I I - American Memory

[ 22 ]
In the mean Time Mrs. Hayes gave it out in the
Neighbourhood that her Husband had abfconded upon
Account of an unfortunate Rencounter he had had with
another Perfon, wherein he had given his Antagonifl
an unlucky Blow which had occafion'd his Death ; that
they had hufh'd up the Matter for fome Time, by a
Promife of a confiderable Sum of Money he was to
pay the Widow annually ; but not being able to com-
ply with the fame, he was forc'd to withdraw. This
Story Ihe endeavour'd to propagate with all the Indu-
ftry fhe could poffibly, tho', as iJie pretended, under the
greateft Secrecy.
Some few Days before the Difcovery of this Piece of
Barbarity, Mr. Jofiph AJhby, who was an intimate Ac-