Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-09-12
TFrom tho Cincinnati Commercial.
The BscauclaaEmp Tragedy


airy of motive, tragedy Of ending equal to
that of the Beauohamp affair. Though
transpiring many years ago, its details have
lost mono Of their freshness, and the high
standing Of the families and their persistent
efforts to suppress everything relating to it,
have tended to perpatuate its remembrance,
and render it romance that even at this
late day all Kentuokians love to talk Of and
wonder over The murderer, or infatuated
avenger Of anothers wrongs, was j. o.
Beauohamp, the son Of o respectable farmer
! near Bowling Green. Flo was q young
law student of unusual promise, whose
talents and address had attracted the favora.
bio notice of tho aftorward murdered Solo
mon p. Sharpe, at that time Attorney
Goncral of the State. Young Beauchamp
was Of ardent temperament, entertained
exalted ideas Of woman's purity, and onco
} upon his vooations ohanccd to meet Miss
Ann Cooke, beautiful young lady, who,
during his absence in the pursuit of his
studies, had, with o widowed mother,
taken up her residence near his father 8
farm.
4. It was case Of love at first sight. Miss
Cooke was melancholy as lovers luto, lived
10 great privacy, and her mysterious movo.
ments and Intentional withdrawal from
society, threw around her halo Of mystil-
cation that fred the ardor of the law
student, and mado him a willing slavo at
hor feet. Ho called upon her, actually
forced himself into hor presence, and
y borrowed books ofAhcr simply to afford him
on excuse to osll again. Sho ropelled his
advances in manner that only lurcd him
on. Hopcracoutcd her with kindness, and
haunted her with attentions. lie proposed
/ and was rejected, sho would never marry.
He persisted with an excess Of passion aud
ardor that induced her to tell him her
story and wrung from him promise of rex
yenge.
Sho had been betrayed, she said, by Col.
Sharpe. Her case was peculiarly sad
ono. Col. Sharpe had been raised ia her
father family. Tho sacred rites of hospi-
tality he had repaid by Glohing tho daugh-
ter's virtuo And sho, like many another,
became mother erc sho was q wife. Sho
had been famed for hor beauty, yet her
disgrace had withered its charms and Grip
pied its powers. Her family had been
wealthy, but advorsity had oyertaken them.
Her father and male relatives were all dead
There was no ono to avenge her wrongs.
Beauchamp, tied to her fate by the silkcn
cords of desperate love, as we'll as by the
romantic notion Of chivalric tempera
mont that urged him to wash out by assas-
sination or challenge tho wrong done, readily
took on oath to hurl Sharpe to tho doom
no deserved.
"Sharpe will not fight" said Miss Cooke,
when Beauchamp announced his intention
Of calling him out; che IS too great COW
ard" That was in 1921.
The Legislature was in session at Frank
fort. Beauchamp readily found Col.
Sharpe at the Mansion House. Tho Colo
mel recognized him cordially. "I'vo como
to Frankfort to SEQ you on important bust
ness" and Beauchamp took him by the arm
saying, "Lct's take walk"
They went to retired spot by tho rivor
isido. The boil at tho Mansion House rang
for supper.
Beauohamp turned upon Sharpe with q
nervous manner and eye sparkling with
anger.
HDo you remember tho last words
Miss Cooke, whom you ruined, spoke to
you2"
Sharpe stood as if transGxed.
81 am tho avonger whom, in tho spirit
Of prophecy, sho, tho last time you over saw
her, warned you would right her wrongs"
Sharpe stood still, deigning no reply.
"Will you fight duel with me?"
" "My dear FRIEND" cringingly spoke tho
Attorney General, II cannot fight you on
Miss Cooks account
"Defend yourself, thoa, coward and
villain that you arc," shrickod Beauohamp
drawing an enormous dirk
81 have no weapon but ponknife.''
Z. Baauchamp threw him Spanish knife.
"My dear friend, I cannot fight YOU"
still urged Sharpe.
"Yon id villain, what do you mean by
that2 That sho is not worthy you should
fight her friend ayongcr2"
"My friend, meant that I can nover
fight tho friend Of that worthy, injured
lady. H9d hor brothors murdered mo,
would not have raised my hand to dcfond
myself. And ifyou arc her husband, I can
never fight you"
sI am not her husband, but her friend
and ayeDger, Sho sent mo to take
your life. Now, id villain, you shall
Ho raised his dagger. Sharpe ran.
Boauohamp seized hin by tho COLLAR.
Sharpe foil upon his knees and begged for
sffs lifs. Il 8. y
dix my property; my whole estate Is at
your command, but OIL lot me live" he
oYisd.
I3oauotatnp rslsasod his hold, slapped
9fagpS, 81 fsce, md kickod him as lie arose.
81 Set Up; you poyyard 'll publioiy lioises
Ill on p1orro,y ln tho stfoot, you!