TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.
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We copy the following detail from the doings
of the ST. Louis Police Office, as reported in
the Bulletin of the 18th instant:


GEORGE MORTIMER WARDwELL, a genteel
and intelligent young man of about thirty years
of age was brought up this morning on charge
of being drunk in the streets, and disturbing
the peace. He plead guilty to the charge, and
evidently labored under the greatest emotion.
When requested to give some account of him.
sell, he replied:


"Sir-l have now arrived at that extremity of
degradation which, long ago, became satisfied
would. one day or other become nv portion.
Sir, do not believe was born to this In nv
youth, when | first started in the world, nv pros-
poets and hopes were as bright as the sky which
bent over me. [ married a beautiful wife when
/ was twenty-eight years old, and had acquired
a considerable competence. Sir, | need not tell
you hoao loved her see by your countenance
that You know something of human nature, and
are already satisfied that am not common loaf.
er-that have been driven 10 the present ex-
tremity By some extraordinary circumstances
But will proceed with my story


1.-Two years after was married to nv wife
who was young English lady of handsome ex.
pectations-and had a beautiful boy to bless me
with his innocent endearments. we received let
ters from England announcing the death of nv
wife's father, and soliciting me to come 10 Eng
land Immediately for the purpose of settling up
the affairs of the deceased, and receiving nv
portion Of the estate. Immediately made pre-
ParatiOns for my departure and, leaving my wife
under the protection of an intimate friend,
whose name was Henry Anson Willoughby,
(d-n him y l set sail for England NV busi.
ness detained me logger than had anticipated,
and l began to feel the most Intense anxiety in
regard to my family. The letters which 1 re-
ceived from my wife grew brief and unfrequent.
some times startling me with their abruptness.


Just before the final steps in regard to nv
wife's portion were about to be completed, re-
ceiyed letter from America, written by an old
friend of my fathers family. warning me to has
ten home if would preserve my future happi
ness and the honor of my wifei Imagine nv
dIsmay hurried home. leaving my business
still unsettled. and arrived in time to find my
hearth desolate, my wife eloped with my FRIEND
Willoughby. and my boy-my darling boy-in
the orphan asylum-an object of public charity


;" "Willoughby had represented himself as |
rich planter from Alabama. and that be was so. I
joprping atthe North for the purpose ofregainine
his health Placing my child under proper pro,