Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-04-16
A DOWNWARD FLIGHT.
The Sad Career of a Former Societ,
Belle.
New York Star.


New York Star
"Thats Fanny Wright, who killed
Policeman McChesney ten years ago."
This remark was made by Officer
Samuel Seaman, when he saw the wo-
man IN the Mercer street police station.
She was In beastly state Of intOxca-
ton. Her face was terribly bloated by
liquor and disease, and her disheveled
hair and tattered garments made her a
most wretched looking object.
"Send her to Bellevue hospital" said
the sergeant at the desk, and the loath-
some creature was taken away in an
ambulance. Yesterday she was in one
of the wards Of the hospital under treat
ment for delirium tremens.
81 shall never forget the murder of
poor McChesney," remarked the SER
geant, "McChesney had been on the po-
lice force only few weeks. He was
a fine, stalwart fellow, twenty-three
years Of age, and as straight as an ar
row. On the evening of the 10Th of o.
tOber, 1867, he was sent out on patrol.
His beat WAS in Canal street. The voice
Of woman crying and screaming at
tracted his attention. He ran to the
spot and found Fanny Wright quarrel
ing with another woman. McChesney
attempted to arrest Fanny, but she
fought him like q tigress. Then he
raped with his club upon the side
walk for assistance. Officer Samuel
Seaman, who was in Broadway, heard
the call and ran to help McChesney, but
before he reached the spot Fanny had
stabbed McChesney with dirk knife,
severing the carotid artery. McChesney,
with the blood squirting from his
wound, ran up Mercer street to Howard,
and through to Broadway, where be
sank exhausted to the sid walk. 1t is
supposed that he had started for a doc
tors office. He was picked up by his
fellow-officers and carried to the New
York hospital, but just as he was being
taken into one Of the wards he died.
Fanny, in the meantime, was fighting
with Officer Seaman. She tried to stab
him also, but he knocked the knife cut
Of her hand with his club. Another
policeman came to his assistance, and
the woman was taken to the station
Pm glad [ killed McChesney,' she ex-
claimed in her frenzy, but the next day
she expressed deep sorrow for what she
had done and cried like child"
When Fanny was placed On trial for
the murder of Officer McChesney a
strong effort to secure her acquittal was
made by her friends. Although she
had been for several years an inmate of
a brothel at No. 81, Grand street, she
belonged to wealthy and respectable
family residing in Poughkeepsie. She
had been induced to run away from
home, and came to New York to lead
life Of shame. Her friends employed
able counsel, but Notwithstanding the
fact that he pleaded her case with elo-
quence, and took advantage Of every
possible bubble of law, Fanny was
found guilty of manslaughter and SEN
fenced to state prison for life. She was
at that time 26 years Of age, and not
withstanding the dissolute life she had
been leading, was q beautiful woman.
Her counsel succeeded in securing a
new trial, which resulted in a verdict
in minor degree, and she was SEN
fenced for twenty years.
Subsequently she was pardoned by
the governor, and for year or two she
led a respectful life with her friends in
Poughkeepsie; but, in spite ofall efforts
to restrain her, she again abandoned
her home and resumed disreputable
career. She went to Washington where
she became leader among the demi-
monde. 1t is said that she was favor
tie with certain members Of congress-
Next she was heard Of in Baltim ore,
and then in New Orleans. She sank in
the scale Of dissipation until, no longer
able to remain in fashionable crothels,
she became an inmate of the lowest
dens. A few months ago she returned
to New YOrk-a mere wreck in body
and mind. Her family refused to rec
ognize her, and, driven to desperation,
she sought to drown her wretchedness
in strong drink. On Wednesday even
ing she tOttered into the Mercer street
station-house and begged for nights
lodging. Although she sought to con-
ceal her identity under an assumed
name, she was readily recognized by
Officer Seaman.
Her father is at present a prosperous
and prominent business man in Pough-
keepsie. Her mother died three or
four years ago, as was supposed, from
a broken heart, caused by her daugh-
ter's waywardness. Fanny was grad
uate of Vassar female college. It IS
said that she was engaged to be married
to a respectable young man, and that q
few weeks before the day appointed for
her wedding she ran away with another
man to New York. The woman is now
in Bellevue hospital, but she is such
wreck in body and mind that she will
| DrOba biV have to he sent to the hOSni-
tai for incurables, on the island. And
this is the fate of the girl who once
moved in respectable society, and was
considered belle in her native city.