The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-13
HAUNTED BY A SPECTER.
rHRoCKMORTON's GHOST STORY
RECALLED BY A DEATH.

One of the Men Killed in the Birming-
ham Riot a Nephew of the Southern
Gentleman Who Was Followed to
His Death by the Woman He Had
Wronged-A Drama Four Times
Marked by Tragedy.
From the Ne,0 Yorh; World.
The death of young Maurice b. Throck-
morton, killed at Birmingham, Ala, on
Saturday night while entreating the mob
not co attack the Jail. recalls story as
strange as anything in fiction-a story as
full of dramatic scenes and incidents as
anything that was ever produced upon the
stage. and which has been four times
brought by tragedy to the memory of
those who disliked most to hear it,
1t was nearly forty years ago that Maj.
.Tohn Throckmorton, son of Arts Throck-
morton, and uncle of the young man killed
at Birmingham, was one of the leaders in
the brilliant society of the old south He
was rich, witty, handsome. He was
the finest type of the southern gentleman,
impulsive. generous; kind of heart and
open of hand. He was connected by blood
and marriage with every prominent south
ern family from New Orleans to Louisville,
and when he came back from college to
live among his people the fairest prospect
was spread out before him. He went in to
enjoy life, and as he had ample means and
was a welcome guest wherever he chose to
go, time slipped by pleasantly enough.
Just when pretty Ellen Goodwin came
into his life no one ever knew. In all the
fierce light that afterward beat upon them,
their earlier intimacy remained forever
buried in mystery, and both car
ried the secret to their graves.
Ellen Goodwin lived near Louisville,
and was remarkable for her beauty
and the gentleness of her disposition. She
was well connected and had small fortune
in her own name. Friends of Throckmor-
ton saw them together for time, and then
suddenly their intimacy was discontinued
Throckmorton left Louisville on pleasure
trio and did not return for several months.
One stormy, clustering night in January,
when the snow was beating against the
window panes and the people were hurry
ing in to blazing fires, Throckmorton re-
Gault house, a hotel owned by his father
When he entered his room he happened to
glance across the street. He saw a woman
standing motionleSS beside q gas lamp
directly opposite. She was dressed in black
and although he could not see the face he
recognized the outlines of her figure. She
stood there so silent and spectre-like
that he became fascinated and watched
her for hours That was the first
night that "Throckmorton's ghostn was SEEN
1t was the beginning of what was to last
without interruption for twenty years. The
dark shadow that he saw from his hotel
window that night was to follow him all
over the world: it was to be with him in the
blaze of noon and in the darkest hours of
the night; he was to see it in every capital
in Europe; it was to be close behind him in
his most secret moments; it was to mingle
with his own shadow SO that in a delirium
of terror he would wonder if his mind were
not deserving him, and if both shadows
were not one and the same. 1t was in vain
that he tried to put oceans between him and
his awful phantom-like pursuer; in vain that
every resource of money was tried; from
that first stormy January night John
Throckmorton was never for one moment
alone
1t was wonderful how she appeared to
know of his movements. If he would sud
denly decide to go to party she would De
standing on the opposite side of the street
when he got out of his carriage. If ne re-
manned in his hotel for days, and if then, in
the dead of night, he slipped out by side
entrance, she would be close behind him.
Her appearance on the streets became so
common in Louisville that people merely
glanced at her carelessly as she fitted by.
AS the years passed her very name was for
gotten, and she was only known as
"Throckmorton's Ghost Sometimes, when
she would be waiting for him, children
would gather about her, and often boys
would boot and taunt her; but she never
complained, and no man ever heard the
sound of her voice.
The weather never appeared to inconven-
iencs her. She often would stand for hours
in the midst of driving rain or hail, without
shelter of any kind, apparently oblivious of
everything save the man she was following.
She always wore the same heavy black
dress, with black hat, and thick, black
veil, which concealed her face
At first Throckmorton attempted to laugh
the matter off. The woman was crack
Drained creature, who would grow tired
after time, he said. He could keep it up
if she could. If it amused her, he didn't
object. Thus he reasoned at first, but soon
became FESTIVE, and then it grew to be
deadly offense to mention the subject in his
presence. At last he determined to go
abroad. He made all his arrangements
his most intimate friends, and did
not rest until he had put the Atlantic
between him, and what had grown
to be a horrible nightmare. He went
straight to London, and the first person he
saw when he got off the train was Ellen
Goodwin. He fled to Paris and he thought
he would lose her in the whirl of winter
in Partisan society. In month he gave up
in despair. She followed him to clubs and
receptions and opera parties. Wherever he
was, day or night, he could never look
behind him without seeing her. He tried
all the large cities of the Continent without
avail and at last returned to Louisville and
again took up the old life.
He used to complain that he was chained
to corpse, that his life was blasted, and
that no man ever before endured such a
persecution. No woman would suffer his
attentions, and he soon gave up all idea of
marriage. He grew more and more moody
and at last he determined to rid himself of
his tormenor by violence. The scene re-
sulting from this determination, as it was
afterward told in court, was most dramat-
ic. One night about IL o'clock as Thock-
morton was walking home through lonely
street, he glanced over his shoulder and
saw his "ghost" few yards behind silently
following him. He waited in a dark alley
until she came up, and then he suddenly
sprang out on her. He snatched her veil
from her face and dragged her by the
throat to the nearest lamp post.
why do you follow meF' he asked, his
voice trembling with passion. She made
no reply, and clutching her more firmly by
the throat he drew dagger. She made no
attempt to resist him, and just as the dag
ger was about to be plunged into her breast
she cried out, half choked and every in
slant expectin0 death. nKill ma John but