The Massachusetts Spy, Or, Thomas's Boston Journal

Extract of a letter from Gloucester, dated July 19.

"The following melancholy affair happened here this morning: One Mr. S- the only son of a genteel family of Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, who had about six weeks since married the daughter of Mr. J--, a wealthy farmer of this place, and who had promised and agreed verbally that, upon his daughter's marriage with Mr. S-, he would settle a certain sum; but after that he refused to do so: whereat Mr. S-'s friends were so much displeased that they actually forbid Mr. S- their house, and would never permit him or his wife an interview, which gave the young lady so much uneasiness, that in a fit of despair, she threw herself this morning, about seven o'clock, into a large brook that runs through their garden; and although several persons were at hay harvest in an adjoining field, not one could reach her time enough to take her out alive. Mr. S-, in a short time after came home from a friend's house with whom he had been on business; but no sooner he beheld the partner of his misfortunes lying dead on a long table, than, without saying a word, he went to his father-in-law's house, whom he found by himself, sitting in his parlour, and, after relating to him the loss of his wife, took a pistol out of his pocket, and begged of Mr. J--, his wife's father, to be the death of him also; upon which Mr. J--, in order to clear his guilt, accused a relation of advising, at the same time making use of many false accusations- which added so much to the phrenzy of Mr. S-, that he shot his father-in-law dead on the spot: The report of the pistol brought the servants of the house (who had been listening to hear the hardened conversation of their master) just time enough to see Mr. S- shoot himself, but he lived till half past eleven, and then he left the world with seeming great composure. This is the good effects of cruelty and avarice."