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I think it's possible that Dr. Benjamin Howard was the source for the original article in the San Francisco Call (second article in this post), which doesn't mention Lees or state that Howard was personally involved in the events described., but I can't establish Howard's whereabouts at the time. -
It starts with Dr. Benjamin Howard, a UK MD living in the U.S. In 1895 he was falsely described by the Chicago Sunday Times Herald as having told a member of the San Francisco Bohemian Club that the psychic Robert James Lee captured JtR. Untrue. Dr. Howard threatened legal action.
From there, the thread contains many interesting tangential stories and research into peripheral subjects.Leave a comment:
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Ive seen this thread pop up from time to time, and I just havnt had time to read through it all to find out what its all about. Im assuming its about a suspect whose a dr?
whats it all about in nutshell gents?Leave a comment:
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I have had some health problems regarding my legs this past year, so I have not been very busy on this site as I usually have been. Not much to add (like the details about M. Orfila from the Marie LaFarge Case), but I just to add these pieces of information.
Harold Schechter has written a book entitled The Colt-Adams Affair (I believe) about the 1841 murder of printer Samuel Adams (I don't know if he's a relative of Sam Adams of Boston), by John C. Colt. Colt (who was convicted) never hanged. He apparently committed suicide in his prison cell in the old Tombs in lower Manhattan, during a bad fire that occurred that day. It was also the day that Colt married his girl friend mistress. John Howard Payne ("Home Sweet Home") was one of the witnesses. Colt's brother was the gun inventor Samuel Colt, and some wonder if the fire and "suicide" were staged by the inventor to allow his brother to cheat the hangman. Rumors drifted that Sam fled with his new wife to live out his days in Texas. If the murder of "seegar girl" Mary Rogers created the background of "The Mystery of Marie Roget" by Poe (who may have known Mary when buying Mr. Anderson's "seegars") the murder of Adams by Colt influenced one of the few writers in the U.S. in that day on Poe's level - Herman Melville. In "Bartleby, the Scrivener", the murder of Adams by Colt is mentioned. And in Melville's unsung novel, "Pierre, or the Ambiguities", the conclusion of suicides in a prison cell may bave been based on Colt's murder. Melville seemed to be up on this stuff. "Billy Budd" was apparently based on Melville's discussions of the controversial 1842 "USS Somers Mutiny" which led to the hanging of three "mutineers" including the son of the Secretary of the Treasury, Philip Spencer. Melville's cousin was on the court martial board that tried (and acquitted) the Captain of the ship.
Mary Rogers has been the subject of more that one book. John Evangelist Walsh made a name for himself as a literary scholar in his first (best known?) book, "Poe the Detective", where he studied the writing of the short story - the second of the three "C. Auguste Dupin" detective tales. It is not the first piece of American fiction based on a crime (Charles Brockden Brown's 1785 novel "Wieland" was based on a story about an insane farmer who killed his family believing God ordered him to do so. Brown used this as a jumping off place for a serious novel questioning the nature of God and good and evil.). Walsh showed that the original story was rewritten several times, because Poe was basing it on newspaper reports of the latest developments in the case. Many of these turned out to be red herrings, but Poe had to include them to show his mastery of the case - unfortunately it makes the narrative boring because Dupin (so quick and sure in "Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Purloined Letter") had to keep offering alternatives to his usual concentrated final version. Indeed, in 1843 the story (so far a sad one of possible rape and murder or rape and suicide) became more sordid to the public when a Mrs. Loss and her sons, who ran an abortion house in Staten Island (quite isolated at that time) were suspected of guilty knowledge of the fate of poor Mary, and Mrs. Loss was accidentally killed by one of the boys.
Another book ("The Murder of Mary Rogers" by Raymond Paul) took a close look at the whole story, putting it in context of the rise of newspapers and the reading public in the 1830s and 1840s. In particular he notes Benjamin Day of the New York Sun (who hired Poe to write "The Balloon Hoax" in 1837 about the first non-stop flight by balloon from England (novelist Harrison Ainsworth is one of the passengers on Mr. Monck Mason's Flying Machine) to South Carolina). But special note is given to the real founder of modern Yellow Journalism, James Gordon Bennett Sr., who discovered that all the news that's "unfit to print" was actually worth it's weight in gold in the public's attention to what was written. Gordon Bennett picked up on murder cases, first with the also unsolved case of a prostitute in 1837 (I think her name was Townsend) in her bed in a bordello, and then with Mary's odd death in 1841. Raymond Paul did come up with a curious solution, but I leave that for you to find if you read his book. I warn you, you may not accept it.
