American Gossip.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 254, 28 September 1883, Page 2

American Gossip.

, m . [By • Silver Pen' m the Auckland HeraldYJ THE EFFECTS OF WHISKY. A father, becoming intoxicated, a few nights ago, began to beat his wife, who summoned the neighbors. There was a terrible scrimmage, which ended m the father, mother, and five children being taken to the city prison. Why they take children to these resorts of crime has always been a puzzle to me, but possibly it is because, when parents arc locked up, there is uo one to look after the little ones. At any rate the family were taken, and incarcerated. Presumably, the poor children caught cold, for ihty were seized with diptheria, and four out of five died within three days. Another whiskey tragedy is almost aa horrible. A young gentleman m liquour, firing out of a car window, killed a young girl who was a relative. A brother of the murderer, also drunk, was so excited and horrified lest hit bi other should be convicted and hanged, that he 6hofc himself the same night* The third brother took a buggy, m order to drive home with the awful tidings, and, losing his way m the dark, drove over a steep enbankment, smashed the vehiole, and was seriously injuired. A FEMALE BORGIA. has just Confessed to having poisoned seven men. The affair has Jong been m the hands of the police, and it was known that her three husbands all died suddenly, but that was all. Three years ago a stage-driver and two passengers arrived at a camp at the further extremity of the State, the place being occupie I by a Mexican and the poisoner, Mrs Christian. Thjs good Christian, to warm the hearts of her guesta, produced a bottle of liquor, which Was par* taken of by the four men, who all agreed that it was bitter. Almost immediately the three men fell into convulsions and died. The Mexican, being effected by the the poison, jumped into the river and drowned himself j while the Christian women went off to the town whence the party came, and repre. sented herself as the wife, or rather widow j of the driver, and laid claim to his effects, but failed m m this villainy, *a she made a slight mistake m his belongings, and so reaped no benefit from her terrible act. No evidence being brought to bear at the time/she went free, although suspicion pointed to her. Lately, she has been captured, and confessed to having; poisoned these three men, as well as her three husbands.