Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-07-24
4 FORGOTTEN CRIME.
4 MURDER AND SUICIDE OF TERRY YEARS
AGO,
Brought to the Front Yesterday b. Some chastity
Rshcs-A Dagger With the Blood Of q
Murdered Babe Sill Upon lt-Lst-
ts. Never Delivered.

Yesterday Mr. Samuel Faris, some
time jailor OF Ohio county, brought to
the police headquarters small bundle,
wrapped IN a newspaper over twenty
years old.
The bundle was opened, and was
found to contain an ivory-handled dag
ger, stained with blood upon both
blade and handle, a gold breastpin OF
forgotten style, bit Of coarse Lace
black watch-guard, a large piece OF
opium, miniature portrait OF
woman, set in an antique
and peculiar case, small brass
check, oval 10 shape. with IN. IL II. Is.
stamped upon it, two large yellow en-
yelopes containing letters, and third
letter, without an envelope. One OF
the envelopes was addressed in pencil TO
editors OF papers, deliver immediate
w." and the other to Miss Mary ID.
Ellis, Wimstown, W. Va" On the back
of the third letter was the address, ITO
the proprietor OF the Union House,
Wheeling"
Here was evidently the rem
iniscences CT sensation,
and so il turned out. And terrible
crime it was, although long-since for
gotten, If, indeed. much attention was
Laid TO it az tho time-near the close OF
the civil war, when more momentous
events were happening right along
with great rapidlty.
Mr.. FarIs was jailor at the time, and
thus the relics came into his possession
and have been kept by him until yes
terday.
About the first OF Novemb Der, in 1864,
Miss Mary Nugent came TO this city
from Marietta, bringing Der babe with
her. She stopped at the Union House,
al the southeast corner OF Main and
Fourteenth streets, better known. per-
haps, as the Packard House. In room
ia that house, on November 18th, she
murdered her babe with dagger and
then attempted her own life. She was
arrested aud placed In Jail, when the
three letters which follow were found
but not delivered. In jail the woman
starved herself 10 death, dying on the
ninth day after she first refused food,
despite the efforts Of physician TO
save her life. Her attorneys which she
hired were n Richardson and *. l..
Barr. Her death, OF course, closed the
case, and the letters, the blood-stalned
dagger, ETC., remained in the possession
OF Mr.. Faris, until now made puollc.
The letters follow
THE LETTER TO TIE HOTEL MAN.
The letter addressed TO the proprietor
of The Union House is US folldws:-
"Nov 4.
Union House, Wheeling, w. Va.
MIR. Pruprietor:- you discover
that | have committed suicide don't
let crowd of people. full of curiosity,
into NV room TO gaze upon my remains
| wish to be laid out decently, with plan
coffin. Law my baby out too and lay ner
beside me, with her head upon my bosom
with nv arm around her, and lay us in one
coffin. for [ am tired aad sick Of life. BE
careful of the packages left behind,
and put one IN the ONCE and
give the other TO gu editor to puonsh, II
anyone will De so Kind. ] shall like TO be
buried in the new cemetery at Marietta,
o. Cursed be those who fsil 10 do this
on. sir. pity me for Gods sake, and do as
| old YOU. | came here to die. Remove
nothing from NY person what l have
placed there.
"NlRs. MINNIE NUGENT.
"M1riettd, Washington Co., o..
use the money left in my pocketbook
for my board. Burn up all my dirty
clothes. l never go this dirty, but failed
to get a change when left"
LETTER TO MISS MARY D. ELLIS.
The second letter Is addressed IN pen
Gil to Miss Mary D. Ellis, Wimstown, W.
Va, and is as follows:
DEAR MARY will be dead before this
reaches you. Keep a.: | left at your house
Remember me. | want them 10 bring
Jennie's remains and mine 70 Marietta,
and put them 10 the new cemetery. Come
to my grave sometimes Give this picture
TO - for me. Tell nothing of what /
told you; tell the rest 10 say nothing. My
mother and father aud Rus are tne cause
Of this. [illegiblel 10 yourself, some
day Say good bye. fell him 10 always
pray for Minnie and be a good boy. For
get me not. You can have all my clothes,
if you want them. / will meet you all in
heaven. Tell your mother 10 pray for me
Your true friend,
MINNIE.
ut was my intention TO kill myself when
| | left YOU That was why left my clothes.
| Oh, my God, am afraid il Will Kill --.
| Comfort him for me. | would ike 10 kiss
| him before | 90, but we will meet again.
Good by, nv sister, and may God forever
bless you. Tell -- 10 keep this for my
| sake and kiss IL sometimes. Tell - TO
come to my grave, 10 be good, to pray for
me every night, and be better. Show this
! 10 him.
MAY God forever bless him. How l
| love him tonight. Tell him ! shall never
forget when last we met. Don't think
hard of me- Tell Lizzie not TO grieve. I'll
! soon be with Annie and brother Harry How
| long to see them. Farewell forever.
| Tell - constantly thought of him. Tell
10 Jett goodbye, aud tell him to think Of
me kindly. Show this TO -. Plant a
willow tree by my grave See that they
bulv me where l tell them 10, for can I
rest contented here, so far from my only
friends. Il is 50 hard 10 die among straug-
ers. Good bye. Good bye. Good bye.
Yours, MINNIE
TIE LETTER TO THE EDITORS.
The letter to the editors, now be-
Iieved to be published for the frsttime,
is as follows:
"USIoS HOTEL, WHEELING, w. VA
''Jfr. Editor:
"No doubt you and others will shudder
with horror when they hear Of the desper-