JeffLast edited by Mayerling; 12-28-2018, 11:33 AM.Leave a comment:
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A longer account of Dr. Chilton's testimony at the John C. Colt trial.
New York Tribune, January 24, 1842, Page 1, Column 1
Colt's Trial
Fourth Day
Court of Oyer and Terminer
[...]
Dr. Chilton was called. Am a practical
chemist. I called at Colt's room Sept. 24th;
examined it particularly. My attention was first
directed to a spot on the floor which had been
oiled over. On the west wall I observed several
small spots an eighth of an inch in diameter. I
removed and preserved them for examination. I
saw none on the base. There were spots very
small on the folding doors--an immense number
of them, though very minute. I took a small
hatchet, the one now produced, and a piece
of the floor, where the oil had been. I applied
chemical tests, and so far as they went, the spots
were proved to be blood: those from the wall, and
that from the hammer end of the hatchet, and some
which I removed from the eye of the hatchet.
It had the appearance of being inked over, and
on holding it to the light a red appearance may
be observed where the handle joins the hatchet;
I made an examination of the dust settled in the
crease of the floor and it gave indications of blood.
I did not closely examine the parts where the oil
was, yet there was a red appearance under the
oil. I received a piece of newspaper from Justice
Taylor; which had stain on it, (it was here
exhibited to the Court and Jury; it was very much
stained and had holes through it.) The particles
proved to be blood; the paper is dated June 13th,
1841; is a piece of the N. Y. Herald. A piece of
floor is in my hand, (exhibited.) It is about a
foot long and five or six inches wide.
[One of the jurors wished to see the hatchet,
which was handed to him.]
I took also a key and a pen-knife from officer
Smith, which had nothing on them. I have no
doubt that blood was on the articles I have
mentioned.
Cross-examined by Mr [Dudley] Selden.--The largest
spots were taken from the west side of the room,
four or five feet from the floor; I took them off
carefully: and had there been lime in it I still
could have made the analysis. I was requested
by the Mayor to make this analysis. I examined
nothing else by request than what I have
mentioned, as I recollect. There were spots taken
from the wall which were evidently not blood.
The human blood is nearly the same in all men;
but there has been said to be a little difference in
the amount of fibrin in the blood of males and that
of females, but that would not have been disclosed
by my examination. In small quantities there is
no difference presented. It has been said that by
the action of sulphuric acid, different odors might
be perceived in the blood of different animals; but
I have never observed it. The quantity I
examined did not exceed two grains, and I could not
decide whether it was human blood or not.
[...]
----end
Summary of methods used to test for the presence of blood.
The New York Medical and Physical Journal, Volume 7, 1828, Page 309
Method of recognising the stains caused by blood on steel instruments.— [Journal des Progres des Sciences, I. iv. 1827.] Professor Orfila has recently made some experiments on this subject with the view of illustrating certain questions in Medical Jurisprudence,—-in which many doubts are entertained whether stains on steel instruments are caused by blood, by acid juices, or by rust; and the following are the criterion which he proposes. 1. When the instrument is heated to 80 or 90° F. the stain becomes brighter if it is caused by blood, but is not altered if it is caused by rust or lemon juice. 2. A drop of hydrochloric does not alter a blood stain, but dissolves rust or acid stains. 3. The blood-stain steeped in water parts with its colouring matter to that fluid, and the red colour is retained on nitration, while stains caused by rusting or by vegetable acids either do not tinge water at all, or, if they cause a reddish-brown muddiness, it is removed by filtration. 4. The colouring matter derived from the blood stain may likewise be recognised unequivocally by its chemical properties, and in particular by the effect of chlorine: A minute quantity of chlorine turns it green, a larger quantity decolorizes it altogether, and an infusion of galls added to the decolorized solution causes a dark-red precipitate, which is the colouring matter in union probably with tannin. 5. Strong nitric acid destroys the colour of the stain caused by blood; the diluted acid dissolves it, forming a red solution, which precipitates red with infusion of galls.
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Account of the sulphuric acid "smell tested" mentioned by Chilton during cross.
