Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-11-23
The New York Tragedy.

An account of the killing of Mr.. Stephen
Pettus by Mrs. Southworth in New York
was published in the GAZETTE yesterday.
The cause of the tragedy, rs stated by
an acquaintance of Mrs. Southwortb, dates
back to crime committed by Pettus which
had been concealed from any except very
few of Mrs. Southworths most intimate
friends for long time. It appears, as ID
alleged, that casual acquaintance with
Mrs. Pettus developed into friendship. The
story goes that friend of Mira. Southworth
was In the habit of attending theatres ard
taking lunches with Mr.. Pettus, and upon
these expeditions was in the habit IF taking
Mrs. Southworih with Der from time to
time. The natural result of this kind of as
ISOLATION led to an invitation at the close of
u matinee one afternoon in New York city,
on the part of Mr.. Pettus to Mrs. South.
worth, to call at certain residence near by
upon the pretexJ Of seeing friend of hs.
AS the house YVES in the neighborhood and
in respectable part Of the city, after some
explanations on the part of Mr.. Pettus cal.
cuiated to quiet the lady's apprehensions as
to the strict propriety Of the proceeding,
Mrs. Southworth consented. She was urged
to take glass of champagne, which che
did. To few moments she LOST CONSCIOUS.
nesa, and knew nothing more OF her sur.
roundngs until the following morning,
when she walked up fading herself
in bed in the strange house. Over
whelmed with shame she returned
home, aud giving some excuse, the best she
could, to account for her absence, che at
tempted to conceal her disgrace by keeping
il secret. In the course of few weeks,
however, to her CONSERVATION, she discover
ed that some one must be taken into her
confidence, and that absolute secrecy would
soon become an impossibli,y from natural
causes. 10 her extremity she appalled, to
Pettus to assist her and still save her good
name from being sllied in public estimation.
la time she decided, at the instance Of Pettus,
10 order to protect the name OF her widow
ed mother, to consent to crime. 10 order
to avoid an exposure Pe,tus. it Is alleged,
made the most profuse promises OF substan.
tial provision for her, but refused to keep
them. Finally, on March 2G, of this yesr,
Mrs South worth made an attack upon Pet.
tus with an umbrella in Brooklyn elevated
car. and on May l6 she was arrested while
waiting for Pettus at one of the stations OF
the elevated road in Brooklyn. Many
times since the woman has been seen In the
vicinity OF Pettus' house and Office. Mr..
Pettus' friends deny this story, and declare
although bis relations with the woman were
not to be defended, yet she had no claim
upon him, and that she was more respon-
sibe for the intimacy than he was. He had
fnsly broken off his relations with her.
at the police station yesterday Mrs. South
worth said to the sergeant. II BILLED him.
am glad of it," Then che said vehement
", and with more clearness than anything
else she had said before lie ruined me
long ago. He took me to a house in Brook.
lyn. He said it was his own home. He
lied. 1t was an designation house. He
drugged me end ruined me and would not
marry me. l am glad I killed him.
ought to have done 1t long ago." Pettus
was confederate soldier who went to New
York from Tennessee after the war and en-
gagged in the cotton business. He was mar.
ried to southern woman, and his house
was the centre for visitors from that section.
Hi, slayer is the daughter of the late E. ].
Martin, of Louisville. Kg., aud the family is
we'll connected in New o .leans.