The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-11-16
ROUGH COURSE OF LOVE.
Parental Objection Was Leading
Cause Of the Fatal Act.
TRAGEDY VlViDLY RECALLED
Epistles Found on the Body Of Young
Mitchell from His Sweetheart Show
That She Loved HIM With
Devotion That Would Go
Great Lengths Ra.her
Than Be Separated.


Great Lengths Rather
Than Be Separated.
Eow that weeks and nearly months.
have passed since the horrible AHlcheii-
& Lee tragedy. near Stony Creek. sussex
county. occurred. casting gloom over
that SECTION OF the State such as has sell
dom betalien any part Of Virginia, there
comes TO light letiers which passed be-
tween the young man and the girl he
so loved which throws much light on
their relations. and show the existence OF
q strong affection which was mutual.
These letters. or rather extracts from
thcIl iurnasned by relatives OF Mr. Ban
7.ie,er -,lltcneii. are published to-day ior
the first uiIne. Win the nope that iaey
nay clear UP Some of the mysteries sur
rounding the atialr. end leave ihe pubiic
10 luage whether 1t was murder ana
suicloe or a double suicide.
THE CASE RECALLED.
One recalling this remaii.sspie case will
remember tilaI Mr.. Eannister Mitchell.
a young merchant OF Stony Creek, and
Miss Mabel Lee, the daughter OF a prom
tnent merchant of the same place. We're
found dead side by side in the WOODS,
something over twenty miles from their
homes, on the border OF GreenesSi.le coun-
" They had loYeu each other for years,
but parental objection on the part OF
Miss Lee 3 father had kept them apart
Before starting on the mission which
ended in their deaths 1t was reported that
they would ciupe and be married. and
during their absence Of four days before
their bodies were found it was believed
they had carried out this, Plan.
The extracts which are published below
are from letters found on Mr.. Mitcheils 8
body after his death. and are now in the
possession OF his parents.
HE THOUGHT OF LEAVING.
The first letter is from Mitchell to Miss
Lee. when he thought of going to Cuba
"a am going to leave home. friends,
rroperty-mS all, everything and every
body. 1 can't wait later than September
c2a.''
Miss Lee in her reply is said to have
referred to the proposed marriage, May
CT, 1902.
:.Bannister you know November was
the time first appointed. but owing to the
busy season you suggested October. Well.
4 am willing to name that time it, can
Eet ready by then. so suppose we say
the 18th OF October
June 4. 1907 don't think we Will
have much more trouble now, and please
let this be the end of our deception. Never
ncain lets deceive anybody. It's wrong.
I know, and i am going to try to live
nearer to God and besa better girl than
eve. before In my life. I am indeed sorry
/ had to treat papa SO. but. sweetheart.
~ha; else was there for me to do?
loved you and could never be happy With
out your love. ] was placed between love
and duty. and love was stronger.
8 sarne-.'1 hope papa Will come up for me
alone Sunday. and then we can have our
iit,le talk on the way home. l do hope
he will be considerate Of our feelings and
treat us both all right.
This letter was written by Mr.. Mitchell
10 his mother concerning Mr.. Lees attl-
tude:
June 2, 1so2.-"To-day at 1880 o'clock,
with Mabei's consent, Went to Mr.. Lee
ard told linn that both Mabel and I had
deceived him long enough and that what
I had to say might or might not surprise
him but that i knew of nothing more
r1,ar,ly than to pay. to his honor that which
was due him. Then ] proceeded to tell
him that it was our aim to be married.
while / was aware that he was unWiilinE
for me to marry his daughter, but that l
could do nothing more honorable than
to FAY that ] would like to obtain his
co,.sent. He thanked me for my manhooo.
End added that he knew my disposition
and Mabel's, too, and that he did MOI
think we were at all suited, and he feared
our lives would not be as happy rs they
slould But If she had made up her
mind to marry me that he did not want
Es to- run away, but to be married at
hcme. j then thanked him for his court
esy shown me. and added that hoped
c.erything would prove satisfactory. 1
babe him goodbye and told him that l
would hasten to relieve Mabel OF the great
worry that She is now undergoing. trust
that our future may be as bright as we both
have anticipated and that we have only.
lived In way prompted by God and in
the spirit In which IIe intended man and
woman 10 love-
TALK WITH HER FATHER.
My Dear Bannister.-I have finally
hac talk with papa. and as result
! am the most miserable creature on
earth. thought knew what misery
was. but ! have never known before. I
had rather die tlsan live. Ny whole If >
has been failure have done no goad
and caused too much trouble Why was
ever born. ct! unhappy creature that I
am? see mgs IL In a new light now.
Papa was so ;;rieved at my deception.
He says tfat you can never come TO
Gee me nor can you come here Mama
and the children will never enter our
home. / can never be happy married
Infer these circumstances. am not
willing to be disinherited by papa for
anything on earth. Will give up all
nv bright future before / will submit
to that. These words We're not spoken
hastily. but papa meant them and he
yfll carry them out. He tnld me tonight
what lie ought to have told me sew n
years ago So. ] am trying to look at
fi1,s In a fair way. but my deep love for
.on ,na1ses ii extremely difficult"
..July 2s-i02
~ am so glad you are going to leave the
Creek. know IT will be the best thing
sor Won TO do May cou soon make a
n,,,nber OF new friends and forget me
your sweetheart - Bannister. !
1,tIl always think OF YOU as the one