The New-York Medical and Physical Journal, Volume 9, January, 1830, Pages 427-429
On the Aromatic Principle of the Blood, and the differences it presents in different Animals and different Sexes.—-In the number of this Journal for January, 1828, some notice was taken of the mode of determining by chemical analysis whether stains on clothes, knives, or other objects suspected to have been produced by blood are really such, or proceed from other causes. The tests which were described on that occasion, and which were ascertained by professor Orfila, it now appears may be applied successfully after a lapse of months or even years. M. Barruel, however, advances a step farther, and maintains that, by means of an aromatic principle, which he conceives exists in the blood, the chemist may distinguish whether blood has proceeded from the human subject or from one of the lower animals, what the animal is, from which it has proceeded,—-and whether, in the case of human blood, it is that of a man or a woman. He says that some years ago, when he was assisting M. Wauquelin in some of his experiments, he remarked, that when sulphuric acid was poured on the crassamentum of ox's blood, a strong odor of a cow house was exhaled. More lately in analyzing the blood of a man who had poisoned himself with opium, he also remarked, that when sulphuric acid was heated in a matrass to ebullition with the blood, an odor of the sweat of the human male was discharged, of such strength, as to compel him to quit the apartment. This circumstance having brought the former fact to his recollection, he proceeded to make further experiments on the subject, and obtained the following results.
The blood of every animal contains a peculiar aromatic principle, which has the same odor with its sweat and pulmonary exhalation. This principle, while it exists in combination with the blood, has no odor; but when the state of combination is broken, it is volatilized, and then the species of animal may be recognized by the odor evolved. The principle has the most powerful odor in the male of each species. It may be developed either from the entire blood, or after the fibrine has been separated, or from the serosity. The best mode of developing the odor is to pour a few drops of blood into a glass, to add between a third part and the half of its volume of concentrated sulphuric acid, and to stir the mixture with a glass rod; upon which the odor will at once be disengaged. By this simple method M. Barruel detected in the blood of man the strong smell of the male human sweat, such as could be confounded with nothing else; in the blood of woman he found the same odor, but much more feeble; in that of the ox a strong odor of a cow stable or cow dung; in that of the horse a strong odor of horse's sweat or horse dung; in that of the ewe a distinct odor of wool impregnated with its oil; in that of the ram an analogous odor mixed with a strong odor of the goat; in that of the dog the odor of its transpiration; in that of the pig a disagreeable smell of a pig stye; and in the blood of the rat the disagreeable smell of that animal. Analogous results were obtained with the blood of fowls, turkeys, ducks, and pigeons; the blood of a frog gave out a distinct smell of marsh rushes; and that of the carp an odor resembling the smell of the slime which covers fresh water fishes. He farther found, that even after blood had dried on cloth, and remained there for fifteen days, the aromatic principle might be disengaged by moistening the stained portion of the cloth and subjecting it in a glass to the action of sulphuric acid.
The experiments of M. Barruel have been repeated by various chemists in France, some of whom were unable to procure the results at which he arrived, while others procured analogous results as to many points, though not in every department of the subject. It appears, for example, that the odor exhaled by the blood of men is sometimes not distinguishable from that of women; for it is always strongest in people who have dark hair, so that the aromatic principle in the blood of a dark haired female, and that of a light haired inale, do not differ materially. M. Soubeiran, who makes this correction on M. Barruel's conclusions, adds, that he could not always satisfy himself that the smell of the aromatic principle of the blood of different animals was specific and characteristic of the animal. M. Raspail denies the accuracy of M. Barruel's statements altogether. M. Villermé was equally unsuccessful with M. Raspail. M. Leuret goes along with M. Barruel in almost all his propositions, and M. Chevallier seems to have obtained results equally concordant. A remarkable fact is stated by M. Leuret. He sent to M. Barruel the blood of a man, of a woman, of a horse, and of an ox, contained in numbered phials; and M. Barruel distinguished among the blood of the two last, and pronounced that both the two first were human blood; but he inferred, from his experiments, that the male blood was that of a woman, and the female blood that of a man. This error was afterwards easily explained: The woman from whom the blood was taken was dark and of a strong frame, while the man was of a lymphatic temperament, with delicate skin, and no hair on the face. These criticisms on M. Barruel's discovery are contained in the Annales d'Hygiene, &c., for October last, and in the Revue Medicale for September. It is added, in explanation of the success of M. Barruel, and the failure of others, that this gentleman has a peculiarly delicate sense of smell. The whole subject is well worthy of farther investigation, as promising to supply the medical jurist with a very useful instrument af research in judicial cases.—-Annales d'Hygiene Publique et de Médecine Légale, Avril, 1829.
