The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-09-11

A Betrayed Girls Vengeance Marrying
Another Lover to Accomplish it and Killing
Herself the Night Before he was Hanged
From the Cincinnati CONNIE rciaI.J
Ofthe many crimes committed on the sa-
cred soil of Kentucky there never has been
one for romance of incident, chivalry of
motive, tragedy Of ending equal to that of
The Beauchamp affair. Though Transporting
many years ago, its details have lost none Of
their freshness, and the high standing OF
the families and their persistent efforts to
suppress everything relating to it, have
tended TO perpetuate its Temem brance,
aud render II romance that even at this
late day all ktntuckians love to talk of and
wonder over. The murderer, or infatuated
aVtnger of anOther's wrongs, was j. o.
Beauchamp, the son of a respectable farmer
near Bowling Green. He was young law
student Otunusual promise, whose talents
and address had attracted the favorable no.
tice of the afterwards murdered Solomon Z.
Sharpe, at that time Attorney General of
the State. Young Beauchamp was of ar
dent temperament, entertained exalted
ideas of wOman's purity, and once upon his
vacations CHANGED TO meet Miss Ann Cooke,
q beautiful young lady, who, during his alb
sence in the pursuit of his studies had, with
widowed mother, taken up her residence
near his fathers farm.
In was case of love at first sight. Miss
Cooke was melancholy as a lovers lutte,
lived IN great privacy, and her mysterious
movements and Intentional Withdrawal
from society threw around her 4 halo of
justification that fired the ardor of the law
student and made him willing slave at her
feet lie called upon her, actually forced
himself into her presence. and borrowed
books OF her, simply TO afford him an excuse
to call again. She repealed his advan ces in
manner that only lured him on. He per-
secuted her with kin inpgg and haunted her
with attentions. He proposed; was reject
ed; she would never marry. He persisted
with an excess of passion, and ardor that
induced her TO tell him her story, and
wrung rom him promise OF revenge.
She had been betrayed, she said, by Col.
sharpe Her case was a peculiarly sad one.
Col sharpe had been raised in her fathers
family. The sacred rites of hospitality he
had repaid by tilching the daughters vir-
tue. And she, like many another, became
mother ere she was wife. She had been
famed for her beauty, yet her disgrace had
Wlthered its charms and crippled its powers.
Her family had been wealthy, but adversely
had oVcrtaken them. Her father and male
relatives were all dead. There was no one
10 lveuEe her wrongs. Beauchamp, tied to
her by the silkeu cords of a desperate love,
as well as by the romantic notion Of chiv-
alric tenn permanent that urged him to wash
out by assassination or challenge the wrong
done readily took an oath to hurl Sharpe
sharpe will not fight" said Miss Cooke,
when Btauchamp announced his intention
OF calling him out; '-he is too great cow
ard This was in 1921.
The Legislature was in session at Frank
tort. Beauchamp readily found Col. sharpe
AT the Mansion House. The Colonel recog-
Hized him cordially. I've come to Frank
fort To see you on important business" and
Beauchamp took him by the arm, saying,
Lets take a walk
They went to retired spot by the river
side The bell at the Mansion House rang
for supper.
Beauchamp turned upon Sharpe with a
nervous manner and eye sparkling with
anger "Do you remember the last words
Ms Cooke, whom you ruined, spoke to
lot2"
Sharpe stood as if transtixed.
Il am the avenger whom, in the spirit OF
prophecy, she, the last time you ever saw
her, warned YOU would right her wrongs"
Sharpe stood still, deigning no reply
"Nill you fight duel with me -
My dear friend,' criGgingly spoke the
Attorney General, II cannot fight you on
Miss Cookies account
Defend yourself, then, coward and viii
lain that you are" shrieked Beauchamp,
drawing an enormous dirk.
Il have no weapon but penknife."
Beauchamp threw him Spanish knife.
MY dear friend, l cannot fight you" still
urged Sharpe.
You id villain, what do you mean by
that? That she is not worthy you shoulu
light her friend and avenger? p
My friend, l meant that L never can Ilght
the friend of that worthy, injured lady
Had her brothers murdered me, | would not
have raised my hand to defend myself. And
i you are her husband, L can never night
YOU
Il am not her husband, but her friend and
aYenger. She sent me to take your me-
Now ID villain shall die
He raised his dagger. Sharpe ran. Beau
champ seized him by the collar. Sharpe
fell upon his knees and begged tor his life.
Take my property my whole estate Is az
yeur command; but, oh, let me live" ne
cried.
Beauchamp released his hold, slapped
Sharpe's face, and kicked him as he arose.
Get up, you coward, III publicly horse
whip you to- morrow in the street, you IN
fernal coward" he said.
Beauchamp meant TO be as good as MS
word. He procured horsewhip, and pre-
Stunning that Sharpe, surrounded Oy MS
friends, would make q show of resistance.
provided himself with pistols, with when
70 finish him. Sharpe felt that
He who lights and runs away,
May live TO fight another day
So before break of day he was on his horse
returned to his home Miss Cooke now re-
solved TO take vengeance in her own hands.
Daily practiced with pistols, till her aim
became deadly. She tried to lure Sharpe to
her house. He avoided her. Beauchamp
RETAINED from any further att empt on
Sharpe's life to give Miss Cooke the opPor-
tunity she wished for. It never came. and
this desire TO kill him herself gave TO Sharpe
many days of life. In June 824, Beaucnamp
and Miss Cook were married. And then ne
claimed he had the right to assagsinate ms
wi les seducer. Sharpe was now canoi-
date for the Legislature, but his treatment OF
Miss Cooke added to bis unpopularlty. so ne
announced that Miss Cookies child was the
offspring Of a negro. He even produced
forged certificate to sUbstantiate this I'M
heard of villainy.
Beauchamp heard the tale, and resolved
that Sharpes hour had now come. de re-
paired to Frankfort, and, unable to obtain
lodgings at the hotels, passed the night with
Scott, the keeper of the penitentIary. he
retired early. and prepared for the murder
Gus deed. Instead Of shoes ne put on yarn
Stockings. He concealed his face IN a RED
6andans handkerchief. he secreted long
knife in his bosom Stealthily he craWled
nnobserved out of his lodgings, and repair
81 n0iselessly 10 ShaKpa's residence. DraW-
hng his dagger, he knocked three times,
Who's there y cried Sharpe.