, and met this
girl on the cars. She was dressed in
deep mourning and seemed in great af-
Fiction.
The judge approached her and in-
CURED what had happened. She said
she was going back 10 her husbands $
birthplace to bury him and that his
corpse was in the baggage car. In re-
ply to a remark that the death seemed
to have been very sudden the girl be-
gan to cry and told the Judge that she
had killed her husband by accident.
She said they had lived happily togeth-
er tor about four months, when she dis
covered that he was surreptitiously Wis
iting and corresponding with a young
woman who lived several miles AWAY.
She had ascertained these facts by in.
tercepting some OF the correspondence.
As soon as the husband found out that
his amour had come to the knowledge
of his wife he resolved to murder her.
So one morning he ordered his break.
fast early, announcing has intention TO
drive to town several miles distant
from York, where they lived, Just as
they were sitting down to breakfast he
sent his wife for some bread and IN her alb
seuce emptied into her coifee-cup arsenic
enough 70 kill half dozen people. But
as she was returning 70 the table his
horses. which weie hi.ched at the door.
became restive, and began to pull at
their halters. He rushed from the ia
ble and went out to attend to them.
While he was gone the wife noticed
some coffee grounds or other impurities
floating IN her husbands cup; and, wo-
man lake. took il herself, setting her own
cup, which was clear, by his piate. He
then came in and ate his breakfast. As
be rose from the table and began to put
on his overcoat he was seized with !
cramp IN his stomach, succeeded by.v
oient pains. di.siness and utter prostra.
.ion. The wife alarmed, assisted him
TO the house and sent negro for the
doctor. who lived . few doors awav.
The doctor came in a few minutes. and
Psonoaacsd Il q case Of ,poisooing q
soon - be saw the symptoms. -After
few moments Of examinaiioa Of the na.
t'ens, the doctor said the case was hone.
less. owing to the corro~ioa Of the wslls
.of ne stcsbseh. which AsA ,lresdy ia