----end
Link to an 1836 forensic medicine text with a section on blood spots. Only one volume was published.
Elements of Medical Jurisprudence, Volume I (London: Deacon, 1836), link
By Alfred Swaine Taylor
Pages 376-389
Identification of Spots of Blood
A later edition.
Elements of Medical Jurisprudence (London: John Churchill, 1844), link
By Alfred Swaine TAYLOR
Pages 332-338
Chemical Examination of Blood Stains
An abridged, American translation of Orfila's text on toxicology.
A General System of Toxicology: or, A Treatise on Poisons (Philadelphia: M. Carey & Son, 1817), link
by Matthieu Joseph Bonaventure Orfila, translated by John Augustine Waller
Orfila was known for his involvement in the case of Madame Lafarge, accused of poisoning her husband. A link to an account of her trial.
The Lancet, Volume 1, December 26, 1840, Pages 479-482
Trial of Madame LafargeLeave a comment:
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John Howard Payne was also notable for his connection with convicted murderer John C. Colt. Dr. James R. Chilton was also a witness at Colt's trial.
A summary of the case.
Remarkable Trials of All Countries (New York: Diossy & Cockcroft, 1867), Pages 226-310
by Thomas Dunphy, Thomas J. Cummins
John C. Colt
It was only four years after the murder of Helen Jewett, that the citizens' of New-York were again startled by another assassination, equally appalling in its character, causing intense excitement among all classes of the community. The perpetrator of the deed was John C. Colt, a teacher of book-keeping, and brother of the well-known Colonel Samuel Colt, of patent revolver notoriety. His victim was Samuel Adams, a printer, both residents of New-York.
The atrocity of the deed or any of the palliating circumstances which may have surrounded it, is not a fit subject for us to dilate upon. We will leave the public to form their estimate in this connection on reading the report of the trial, which follows this preliminary sketch, together with the statement of the prisoner, which was read in court by his connsel, Mr. Robert Emmett.
John C. Colt was born in Hartford, Conn., and at the time of the murder was abont thirty-two years of age. He lived with his mistress, Caroline Henshaw, at No. 42 Monroe street in this city, and occupied a room for his business in the granite building corner of Broadway and Chambers street,now the well-known Delmonico's. Few who to-day enter this celebrated establishment are aware of the fact that within its walls was enacted one of the most remarkable tragedies of the nineteenth century.
No human eye other than that of him who did the deed, witnessed the killing of Mr. Adams; but from the evidence brought forward on the trial, and the statements of Colt, there seemed to be no doubt as to the manner in which the unfortunate deceased hurried into eternity.
It appears that Adams and Colt had business transactiens, the former being engaged in printing a work on book-keepmg for the latter. A small bill of some fifty or sixty dollars was due to Adams by the prisoner, and on the seventeenth of September, 1841, he called at the latter's place of business, corner of Broadway and Chambers street, in relation thereto. Colt's statement of the affair is that words came between himself and Adams as to the correctness of the bill. Adams called Colt a liar, when the latter resented the insult by slapping the former in the face. A scuffle then ensued. Adams seized Colt by the throat, and matters began to look serious. Colt, fearing for his life (according to his own statement) stretched out his hand for a hatchet, which lay near, and struck Adams a heavy blow on the forehead, which levelled the unfortunate man to the floor, and he died in a few minutes. Colt was now at a loss what to do. He left his room and locked the door, wending his steps to the City Hotel, where his brother, Samuel Colt, then stopped, to whom he intended to impart his secret, and consult as to his future movements. Samuel Colt was in the barroom speakmg to some friends, and he desired John to go up to his room, and he would rejoin him in a lew minutes. The prisoner waited some time, but his brother not making his appearance, he hurried back to the corner of Broaddway and Chambers street. The body lay there covered with blood. He took a large box, crammed the body into it, wrapped in a piece of canvas, tying up the legs close to the trunk, and then scattered salt and saw dust over all. There were marks of blood upon the wall and flooring which he washed off, and poured ink upon them, so that they could not be noticed. He remained in the room until late at night, when be returned to his home in Monroe street. Next morning at nine o'clock he hastened to his place of business, procured a carman, and sent the box, which he had previously nailed up, on board the steamer Kaiamazoo, lying at the foot of Maiden Lane. The box was directed to a gentleman in St. Lonis, by way of New Orleans.
