Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-10-19
SOLD HIS WIFE's CORPSE.


THE DEPTH OF DEPRAvlTY.-The story
opens in an interior county Of Illinois,
where resides a farmer whose broad
acres of fertile and sleek herds place
him and his family above the know ledge
want Five years ago this family circle
was adorned by a daughter, fair beyond
comparison with her young associates,
aud rarely accomplished for one whose
life had been spent upon farm. To
this family appeared about the time in
dcated, young man of pleasing man
ners and fashionable attire, claimmgt to
be in good circumstances in Chicago.
His account OF himself was not entirely
satisfactory to the farmer, vino noticed
with alarm growing fondness in the
glances his daughter cast upon the
smooth.spoken stranger.
Parental opposition in this case, as in
so many similar instances, only added
fuel TO the flame of kindled love, and
the young couple found means of carry =
ing on clandestine meetings, until one
day the rash girl agreed to an elope-
ment. When the arrangements were
all complete the daughter wrote letter
to her parents, telling them she could
not live apart from the man she loved,
and had, much as she was panied, to
give them sorrow, determined to cast
her lot with his. This note she left in
her chamber, and departed with tho
young man at night. The father was a
man of stubborn mould, and the "bless
you, my children" on which the young
folks had calculated, came not when a
paper containing a notice Of their mar
Iiage was sent TO him.
The old mans suspicious had been
too well founded His daughters hus-
band was of dissoute habits aud without
means, and his motive for marrying
was the expectation that the old man
would "give down" literally TO keep his
daughter from want. This hope prov
ed futile, as the father refused to hold
any communication with his wayward
child and her worthless husband. The
latter was soon driven to extremites
for the money necessary to keep him in
liquor and cigars, and it was not long
before he more than limited to his wife
that it would be necessary for her to do
sewing or what other work could be
got 10 help out with the family expen-
ses. The poor woman did what she
could, mcekly enduring the illusagc of
her brutal spouse, sewing often tho
greater part of the night, while ho
pocketed her earnings aud left her TO
suffer hunger and cold.
Two children were born 10 them in
the poor apartments they occupied in
the northwestern part Of this city. Each
of these but added 10 the woes instead
of increasing the joys of the mother. A
few weeks ago she took a powerful emen-
agogue In the intervals of her pain she
dictated 10 kind neighbor letter to
her mother, stating her wrongs which
she had committed, and implored her 10
take care of the two children soon to be
left motherless and already worse than
tatherless. Through some oversight
this letter was not mailed until after the
death of the victim Of too coniidng ma
ture. A physician had been called in,
who, for charity, did what he could TO
relieve her suffering, but could not save
her lifei
The husband showed some indica.
tions OF grief, but consoled himself with
drink as best he could. The corps lay
in the house for day and night kind
ly guarded by the neigbboring womsn.
Toward the second night they inquired
Of the widower what disposition he in.
tended TO make Of the remains, aud
were told that evening that an express.
man would come for the corps for bur
ial, as he was unable TO pay for bearse.
After rigntfall the expressman came
and cartsd away the remains. The next
day the father of the dead woman arriv-
ed, having learned of her sad fate, and
asked where his daughter was buried,
that he might have the body removed
to the country cemetery near ber old
home.
His inquiries were answered evasive-
ly for time by the wretchcd creature
whose bad treatment had driven his
wife to an act which brought about her
death, but being pressed and threaten
ed with arrest if he refused 10 tell, he
acknowledged that he had disposed of
the corps to the physician who attended
her in her last illness in consideration
Of the petty sum Of t5. The fathers
grief and rage knew no bounds, and it
was with difficulty he could lie prevent
ed from wreaking vengencc upon the
scoundrel before him. Finally be set
about recovering the corps, la which he
succeeded and bad il conveyed home
and decently inferred Chicago Timts.