SHOCKING AFFAIR.—Our usually quiet little town was on Thursday thrown into a great excitement by one of the most horrible, yet singular, transactions which we have ever known. It appears that a young man was fishing, early in the morning, in the canal, when he discovered an infant lying in the water. He immediately informed the town authorities, who took it out and conveyed it to a neighboring shed, until they could summon the coroner. In the meantime the news had spread through the town, and reached the ears of Mrs. T., who resides near the canal bank. She immediately expressed a wish to go and see it, and asked a young woman in her employ if she would like to accompany her. She declined, and said she would stay at home and take care of Mrs. T.'s little boy. Mrs. T. then went out to see the child, and the moment she was gone, this girl (who it appears was the mother) went out of the back door, and threw herself from an adjoining wharf into the dock. She was seen walking on the capstan of the wharf by a Mr. James, who kept his eye on her, and the moment he saw her overboard he plunged in and brought her safe on shore; yet so determined was she on self destruction, that she caught hold of a stick of timber on the bottom of the dock, and it was some time before she could be made to loose her hold. It appears that the girl, up to the time of this transaction, had always borne a good character, and last Sunday night was admitted a member of a church in this town; and so well had she concealed her case, that no one, not even the women of the house, suspected the truth. She lay down abed on Tuesday morning and complained of sickness, and, as she states, gave birth, unassisted, between five and six o'clock that morning to the infant, which she strangled and secreted. She rose after dinner and went about her usual work, doing the washing, &c., for the family, and as far as the evidence of the women of the house goes, they never suspected anything up to the morning the child was found, but it appears almost impossible. After she was taken out of the water she remained insensible for several hours, when she revived and related the above, and stated that she made up her mind to this dreadful alternative, rather than bear the disgrace she must bring upon herself by exposing her situation. But she is now a murderess, and forever ruined, I fear, both in the sight of God and man—so true is it that one step from the path of virtue may lead to worse than death. As she had suffered so much mental and bodily agony, no effort was made to arrest her, and last night she was conveyed away by her friends no one enquiring whither.
Medford (Mass) Post.