Adams being missed by bis family, inquiries were made, and it was ascertained that he was last seen going into the apartments of Colt. Those who occupied rooms in the building, had heard suspicions noises in Colt's room, the day of Mr. Adams' disappearance. These incidents, together with the fact of tbe body being fonnd boxed up on board the Kalamazoo, led to the arrest of Colt.
A trial took place, which we append in full, as reported in a newspaper of that date. The jury, believing that Colt committed the murder wilfully, and not crediting the plea of self-defence which he set up, convicted him, and he was sentenced to be hung, but the law was robbed of its victim, as on the day set down for his execution, Colt committed suicide by stabbing himself to the heart with dagger, furnished him for the purpose by some of his friends.
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Chilton's testimony.
Page 242
Dr. Chilton sworn—-I am practicing physician. Was called to the room of Mr. Colt, corner of Broadway and Chambers streeis. Saw spots on the wall, some of them an eighth of an inch in diameter. I preserved them for examination. Did not observe any on the base. There were an immense number of spot's on the folding doors. Also took the hatchet, which was placed in my charge; also a piece of the floor, having a stain on it. That was all I took at the time. I applied the test, and the spots proved to have been blood. Blood was on the hammer side of the hatchet, which had been inked over, as also on the handle, near the eye of the hatchet, which had been inked. Examined the spot on the piece of floor, which proved to be blood; oil had been thrown round the base of the floor, under which was blood. There was also a piece of newspaper, which had much stains upon it. It was opened, and showed much blood on it, and was also much torn. It was part of the New York Herald of June 13, 1841. Applied the tests to this, too, and found the spots to be blood. A key and pen-knife was also subsequently handed me by an officer, but I did not perceive any blood on them.
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An account which mentions Payne as one of a group of visitor's to Colt's cell shortly before Colt's suicide.
Pages 307-310
An Account of Colt's Suicide by Mr. L. Gaylord Clarke
A very interesting account of the circumstances anterior to and succeeding the suicide of Colt, has been written by Mr. L. Gaylord Clarke, which we append :—
I have no doubt that hundreds and hundreds of people, in this State, and in border States, are at this moment in the full and undoubting belief that John C. Colt, who took the life of Adams in 1842 [sic], is still in existence!—-that he never entirely "killed himself," but that he was "spirited away" from the triple-barred and triple-guarded "strong immures" of the Tombs, and is now in a foreign land, safe from farther peril!
Why, not two months since, I heard a magistrate from one of the lower counties of New Jersey say—-a man accustomed to deliberate, and carefully weigh evidence, that "he has no more doubt that John C. Colt was among the living, than he was that he himself was alive!"—-and I have heard at least fifty persons affirm the same thing.
Few persons took a deeper interest in the case of Colt, from the very beginning, than myself. Firmly believing that the killing was never premeditated, but was the result of a quarrel and a blow suddenly given, when the parties stood face to face, with each other (and this was shown by the cast of the head, showing the mark made by the hatchet, which Dr. Rogers and a committee, of which I was one, took up to Albany, and laid before Governor Seward) say, firmly believing all this, I never could consider Colt a deliberate murderer.
Nor was he. He was convicted for concealing the body of his unfortunate victim. Does any one suppose that if Colt had rushed out into the hall, after having struck the fatal blow, and said, "I have killed a man!-—we have had a little difficulty=—I have struck him with a hatchet, and have killed him!" does any one now believe he would ever have been convicted? Never! But this apart.
I believe I am the only survivor of those who left John C. Colt in his cell at the Tombs, in company alone with his brother Samuel, some three quarters of an hour before the time appointed for the execution.
The late Rev. Mr. Anthon, John Howard Payne, Samuel Colt, the unhappy condemned, and myself were the only persons in the cell at this time. It was a scene never to be forgotten.
