The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-22
AssG sGssinationoft tho Duke OF Buckingham

The duke now prepared 70 60 out to his
carriage, which was waiting at the door,
and as he went through the hall, still fol.
lowed by the French gentlemen, Colonel
frlar whispered something in his ear. He
turned to listen, and at the same moment a
knife was plunged into his heart and loft
there sticking. Plucking it out with the
word "Villain !" he fell covered with blood.
His servants, who caught him as he was
railing, thought 1t was stroke of appo-
plcxy, but the blood, both from the wound
and from his mouth, quickly undcceived
them. Then an alarm was raised: some
ran to close the gates, and others rushed
forth to spread the news. The Duchess of
buckingham and her sister, the Countess of
Angesses, heard the noise in their chamber
and ran into the gallery of the lobby, where
they saw the duke lying in his gore. He
was only in his six-and- -thirticth year. The
first suspicion fell upon the French, and
they were In great danger from the dukes
people; but when number Of officers came
rushing In, crying out, s'Where is the vii
lain3 Where Is the butchcr2" a man
stepped calmly forward, saying, 'I am the
man-here ami" Ele had quietly with
drawn into the kitchen as soon as he had
done the deed, and might have escaped had
he so willed. On hearing him avow the
murder the officers drew their swords, and
would have dispatched MIN. but were pre-
vented by the secretary Carleton, Sir Tho
mas Morton, and others, who stood guard
over him to tho Governors house. The
assassin turned out to be John FELTON,, a
gentleman by birth and education, who
mad been lieutenant in the army during
the expedition to the Isle of Rhe He had
thrown up his commission because lie could
not obtain the arrears of his pay, and had
seen another at the same time promoted
over his head Hc had, therefore, most
likely, personal grudge against the duke,
Dut had also been led ON by religious fa-
natloiam. lilo was stout, dark, military
looking man, from Suffolk; but, according
TO his own account, was first excited to the
deed by reading the remonstrance of the
Parliament against the duke, when it
seemed to him that that remOnstrance was
n sufficient warrant for the act, and that by
Kidding the country of him he should render
a real service to it. He described himself
as walking in London on Tower Hill when
he saw broad hunting knife on cut
ler's stall, and that 1t was suggested to him
instantly to buy 1t for this purpose. At
Portsmouth one Of the royal chaplains was
sent to him in his dungeon, where he Law
heavily ironed; but FELTON,, supposng the
chaplain sent to draw something from him
rather than for his consolation, said: s.Slr.
shall be brief with you; killed him for
the cause of God and my country" The
chaplain, to mislcad him, told him what
was not true, that the surgeons gave hope
OF his life; but FELTON, promptly replied,
THAT ls impossible had the power of
forty men. assisted by him who guided my
hand On heing removed to London the
people crowded to see him, showering bless
ings upon him as the delivcrer of his coun-
try, and one old woman at Kingston said !:
Nov God bless thee, little David!" mean
ing that he had killed Goliah.