Year: 1872

lived in 1928 at Harwick Hall, in the
county of Durham, England. Mrs. Now
bray was tall, powerful woman of great
energy and bravery in her tifty-fourth
year. Her sons were aged respectively
thirty-four, twenty seven, twenty four
and twenty-one.


Her husband had been dead many years.
Her two eldest sons were married, and
their wives and families lived with her.
The youngest, George, was wild and dis
sipated, and had given his mother much
trouble. He was deeply in debt, and had
been repeatedly threatened with arrest.
Mrs. Mowbray was wealthy, and kept in
her bedroom, besides quantity Of valu-
able plate, a large sum of money.


On Christmas eve Mrs. Mowbray's
son and daughter-in-law paid visit to
the residence of relative, Mr.. Chatter,
of Chatersburg. The domestics, relieved
from duty, were in their own portion of
tho dwelling, enjoying the festivities Of
the season. The watchman, who was or
dinarily on duty in tho kitchen garden,
took a hasty survey of his beat, and joined
the jewellers in the kitchen.


On Christmas night thoy were to have
small gathering of friends and neigh
bors, and Mrs. Mowbray began to con-
slider the arrangements necessary. She
would require the old punch bowl, and
|


the ladies and goblets which she kept in
the closet of her bedroom. She went
accordingly and entered the closet and
took out the silver, and laid it on the
shelf, ready for removal the next morn
ing. And then she took out large, old
fashioned carving-kniie and fork of
quaint pattern, and deposited them on the
shelf. She then returned to the parlor.
After sitting and musing for some time,
she took up the Bible and flmbled for
her spectacles. She could not find them,
and at length remembered that she had
left them on the shelf in the closet. She
ut once returned for them. Entering her
bedroom, she placed the candle on the
dressing-table, and lighted a small lamp,
with which she entered the closet.


AS she took the first step inside tho
closet, she heard the sound of some one
breathing heavily. She looked up, and
saw right before her the face of man.
She advanced step, and observed that
mans head, arms and body were through
the small window at the end, as though
in the act of wriggling himself through
the opening.


In the mans right hand was a pistol,
and his left had hold of shelf which
ran along the side Of the closet. The
man raised the pistol and fired.


Mrs. Mowbray in an instant seized tho
huge carving knife which lay on the
shelf, and advanced toward the rullian.
He was struggling to withdraw himself
from the window. His hands were on
the sill, and his head somewhat raised,
leaving his neck exposed.


Being unable TO work himself cut of
the aperture, he raised the pistol as tho
to hurl it at Mrs. Mowbray. The cour-
ageous old lady made one step forward,
and dashed the keen blade across the
mans throat, laying il open from ear to
ear. She then calmly retired, closed the
closet door, blew out the lamp, and TAX
ing up her candle returned TO the parlor,
first having satisfied herself that not
drop Of blood had stained her dress or
hands.


Half an hour after midnight her chill
drcn returned home. They found their
mother seated by the fire, serenely read
ing her Bible. They greeted her ailec-
tionately, and prepared to retire for the
night. Mrs. Mowbray said


Boys, remain behind little. Wish
to speak to you. You, my daughter, can
retire"


When she was alone with her children,
she said, with dignity and calmness,


"My children, have killed a man.
You will find his body fast in the small
window Of tho closet off my bedroom"


Her sons stared at her in amazement.
They at first imagined that she must be
laboring under some mental disorder (;
but when she related TO them, plainly
and nationally, and in her own straight
forward, terse fashion, the story as just
told, they saw that she was telling them
simple fact.


"Go," said she, "make what arrange
ments you please. ] will wait here, and
you can tell me what course is best TO
pursue in this matter"


The sons took the light and went to
their mothers room. They opened the
door, and there, sure enough, was the
body Of man hanging half through the
window. The floor WAS pool of blood.
With difficulty the eldest son got near
enough 10 the body without stepping
into the gore to raise the head, which
was drooping on the chest. He grasped
the hair and lifted the head SO that the
light might fall upon the face. As he did
50 a cry of horror escaped them all.


Great God it is our brother George"


"What do you say?" asked Mrs. Now
bray, in voice horribly calm, from the
doorway, whittier she had followed un-
perceived. "George What do you
mean?"


The oldest son dropped the head to pre-
vent, if possible, his mother from recog-
nizing it, and all of them endeavored TO
explain their exclamation, and get their
mother away from the spot. 1t was in
vain.