Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-03-16
SHAME AND MURDEn.

that State. Miss Ada McClay is the
daughter of the,lat Hon. Richard Nc,
Clay, who was wealthy and esteemed
farmer aud politician Of the county just
named. She is twenty-five years OF
age, beautiful, refined and accomplish
ed. She was educated at seminary in
Lexington, KY, having graduated there
with the usual: :honors about years ago.
Just after leaving her alma mater she
made her debut at the White Sulphur
Springs, West Virginia, and has visited
that place of fashionable resort every
summer since.
1t seems that year ago last summer
she met there a Mr.. William p. Shell
burne, handsome aud polished gen.
tleman of twenty. six. The couple, fell
in love; courtship followed, and they
were betrothed. He lived IN New
Orleans, and had visited Miss McClay
only three CT four times at her home in
Clay county, but had KEEP up regular
correspondence He had not seen her
tor ten months until last Monday, when
he came to fulfil his plghted troth.
The day was set for the lst inst. They
were duly married, the puptial ceremony
taking place at noon. The company in
attendance was not large, but it was
elegant aud arstocratic. The AFTERNOON
and evening were spent in wedding
festivities, and it was late hour when
the bride and groom retired for rest.
But then-ob, sad to tell!-Shelburne
discovered that his fair love was enciente.
In rage he blasphemed and raised the
duce. He threatened TO kill her in his
frenzy, and only desisted on the condi.
ton that she would reveal the name OF
her seducer. This she refused to do at
first, but finally told him that Simpson
Forester was the man. He lived ad-
joining the McClay mansion, aud 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 Whine Sulphur
last summer was a favorite. with the
bellies. Shelburne's bride declared that
this gay Lothario had accomplished her
ruin FIVE months ago, and that she had
sworn never to betray him. He visited
the house like an intimate friend, and
that night he was one OF the gayest OF
the gay at the festal board % r.".
AT six o'clock next morning Shell
burne pulled on his clothes, armed him
self with double -barreled shotgun and
went to Forrester's home. The young
bride followed, screaming and heseech-
ing him not to shoot her destroyer, that
she had forgiven him. But Shelburne
was determined. He aroused the For
rester family. consisting of two or three
sisters and the mother, and called for
the guilty man. Forester feigued sur
prised when he faced Shelburne. and
denied knowing anything about the
lady's shame. Only few words en-
sued, when Shelburne banged away,
discharged load of buekshot into the
shoulder of his enemy, who had no
weapon of defence. The wounded man
exclaimed. 81 am killed and have deserv-
ed it all !" The second barrel was not
fired, for Shelburn thinking the man
dead, turEed and saw that his wife, who
witnessed the affair, had tainted. The
murderer took ahorse from the stable
Of Mrs McClay and fled the country,
going in the direction of Tennessee.
The news of the tragedy soon spread.
Special Constable Dolley gathered
party of men and went in pursuit. The
excitement in the neighborhood was in
tense. DIR. Heather was summoned to
attend the dying man. His wound was
dressed, but little hopes are entertained
Of his recovery. To add to the scandal
the bride gave birth in few hours after
the tragedy to premature child. No
sach sensation has happened in that
out ofithe-way place since the johnson
Williams shooting affray, ten years ago.
Gin. Eng.
CHARLOTTE, N. g., March 3.-Mrs
VIM. .:P. Shelburne, the unfortunate
bride of Clay Co., N. c., who was in
volyed in the scandal, and gave birth,
in her excitement aud fright, to pre-
mature child, died early this morning.
Her seducer, Simpson Forester, who
was shot by the bridegroom, DIR. Shell
burne, was not mortally wounded, as
was first thought. The surgeon thinks
be will recover. Shelburne, who fled,
has not been apprehended. Itisthought
he has gone tosea. III rtl ty
TESTING TuPIR WIyRs-The late