New York: Its Upper Ten and Lower Million — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
New York: Its Upper Ten and Lower Million
John Stuart Mill · en
"The town is full of rumors, in regard to a mysterious event, or
series of events, implicating a member of one of the first families
of New York. These rumors are singularly startling, and although they
have not yet assumed a definite shape, certainly call for a judicial
investigation. As far as we have been able to sift the stories now
afloat, the plain truth, reduced to the briefest possible shape,
appears to be as follows: Some years since, Miss Marion M----,
daughter of old Mr. M----, one of our first merchants, was, while
under an engagement of marriage with Walter H----, forced into a
marriage with Mr. Issachar B----, a man old enough to be her father,
who, it is stated, had the father absolutely in his power. The
marriage took place, but not long afterward, B----, while on a visit
to Niagara, was precipitated over the Falls, at dead of night, in a
manner not yet satisfactorily explained. Soon afterward the young
widow, then immensely rich, encountered her former betrothed, and the
fashionable world were soon afterward informed of their marriage.
A year passed, and Walter H----, the husband of the former widow,
was found in a distant part of the country, mysteriously murdered,
it was not known by whom, although it was rumored at the time, that
the brother of a wronged sister, was on that occasion the avenger
of his sister's shame. The beautiful Mrs. H----, was once more a
widow. Here it might seem that her adventures, connected so strangely
with the death of two husbands, had reached their termination. But
it seems she was soon fascinated by the eloquence of a young man
and popular divine, Rev. H---- B----. While betrothed to Miss Fanny
L----, daughter of a wealthy member of his congregation, the eloquent
preacher became a visitor at the house of the rich widow, and finally
his affections became entangled, and he was forced to choose between
said widow and his betrothed. He sacrificed his affection for the
former, to his solemn engagement with the latter. The 'slighted'
widow, endured the usual pangs of 'despised love,' coupled with
something very much like Italian jealousy, or rather jealousy after
the Italian school. The betrothed was inveigled into a certain house,
and her honor sacrificed by a gentleman of fashion, known for thirty
years as a constant promenader, on the west side of Broadway, Mr.
Gerald D----. The widow (strangest freak of a slighted and vindictive
woman!) is said to have been the planner and instigator of this crime.
We have now arrived at the sequel of the story. Unable to obtain the
hand of the Rev. H---- B----, and stung by remorse, for her share in
the dishonor of his betrothed, the widow put a period to her own
existence, in what manner is not exactly known, although conflicting
rumors state the knife, or the poison vial was the instrument of her
death. No coroner's inquest took place. The body gave no signs of a
violent death.