San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-03-30
Gone to the Bad---The Story of
Two Lives.

Gone to the Bad---The Story Of
Two Lives.
A New York special to the Chicago
Tribune tells the following sad and
tragic story:
Richard Shaw, young gentleman of
Fifth Avenue, and well known as So
ciety leader, has scandalized himself by
shooting himself in the head in house
of ill-fame up town. Shaw's father died
some time ago, leaving, it is said, over
y 1,0O0,000, so disposed that his children
were secured an ample income without
being able to impair the principal.
Richard was carefully educated, and,
when 10, was sent abroad, remaining
in Europe for several years. After he
came home he spent the next three
years in travelling over the country, and
finally settled down here. As a relief
from ennui he plunged into dissipation
and soon became known as the fastest
of the fast. Last November Shaw met
Libby Osborne and became so infatuated
that he has never been able to free HIM
self from her tolls. This young woman
is attractive, well educated, the mis-
tress of numerous accomplishments, and
has remarkable history. She was
born and reared in Savannah, Ga. Her
father was well known planter before
the War, and managed to put his prop
erty into an available shape, having
foreseen the coming trouble. Libby was
educated in Vassar College and grad
uated there three and half years ago
Before she left home she had formed a
sincere attachment for a young man
living near Savannah. When Libby
left school she expected to marry her
lover, but her family had other plans.
She was compelled to marry man not
only twice her age, but worn-out roue.
The family benefited by this marriage,
but Libby's lover wrote her long let
ter, in which he vowed that "as sure as
fate he would, before many years had
passed, succeed in securing vengeance
that would cure his wounded heart by
its completeness" The young bride
was very unhappy. She begged OF her
family to allow her separation. They
refused Libby's lover contrived to
throw himself in the young wife's way.
The old intimacy was revived, and went
so far as to give occasion for scandal.
Last summer, one morning, there was
sensation caused by the sudden disap-
pearance of Libby and her lover. They
fled North, and for some time, under
an assumed name, lived as man
and wife in Philadelphia, and after
ward in Cleveland. Last September
they came here and boarded on
Lexington Avenue. In month Libby's
lover and supposed husband abandoned
her, writing from Cleveland that his
revenge was now complete. The girl
was heart-broken for time, but grad
ually hardened, and abandoned herself
to her fate. In November last she en-
tered house of ill-repute in Thirty-first
Street, and soon had numerous friends.
Among her first victims was young
Shaw, who told her his real name, gave
her full particulars about his family, and
wanted her to marry him, or live prl-
vately as his mistress. She toyed with
! Shaw, but did not like him, and refused
his offers. He would haunt the house,
and almost took up his residence there
for some weeks. Monday night, at a
late hour, he went with the girl to her
room, and, as soon as the door was
closed, drew a small revolver. Not get
ting satisfactory answers to his impor.
tunities, he placed the barrel to his head
and fired. Owing to unsteadiness, the
ball only made scalp-wound. At the
Police Court this morning Shaw said he
meant to kill himself, and would do SO
vet. His friends were allowed to take
him in charge. The case creates
marked sensation, and much sympathy
is felt for the widowed mother, who has
devoted herself especially to this son.
"Heat is Life---COld is DEATH