The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-05-12

Cincinnati ConmerciM writes as follows:
Five years ago there lived in Pickens
CT unity, among the mountains, rs fair
lass as such o region is proverbial Tor
! producing, rosy-cheeked, brown
haired, blue-eyed maiden, with the form
of q model and the grace OF gazelle.
She was the daughter OF well-to-do
farmer, and her smiles were courted by
the brave-hearted young mountaineers,
who engaged in honorable competition
for monopoly Of her society. Among
those was dashing young man, hand
some, OF princely carriage, and whose
fame fcr courage made him known in
| all the counties around. Dauntless in
love as in all things else, he laid siege
to the heart OF this mountain belle, to
whom she capitulated, and though but
girl in years--seventeen she was -
they were married. She idolized lar
husband, and chung to him with q w.r-
shipful devotion, happy only when With.
be for him. And he, feeling secure in
her love, repaid her attachment with
indifference, and gave more attention to
another, former rival of his wife. than
wns consistent with bis obligation as a
husband. She bore this long in silence.
and tried to persuade herself that there
was nothing wrong in her husbands
conduct. But the seed OF jealousy was
planted in her heart, and found nourish.
ment in the buoyancy that once ex.
on her cheeks faded, the brilliancy OF
her eye departed, her merry laugh was no
longer heard, and the once light-hearted
and happy girl was changed to the dis
consulate and brooding woman. And still
no complaint of her husband. He would
come back to her, she thought. But
her confidence was misplaced; and at
last, when one night a dancin party
was given at her fathers house, where
she lived, and the source Of her un-
happiness was among the invited, she
approached her husband, and af-
fectionately entwining her arms about
his neck, begged him for her sake
not to dance with the woman she hated.
Playfully chiding her for her jealousy,
he gave her his promise that her re-
quest should he granted. She did not
engage in The festivities, but pleading
illness retired though not to sleep,
however. for she knew that her husband
aud her rival were under the same roof
With weary eyes and aching heart she
watched tho dancers, but no,bing oc-
cnrred on the part of her husband to
excite her jealousy until mlinip hit,
when. believing her to be asleep, he
took his position in the next quad'ille
with the woman he had proEised hil
wife to avoid as his partner. Sung to
the heart at this exhibition of periidy
under the roof that sheltered her home,
she watched the dance for awhile, her
senses seeming to desert her. and then
she left her room and sought her father
from whom she borrowed pocket
knife under the pretext Of want
jng to cut a tooth brush Securing
the knife she returned to the room
- .-hirh 4hn 1"-~;-o eni~e,
on, reaching 1t just as the last set
ended, and going up to her rival, who
was moving toward a seat. seized her
by the shoulder, and frenzied with
jealous rage, said, You have danced
enough T. at the same time drawing
the open knife from the folds OF her
dress and plunging it deep into the
woman's neck, making horrible cash
which penetrated nearly ID the heart,
and from which the blood spurted sew.
eral feet in the air and spattered over
the late dancers. Again the deadly
blade was uplifted, and again il de-
scended. plunged into the left breast in
search Of the heart, and yet again
another blow, when the victim sank to
the floor-dead. SO quickly and 80
quietly was the awful tragedy enacted,
that not until tho woman fell, and the
kar
did any one know what had happened.
When the discovery was made, a rush
was made toward the PROSTATE form,
and voices cried:
woman ?"
To which the answer came in a tone
and an attitude Of proud defiance from
the wronged wife:
81 am the man that did it.
The horor-stricken crowd surged
about the door, when her husband, re-
alizing what his Irritation had brought
about, grasped his wife and drawing his
pistol, said:
Gentlemen, | am going to leave
this house and take my wife with me;
and We are going through. il l have to
shoot through"
The crowd gave way before him, aLs
going ont into the night, husband and
wife disappeared under cover OF the
darkness, and for whole year evaded
the vigilance OF detectives, with the in
centive Of $3.50 reward offered bv the
parents of the dead woman and $50 by
the State for their apprehension. They
were finally heard Of in North Carolina,
where they were arrested and brought
back to Pickens county and lodged in
jail, and with them a little girl baby
which had become member OF
the family since their flight. The
woman was tried for murder, convicted
and sentenced to death, but through
the efforts Of friends the governor was
induced to commute her sentence to
ten years in the peDitentiary. and on
the Goth Of May, 1878, she passed
through Atlanta on her way to enter
the service Of her sentence at convict
camp in Washington county. So famous
had this girl-wife and murderess b..
come-her namo and her deed alrea "
the theme OF two continents--tlat the
announcement OF her presence attracted
the largest throng ever assembled ia
the city, with the possible exception of
one or more grand special days at th,
late exposition. Thesurgipg In ultitnle
grew wild over the desire 10 get A
glimpse OF her, while she appeared un
conscious Of her surroundings, main
tanning a detected and listleSs air. Her
husband and child accompanied her.
The influence Of u'.igrrsal sym.
pathy secured immunity from prison
regulations, and Ahe was allowed to
wear her customary gaib Ins;,ad Of the
penitentiary stripes.
At the Washington c. unity c,.., IL,
remained nearly year, during which
she was occupied in making clothing
for the other conyicts. her husband "a,