The condemned had on a sad colored morning-gown, and a scarf tied loosely around his neck. He had a cup of coffee in his hand, and was helping himself to some sugar from a wooden bowl, which stood on an iron water-pipe near the head of his bed. His hand was perfectly steady, as he held the cup and put in the sugar; and the only sign of intense internal agitation and excitement was visible in his eyes, which were literally blood red, and oscillated, so to speak, exactly like the red and incessantly-moving eyes of the Albinoes.
Our interview was prolonged for half an hour, which was passed in conversation with Dr. Anthon, Mr. Paine [sic], and his brother. And when we were about to depart, and some one, looking at his watch, said that he thought he must be some ten minutes fast, poor John replied, "May you never see the time that when those ten minutes will be as precious to you as they are to me! But, after all, we have all got to go sooner or later—-and no man knows when!"
As we closed the cell door, leaving him alone with his sorrowing, faithful brother, the unhappy man kissed us all on each cheek, and bade us "Farewell!" with emotion, too deep for tears—-for not a drop moistened his throbbing, burning eyes.
We made our way witb difficulty from the Tombs, by the aid of the surrounding police, who opened a space for our carriage through the crowd, which, in every direction, for two or three blocks, filled the adjacent streets, and reached, on Franklin street, nearly if not quite to Broadway.
I resided at that time in Seventh street, between Eighth and Ninth avenues, and Rev. Dr. Anthon lived in St. Mark's Place, in Eighth street. We deposited the good doctor at his door, and after calling at the same time to acquaint the family with the last sad scene we had witnessed, Mr. Payne and I were driven quickly over to the New York University, in the southern tower of which, in the upper story, Mr. Samuel Colt had his incipient pistol-manufactory, or rather his Invention and Improvement Office.
As we entered, he was sitting at a table, with a broad-brimmed hat drawn over his brow, his hands spread before his eyes, and the hot tears trickling through his fingers.
After a few moments silence, at his request, I took a sheet of paper, and commenced, at his dictation, a letter to his brother, Hon. Judge Colt, then of St. Louis.
I had not written more than five lines, when rapid footsteps were heard on the stairs, and a hackman rushed into the room, exclaiming in the wildest excitement:
"Mr. Colt! Mr. Colt your brother has killed himself—-stabbed himself to the heart! And the Tombs are a-fire! You can see it a burning now!"
"Thank God! thank God!" exclaimed Mr. Colt, with an expression almost of joy.
We raised an eastern window of the tower, stepped out upon the battlement, and by a short ladder, stepped out on to the roof of the chapel, or main edifice, and saw the flames licking up and curling around the great fire tower of the Tombs.
There was something peculiar about the air—-the atmosphere-—on that day. One felt as one feels on a cold autumnal night, while watching, uncovered in the open air, the flickering of the aurora borealis in the northern sky. As early as half past three o'clock that afternoon, two stars were distinctly visible through the cold thin atmosphere. This was regarded at the time as a remarkable phenomenon.
Now everybody knows, or should know, that the body of John C. Colt was found as exactly as described by the hackman; that life was totally extinct; that the corpse was encoffined. removed, buried, and "so remains unto this day."
The Tombs tower caught fire from an over-heated stove ; and yet, all the doubters of Colt's suicide, whom we have ever met, contend that the burning was part of the plan; that it was hired to be set on fire, and that in the confusion the condemned man escaped.
L. Gaylord Clarke.
----end
Account of Payne's trial testimony.
The New York Herald, January 27, 1842, Page 1, Column 1
Colt's Trial
[...]
John Howard Payne examined--Became acquainted
with John C. Colt in 1839. Saw him for
some months throughout the year 1839. I've been
absent from the city the last two years. Took an
interest in the publication of "Delafield's Antiquities."
Saw him frequently during that publication.
I have the highest opinion of him in every way.
Cross-examined.--Never saw him under circumstances
calculated to excite or irritate him.
[...]
----end
Link to an edition of Delafield's "Antiquities" which ists J. C. Colt as publisher.
An Inquiry Into the Origin of the Antiquities of America (New York: J. C. Colt, 1839), link
by John Delafield, James Lakey
Link to a posthumous edition of Colt's text on bookkeeping.
The Science of Double Entry Book-keeping (New York: Nafis and Cornish, 1846, 12th ed.), link
By John Caldwell ColtLeave a comment:
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The name of John Howard Payne came up in connection with Robert S. Chilton. Here's a biographical sketch of Payne.
