The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-03-08
Il Fielding npd a Murder.
THE SHOCKING TRAGEDY THAT FOLLOWED
THE MARRIAGE OF A NORTH
CAROLINA BELLE.

CHARLOTTE, n. c., March 2.-Informa-
tion was received here his evening of a
scandal which led to tragedy in Clay
county. The location is in the chain of
the Blue Ridge, in the western part of this
State. Miss Ada McClay is the daughter
of the late Richard McClay, who was a
wealthy and esteemed farmer and politician
of the county just named. She is twenty
two years Of age, beautiful, refined au0 ac-
complisbed. She was educated at a semi
nary in Lexington, KY, having graduated
there with the usual b onors about four
years ago. Just after leaving her alma
mater she made her debut at the White
4 Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and has
every summer since.
1t seems that year ago last summer she
met there a Mr.. VIM. p. Shelburne. The
couple fell in love courtship followed. and
they were betrothed. 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 regular cores
pondence. He had not seen her for ten
months until last Monday, when he came
to fulfil his pliehted troth. The day set
was the list inst-yesterday. They were
duly married the nuptial ceremony taking
place at noon. The company in attendance
was not large, but was elegant.
The afternoon aud evening were spent
in wedding festivities, and it was a late
hour when the bride and groom retired for
rest But when Shelbourne discovered
that his bride was enceinte. lie threatened
to kill her i'll his frenzy, and only desisted
on the condition that she would reveal the
name Of her seducer. This she refused to
do at first, but finally told him that Simp-
son Forresier was the man. lie lived ad-
joining the McClay mansion, and had re-
Gently graduated at one of the colleges in
Virginia. He was only twenty-five years
or age, but had the reputation of being
gallant, and at the White Sulphur last
summer was a favorite. Sheburne's bride
declared that he 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 last night he
was one of the gayest of the gay at the fes-
tai board.
At 9 o'clock this morning Shelburne
pulled on his clothes, armed himself with
a double barrelled shout gun and went to
Forrester's home. The young bride fol-
lowed, beseeching him not to shoot her
destroyer that she had forgiven him.
But Shelburne was determined. He arous-
sd the Forester family, consisting of two
or three sisters and the mother, and called
for the guilty man. Forester feigned sur
pIiSe when he faced Sbelburue, and denied
knowing anything about The lady's shame
Only a few words ensued, when Shelburne
banged away, discharging load of buck
shot into the shoulder OF his enemy, who
bad no weapon of defense. The wounded
man exclaimed 81 am killed, and have
deserved it all - The second barrel was
not fred, for Shelburne, thinking the man
dead, turned and saw thaS his wife, who
witnessed the affair had tainted. The
murderer took horse from the stable of
Mrs. McClay and fled tie country, going
in the direction of Tennessee.
The news of :he tragedy soon spread.
Special Constable Dolley gathered party
of men aud went in pursuit. The excite
ment in the neighborhoOd was intense.
DIR. Heather MAS 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 hOuls after the tragedy to prem
ature child. No such sensation has hap
pened in this out of the way place since
the johnson Williams shooting affray ten
years ago.