Extract of a letter to the Editon, from the Rev. A.W. Gay dated Wilksborough, September 12, 1828.

I have thought it might not be amiss to send you the following account of the fatal effects of ardent spirits, of which you can make whatever use you think proper.

At the fall term of the Superior Court of this county, held this week, a man named Barlow, was tried for the murder of his wife. During the trial, the following facts were proved. Barlow had been a dutiful son, a good neighbor, and an affectionate husband, until habitual drunkedness induced insanity. In a fit of insanity, he murdered an affectionate and pious wife, who had born him five children, the youngest about two weeks old. The manner in which the atrocious deed was committed, is almost beyound credibility. Barlow confessed that he beat his wife until he thought she was dead - that he left her, - and that he then pursed her, and beat her brains out with a rock! It is said that they had previously lived in perfect harmony, and that her character was irreproachably good. -- Barlow was acquitted on the plea of insanity.

At the time, Jacob Miller of the same county was convicted of murder, and sentenced to be hanged.

P.S. Perhaps it ought not to be disguised that the last spirts which Barlow was known to have used before the murder of his wife, was a few gallons, procured from a Preacher of the Gospel, who kept a Distillery. This was procured a very few weeks before the murder, and was the immediate cause of that particular fit of insanity. The previous habits of Barlow were well known to that Minister.

If a preacher of the gospel will in this way become necessary to murder and to the death of the sould for the sake of filthy lucre (sic) --- let it be known to the public; --- let no disguise be thrown around his character -- the sooner such preachers are known, and their characters duly estimated, the better it will be for the interests of religion. Who can read the above postcript without feeling indigestion -- without a thrill of horror at the thought that a minister of Jesus Christ, instead of saving, should by this traffic, destroy the souls of men!!!
Visitor and Telegraph

Western Carolinian Date 1828-09-23 Volume 9 Issue 433 In the public domain

Parrish Barlow killed his wife Nancy while drunk on moonshine. Acquitted by reason of temporary insanity.