The New International Encyclopædia, Volume 18 (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1917), Page 213
edited by Frank Moore Colby, Talcott Williams
PAYNE, JOHN HOWARD (1791–1852). An American actor and playwright, best known, however, as the author of Home, Sweet Home. Born in New York, he lived in childhood at East Hampton, L. I. Payne showed great precocity. At 13 years of age, while a clerk in a mercantile house in New York, he secretly edited a weekly paper, the Thespian Mirror. He was a student of Union College, when the bankruptcy of his father interrupted his education, and he decided to go on the stage as the best means of supporting the family. He made his début at the Park Theatre, New York, Feb. 24, 1809, as Young Norval in Douglas. This enterprise proved an artistic and pecuniary success, and he subsequently appeared before large and enthusiastic audiences in Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. In 1813 he sailed for England and made his appearance in London at Drury Lane Theatre as Master Payne, “the American Roscius,” in his original part of Young Norval. His performances were well received by the public. After this he supported himself in Engnd as actor, manager, and playwright, but, owing to his lack of business ability, was often in financial embarrassments. In 1815 Payne published in London a selection of poems called Lispings of the Muse. His fugitive writings, besides verse, include many articles in criticism, one of the best known being an essay on “Our Neglected Poets,” published in the Democratic Review in 1838. Payne adapted many plays from the French and produced a number of original ones, among them Brutus, or the Fall of Tarquin, Thérèse, Virginia, and the comedy of Charles II. The song Home, Sweet Home occurs in his opera of Clari, or the Maid of Milan, which was produced at the Covent Garden Theatre in May, 1823. The music was adapted by Henry R. Bishop from an old melody which Payne had heard in Italy. The publishers of this song are said to have cleared 2000 guineas by it within a year, and the opera was very successful; by all this, however, Payne himself profited but little. In 1826–27 he edited in London a periodical called the Opera Glass. In 1832 he returned to America. He was appointed American Consul at Tunis, Africa, in 1842, was recalled in 1845, and reappointed in 1851. He died there April 9, 1852, and was buried in the cemetery of St. George at Tunis. In 1883 his remains were brought to Washington. Consult: G. Harrison, John Howard Payne (new ed., Philadelphia, 1885); C. H. Brainard, John Howard Payne: A Biographical Sketch (Washington, 1885); W. T. Hanson, Early Life of John Howard Payne (Boston, 1913).
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As a young actor Payne appeared opposite Edgar Allan Poe's mother, Elizabeth Arnold Poe.
Alumni Bulletin, Volume 2, April, 1909, Pages 131-195
by University of Virginia
Poe Centenary
Page 192
Where Poe was Born
by Walter Kendall Watkins
[...]
Near the theatre, on Berry street, one William Payne kept a school, when the Poes first came to Boston. A son, John Howard Payne, was born in New York in 1792. He made his first appearance as an actor in New York Feb. 26, 1809. April 3, 1809, he appeared in Boston, in "Douglas." In an after-piece, "We Fly by Night, or Long Stories," as Emma, Mrs. Poe sang "When Edward Quits His Native Plain."
As a lively and sprightly support to the youthful star of seventeen, Mrs. Poe was selected to appear on April 7 as the Juliet to Payne's Romeo. On the tenth in "Barbarossa" Payne's Selmi had as Irene Mrs. Poe. James Thomson's "Tancred and Sigismunda" were performed respectively by the star and Mrs. Poe. On April 17 Payne had his benefit night and played Hamlet, while Mrs. Poe was the gentle Ophelia. "For the Benefit of Mrs. Poe. Mrs. Poe respectfully informs the public, in consequence of repeated disappointments in obtaining places during Master Payne's engagements he has consented to play one night longer at her benefit. This evening, April 19, will be presented for this night only the celebrated play called Pizarro. Rolla (first time), Master Payne." On this occasion an original address on the drama, by a gentleman of Boston was recited.
Payne received for his six nights in Boston $800. His fame does not rest, however, on his acting or dramatic works, but on his authorship of "Home, Sweet Home." [...]
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This books has a chapter which elaborates on the correspondence concerning Payne, Mary Shelley and Washington Irving, which was mentioned in the sketch of Robert S. Chilton.
