Vermont Phœnix

From the N. Y. Courier and Enquirer.

A Marriage broken off.—About six weeks ago, a warrant was granted at the upper office for the arrest of a man named Ephraim Dougherty, who was charged with having stolen a quantity of tinman's tools worth $8, the property of Mary McGarvy. Nothing was seen or heard of the fellow until late on Friday night, when officers Wooley and Hoffman, who had been on the lookout for him, met him going into his residence in Grove-st., with a candle in one hand, and a young, beautiful, and respectably connected girl whose name we forbear mentioning. The officers did not know him except by description, but they arrested him and took him to prison, whither he was followed by the young girl, who was detained all night, and in the morning, a scheme of the most diabolical villainy was disclosed, and most fortunately was stopped in the outset.

It appears that about a year since, the prisoner, who has a wife, an honest, painstaking frugal woman, became acquainted with the family of one Mr. O. in Clinton street, to whom he represented himself as a single man. He paid his attentions to the youngest daughter, and having won her affections, he obtained the father's consent to a marriage, which was to have taken place on Saturday night, and every preparation was made for the consummation of the nuptials. Dougherty, who was fully aware that one wife is all that is allowed by the law here, wished to rid himself of his first rib, and packed her off into the country, where she at present remains, wholly ignorant of the capers her husband has been cutting up here.

On Tuesday night, Dougherty took Miss O. from home, persuading her that he was going to get married then instead of Saturday night, but instead of that he took her to his own residence in Grove street where he over-persuaded her, and she trusting to his love and honor, fell his victim. On Friday when she returned home, she stated to the family that she had been married the night before, and as she named the Minister, her father believed her, and said nothing about it. On Saturday, however, when he was sent for to come to prison and see his daughter, the whole truth was told to him, and rushing at Dougherty with the ferocity of a tiger, he would have killed him on the spot had the magistrate not interrupted and separated them.

The unfortunate girl, the victim of his fell passions could scarcely believe the truth when it was told to her, but when she was forced to acknowledge her conviction, her feelings can be better imagined than described, and she was taken to her parents residence in a state bordering on distraction. The guilty wretch who had caused all this misery, was fully committed on the charge of the larceny, but it is not yet certain what steps will be taken in regard to Miss O.