The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-03-04
Ashocklng Scandal and Tragedy.
The Nuptial and Maternal Couch
to Which a New Orleans
Gentleman was Led.
The Bride of a Night, the Mother
and Widow Of the Morning.
A Graduate Of Lexington, a Belle Of
White Sulphur Springs, Betrayed
and Betrsyer-Her Seduosr
Shot by the Deceived
Bridegroom.
Special Dispatch to clnclnnltl Enquirer.

Special Dbpatch 10 CluclnnAu hnqulIeI'
CHARLOTTE, N. c., March 2.-Informa-
tion was received here this evening Of !
scandal which lead to tragedy in Clay
county. The location Is in the chain o.
the Blue Ridge, in the western part o.
this State.
Miss Ada McClay is the daughter oi
the late Hon. Richard McClay, who was
q wealthy and esteemed farmer and poll
tician ofthe county just named. She ID
twenty-five years OF age, beautiful, re-
fined and accomplished. She was edu-
Gated at seminary in Lexington, Ky.
having graduated there with the usual
bonors about four years ago. Just after
leaving her alma mater she made her debut
at the White Sulphur Springs, West Vir.
ginia, and has visited that place Of fash.
ionable resort every summer since.
1t seems that year ago last summer
she met there Mr.. Wm. P. Shelbnrne, n
handsome and polished gentleman Of
twenty.six. The couple fell in love;
courtship followed, and they were be.
trothed. He lived In New Orleans, and
had visited Miss McClay only three or
four times at her home in Clay county,
but had kept up reguler correspondence.
He had not seen her for ten months until
last Monday, when he came to fulfill his
plighted troth. The day set was the 1st
inst.-yesterday. They were duly mar
ried, the nuptial ceremony taking place
at noon. The company in attendance
was not large, but 1t was. elegant and
aristocratic.
The afternoon and evening were spent
in wedding festivities, and It was alate
hour when the bride and groom retired
for rest. But then-oh, sad to tell!-
shelburne discovered that his fair love
was enciente. In rage he blasphemed
and raised the deuce. He threatened TO
kill her in his frenzy, and only desisted
on the condition that she would reveal
the name Of her seducer. This she re.
fused 10 do at first, but finally told him
that Simpson Forester was the man.
He lived adjoining the McClsy Mansion,
and had recently graduated at one Of the
colleges in Virginia. he was only twenty
two years Of age, but had the reputation
Of being gallant, and at the White Sui
phur last summer was favorite with
the belles. shelburne's bride declared
that this gay Lothario had accomplished
her ruin tive months ago, and that she
had Sworn never 10 betray him. He visi.
ted the house like an intimate friend, and
last night he was one Of the gayest OF the
gay at the festal board.
Al six o'clock this morning Shelburne
pulled on his clothes, armed himself with
a double -barreled shot gun and went 10
Forrester's home. The young bride iol-
lowed, screaming and beseeching him not
toshoot her destroyer, that she had for
given him. But Shelburne was deter
mined. He aroused the Forester family,
consisting OF two or three sisters and the
mother, and called for the guilty man.
Forester feigned surprise when he faced
Shelburne, and denied knowing anything
about the lady's shame. Only few
words ensued. when Shelburne banged
away, discharging load OF buck shot
into the shoulder Of his enemy, who had
no weapon Of defense. The wounded
man exclaimed: ~ am killed, and have
deserved it alt" The second barrel was
not fired, for shelburne, thinking tue man
dead, turned and saw his wife, who wit
messed the affair, had tainted. The muir
derer took horse from the stable Of Mrs.
McClay and fed the country, going in the
direction OF Tennessee.
The newp Of the tragedy soon spread.
Special Constable Dolley gathered a party
of men and went in pursuit. The excite
ment in the neighborhood was intense.
DR.. Heather was summoned to attend the
dying man. His wounds were dressed,
but little hopes are entertained OF his
recovery. To add to the scandal, the bride
gave birth in few hours after to a pre-
mature child. No such sensation has
happened in this place since the Johnson
Williams shooting atfray, ten years ago.