Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-04-14
From Our Regular Correspondents
Our European Letter.
LONDON, Eng, April /, /

LONDON, Eng, April 1, 1880.
One of the most sensational actions for
breach of promise of marriage that ever
startled society will shortly come before
the courts. The defendant is Young
guardsman,. the head of rich country
family, who, after Il two years engage
ment, allowed the preparations for his
marriage to 60 so far that besides insisting
on the selection of his funcee'S wedding
dress he ordered the wedding cards, pur-
chased the ring aid travelling trunks with
his own initials on those of the ladv),
arranged with the coachmaker for the al
teration of the lady's monogram to his
own on her two carriages, invited u coun-
try vicar to come to London to marry
him, and last, not least, read over the
settlements to his ailianced wife the nigbt
before he left town to visit his family only
four days before the intended ceremony at
St. Georges, Hanover square. Since the
night in question the lady has never set
eyes on the gentleman. This in con-
neclion with IN extraordinary criminal
case which has been on trial in London
during the past week, makes one blush
for the depravity of human nature. A
worthless cad, by the name Of Paine, was
charged with the murder of weak
minded young woman, possessed of some
property, whom he first male his mis-
tress, and then his victim. On the death
of Miss Mclean the coroner's verdict de-
clared that strong drink was the cause,
and, on investigation, it was discovered
that Paine had continually forced her to
drink ardent spirits in order to hasten her
death, that he might get possession of the
property she had left him in her will He
was accordingly arrested and arraigned
on the charge of murder, and the trial has
developed the most revolving facts. The
poor girl was not only kept in Il chronic
state of drunkenness, but starved for food,
nothing being given her to eat but salt
meat and fish to create II thirst for drink.
Her mouth was blstered by raw spirits, OF
which she was made to swallow half II
tumber dozen times II day. A more de-
liberate. cold blooded case of poisoning
was never perpetrated. Every circum-
stance that came to light on the trial only
aggravated the guilt of the criminal.
Paine tried to get the girls life insured,
that he might benefit still more largely by
her death, but was refused; and he then
pawned her plate, family inheritance,
and spent the money in brandy and whis-
ky. And yet the weak, infatuated, de-
ceived woman spoke maudin words of
affection of her clover " to the very last.
Surely woman will be forgiven all her sins
hereafter for the wrong she endures ut the
hands of man here. After protracted
trial the jury brought in II verdict of man
slaughter, and the sentence was penal
servitude for life.
In the midst of the distress in Ireland,
the imaginative inhabitants of some small
towns in the county of Mayo (Connaugh0
have been having series of miracles of a
surprising character. The housekeeper of
the parish priest AT Knock first saw the
bright apparition of the Blessed Virgin
and other figures on the gable wall Of the
chapel as she was passing that edifco on
the evening of some day last August. She
called another woman, who lived near.
and they went back to the chapel, when
the apparition was brighter than before.
Since then the same magic lantern per.