The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-09
A VILLAIN FOILED.
HISTORY OF THE NEWBERRY ELoPE-
MENT-A YOUNG LADY OF COLUM-
BIA NARROWLY ESCAPES a
HORRIBLE FATE.
From tie Columbia Register.

Fer the past three days rrmorS have
been thick on the street OF an elOpe-
mcnt, in which q Columbia young lady
figures prominently. As usual Ill such
reports every narrator has different
story. and the truth is much distorted.
We have been to some pains to get at
the exact state Of affairs, and this ac-
count of it can be relied upon as sti1ct-
" accurate. The young lady III Ques-
ton has during the summer, been VS.
iting friends who live on the suburbs OF
NeWberry, S. C. While there she be-
came acquainted with man named j.
j. Williams. Williams is an adventurer
of genteel appearance, smooth, plau-
sible talker, he is exactly fitted for the
rascality of which he has proven HIM
self capable. He was sewing machine
agent, and insisting on leaving a ma
chine at the house where the young
lady was visiting, made it convenient
to call every few days on one preteXt
or another. Being presented by an
acquaintance of the young lady, Will
liams at once commenced his blandish-
ments. The young lady who is mere
child in years, was not disposed tG
listen to him. Seeing this, he preTalt-
ed on mutual acquaintances to ADVISE
her to receive his attentions. The girl
was finally worried into receiving his
attentions. Having gained this much,
he proposed that she run away with
and marry him. Again subjected to
tie trying ordeal Of wrong and persis-
tent advice, away from home and
those who would have protected
her, the girl, half dazed, yielded con-
sent. Saddling two horses they, about
midday OF September 10th, rode into
town to a minister, who, after putting
the usual questions to the man to as
sure himself that it was right, and being
piausibly answered, consented to per-
form the ceremony. There not being
enough witnesses, the minister sent
over to school near by for his dangh-
ter to attend as witness, and to this
fact is due the Illustration of a diabol-
ical scheme. Immediately after the
ceremony the parties mounted their
horses and left town and the ministers 5
daughter returned to the sch ool, where
she told OF the marriage to her COM
panions. In G. few minutes the news had
spresi over the school and gone ont to
Main street. There it reached the ears
Of gentleman who but the day before
had heard Il r,lmor of Williams being
married man. This gentleman, act
ing with most commendable prompt.
ness, at once mounted his horse and
rode out after the parties. Meeting
the gentleman at whose house the
young lady was staying, he acc quainiad
him with what had occurred, and also
OF his suspicious. Confronting Will
liams, they told him Of the rumor
against him, and questioned him as to
whether he was not before married.
His answers were so vague and unsat-
isfactory that the young lady was at
once placed in charge of the ladies of
the house where she had been visiting.
Unfortunately Williams was not ar
rested, but was told to corle into town
to the telegraph Office and clear up the
suspicion against him. He promised
to come at once, but instead mounted
his horse and left for parts unknown.
Since this affair it is rumored that he
has been guilty of similar misdoings in
another portion of the State. There
is another rumor out that the day
following the occurrence noted above
the young lady was again party to
marriage ceremony, this time legal and
to the gentleman to whom she was en-
gagged, but the report is untrue.
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