The Virginia Gazette

Avignon, May 15. O. S

A most unnatural Instance of the Violence of Love and Remorse has lately been perpetrated here. A Lawyer being passionately enamoured with a young Lady, carried on his Courtship with all imaginable Fervour, but with little Success for two whole Years, she ever telling him that there was no Quiet to be hoped for in living with a Mother-in-Law, whose Temper was the very Reverse of hers. The exasperated Lover removed this Obstacle by Poison, and after a decent Time of Mourning for his own Mother, who knew nothing of the Affair, he renewed his Addresses and was accepted. A few Days after Marriage, the Transports of Love subsiding, the shocking Idea of a murdered Mother rushed upon his Heart, and filled him with Resentment against his Bride, whose Beauty and Complaint had prompted him to such a Fact. He gave her no less than 17 Stabs with a Poignard, and that when she was striving by Endearments and soft Language, to dispel the Perturbation, under which she perceived him to labour. Being taken, he confessed both Crimes the former being unknown, and has suffered an excruciating Death, amidst the Revilings of the Populace, but not without some Mixture of Pity from those who are acquainted with the Weakness of Nature and Force of Passion.