An Instance of Female Heroism, which happened in New-York in May, 1773

The New York Magazine, or Literary Repository
2 (Nov  1791): 11

Mr. H____, who paid his addresses to Miss T____ for a considerable time, suddenly withdrew himself, and took several indecent liberties with the lady’s character. A third person, enemy to both parties, counterfeited the gentleman’s hand, and sent her an obscene and scurrilous letter. The injured and enraged fair, fully satisfied that her apostate lover was the author, sent for him; and on his coming, took him into her dressing room , and locked the door. ‘I have sent for you , Sir, (said Miss T____) to punish your insolence and cruelty; the world, no doubt, will censure me, and call my conduct madness, you will be acquitted; I shall be condemned: but you, Sir, have wantonly robbed me of my reputation, and I hold life without it insupportable.’ Upon which she presented him with the letter, and opening a drawer took out a brace of pistols, and insisted on his taking one. In vain Mr. H____ protested his innocence; he swore he was an entire stranger to the letter till that very moment, and wished to discover the author. All this was considered as hypocrisy, as cowardice added to the blackest villainy, and she persisted in her resolution. Accordingly he accepted a pistol, and retired to the opposite corner: she fired and missed him, and he discharged his pistol through the cieling [sp]. He again protested his innocence. ‘Hold, Sir,’ said she, and immediately produced another brace, and, as before, insisted upon his taking one. It was in vain to refuse, and once more they retreated: she fired, and shot him thro’ the elbow, and he again discharged his pistol in the cieling [sp].  ‘Now, Sir, you are at liberty to retire; I have redeemed my character only in part; I seriously advise you never to injure the reputation of a woman; for the loss of it must, if she has any sense of shame, be followed with the loss of life. Upon which she retired and shot herself.