Richmond Palladium

Death of Mrs. Maffit.

We have taken no notice whatever of the strange stories which have been published concerning the marriage and the death of this unfortunate lady, having no desire to extend the notoriety which attaches to the name of John N. Maffit. But as the Christian Advocate and Journal, the organ of the Methodist Episcopal Church,--the sect to which that clerical mountebank has belonged, and the favor of which has given him all the consequence which he ever obtained,--has seen fit to come out with a history of the subject, and a repudiation of the man, we venture to copy from that paper the report of incidents connected with the sad affair, as given below:--

Considerable excitement has been produced in this community by the unexpected death of the young lady who was married to J. N. Maffit, in March of last year. First, it was said she died of "bilious fever;" then that it was the result of "grief arising from something which occurred soon after her unfortunate marriage with Mr. Maffit." During the winter of 1846-7, while Maffit was carrying on his meeting in the Centenary Church, Fanny Pierce, or Frances Smith, was attracted to the Church in company with several young friends, by a report that an acquaintance had experienced religion there. The result was that she continued to attend until she became impressed, and finally professed conversion and joined the church as a probationer. Soon after this Frances was asked, by a friend of Maffit, whom we shall not now name, how she would like to become the wife of Mr. Maffit. The girl, in utter astonishment, answered, "Why he is old enough to be my grandfather!" The motives were then laid before the mind of the unsuspecting girl. Brother Maffit was a very pious man, and the union would help her in her religious course--she would travel with him and see the world--he was a very popular preacher, and mingled in the best society--she would be a perfect lady, and associate with the most accomplished ladies in the nation. Besides, brother Maffit was very rich, and he would make her large presents to begin with, and then she should never want for anything which was really desirable.

When the girl's ear was gained, matters proceeded rapidly, but secretly. She was conducted, at night, through the basement of the Centenary Church, and taken through the window in at the back door of the Parsonage, to hold interviews with Maffit. She was presented with much costly jewelry; a costly rose-wood piano, &c, &c.; all through Maffit's agent in the affair. The result was, that the plan succeeded, and the prey was secured.

The first communication which the mother of Frances received touching the matter was made by the same agent, and then she was told that opposition was useless--Brother Maffit and Frances were engaged, and would be married at all events, and she might as well consent, and make the best of it.

The marriage was consummated--there being only thirty-seven years difference in the ages of the parties--but it brought with it none of the bliss which had been promised Frances. As to religious influences, they had now all evaporated.--Not a word did she hear upon the subject from Maffit, or those in his service in the matter of the marriage, from the moment of the commencement of the tragedy.--She had been carried away with golden dreams of elevation--her brain bewildered with phantoms; but the period of her intellectual hallucinations was of short duration. She soon had to grapple with realities. But we forbear. A portion of the history has been given you; but the rest, and by far the most mysterious illustrative of character remains behind.

That the poor girl was unhappy in her new and unnatural position was an event that might have been expected; but that she would soon fall a victim to her misfortunes has taken all by surprise. She ever had perfect health until her marriage, but for the last six months she had been rapidly sinking under the influence of grief and mortification. She was defamed--the worst attributes of character attributed to her--and many of the tales of her traducers were, by mistaken friends, whispered in her ears. Her heart sunk, and life became a burden. The functions of the brain became deranged, and she died in convulsions.

At present we forbear reflections--Thus much we think the public entitled to at present, but we are mistaken if more is not forthcoming from other quarters.

We know nothing of Mrs Maffit until circumstances throw the information in our way.

And we confess, little as we thought of Maffit, so many strange accounts had been given us, that we thought her none too good for the destiny upon which we supposed she had recklessly rushed. But authentic information, from various quarters, changed our views of the lady entirely. Now we can say, that we have heard of nothing prejudicial to her moral character which cannot be traced to one source--and that source, with us, is entitled to no respect whatever. The fact that she died through grief, is strong presumptive evidence of her innocence of certain things existing in rumor.

Females such as Mrs. Maffit has been represented by some, and suspected by many, to have been, never die heart-broken.

The materials for the history of the misfortunes of this hapless girl are in being, and there are those who have an interest in their publication to the world.--We see, from a notice of Mr. Maffit, taken from the Brooklyn Advertiser, that he is preaching in Arkansas. Maffitt, undoubtedly, has a right to preach--that is, if he goes on his own hook--and the people of Arkansas have a right to hear him, if they want to be taught religious truth by such a man as he is. But he has no standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church and should no longer be called a "Methodist Preacher." We have now a letter before us from Arkansas, stating that Maffit shows Certificates of character from certain persons in this direction. Whoever these gentlemen are, they have assumed a responsibility which does not belong to them. Their act is disorderly, and subversive of the ends of discipline.

But if people are disposed to be gulled by such informal papers, who can help it?