The Romantic Life of Shelley and the Sequel (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1911), Pages 361-384
by Francis Henry Gribble
the Sequel
Mary Shelley's Suitors
[...] this preface brings us to a curious three-cornered love affair in which the three names involved are those of Mary Shelley, John Howard Payne, the author of "Home, Sweet Home," and-—Washington Irving. That story is new as well as strange. There is no word about it in the Lives of any of the three actors in the drama. Mrs. Shelley's name is not even mentioned in the Lives of Washington Irving and Payne. Payne's and Washington Irving's names are not even mentioned in any of the Lives of Mrs. Shelley. Payne was the only one of the three to whom the things which happened mattered; and he did not speak about it. The record of them, however, was among his papers, which passed through the hands of autograph collectors for a long time before their significance was recognized; and from those papers the story can be reconstructed.
[...]
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The Wikitree entry for James R. Chilton lists Howard and Robert S. Chilton as his brothers, not his sons. Their father was George Chilton.
An obituary for George Chilton.
The American Journal of Science and Arts, Volumes 31-32, 1837, Pages 421-424
Obituary-—the late Mr. George Chilton. This excellent chemist and most worthy man, was extensively known to the cultivators and amateurs of science, not only in this country, but in Europe. He was a native of England, and emigrated to the United States in the year 1797, at the age of thirty. Soon after he settled in New York, he commenced a course of instruction in chemistry, natural philosophy, and astronomy. Among the gentlemen who attended his early lectures, were the late Dr. Mitchell, President Vethake, G. C. Verplanck, Esq. and the late Dr. Bruce.
Dr. Kemp of Columbia College, and Dr. Romeyn, were his firm friends and patrons, as, indeed, were most of the prominent and scientific men of our city at that time. In 1803, he delivered, in New York, a course of lectures on natural philosophy, to a large class of ladies, many of whom still remember the pleasure and profit they derived from them. In 1805, when the yellow fever prevailed in New York, Mr. Chilton was invited to deliver a course of lectures on chemistry and natural philosophy at Newark, in which he succeeded to the satisfaction of his numerous hearers.
He commenced the manufacture of the chrome yellow in 1808, but had the greatest difficulty in prevailing upon the painters to make trial of it. After their prejudices were overcome, the demand for it rapidly increased, and had he but gone more largely into the manufacture, he doubtless would have realized an independent fortune by it. He continued making it until the company at Baltimore reduced the price so low that it became no longer a source of profit. It is gratifying to his friends to observe, that even to this day a dollar a pound is offered in New York, by several chair painters, for the article such as he used to manufacture; the price of the chrome yellow commonly sold being but twenty eight cents.
In 1811, he established a laboratory in New York, for the manufacture of the pigments of chrome, from the ore discovered a short time before in the neighborhood of Baltimore, and also for the preparation of the finer chemical articles. Shortly after the late war with England was declared, he removed to Scotch Plains, in New Jersey, to take charge of the powder mills of Decatur & Atterbury. Here, however, he still continued the manufacture of chemical products, a laboratory having been provided for him by the proprietors of the mills. In 1822 he returned to New York, and established himself as an operative chemist and analyst. He also manufactured and imported materials and philosophical apparatus for numerous colleges and institutions of learning. Shortly after his return to New York, he delivered, by invitation, a popular course of scientific lectures to a large class, in St. Stephen's church in this city. In 1823 Prof. Silliman, who was prevented by ill health from attending to the duties of his professorship, engaged Mr. Chilton to act as his substitute, in delivering the chemical lectures in the laboratory of Yale College, which is a sufficient evidence of the estimation in which he was held by that gentleman.
In this course, he acquitted himself with his wonted ability, exhibiting an accurate acquaintance with the state of the science, while in the experimental illustrations he was ably assisted by Sherlock J. Andrews, Esq. then an experienced assistant in the department of chemistry, mineralogy and geology in Yale College, and now an eminent lawyer in Cleaveland [sic], Ohio.
Mr. Chilton's mind was early directed to inventions relating to science and the arts. He invented an hydrometer, which in accuracy is thought to be superior to any other, and may probably be hereafter made known to the public. The account of his rain gage was published in this Journal, Vol. VII, p. 326.
He constructed also a barometer, and some of these instruments have been sold and have given great satisfaction. A hydrographic map of his invention was pirated, and a patent taken out for it by some one who had no claim to it.
He made various improvements in chemical as well as other apparatus. He was naturally possessed of a great deal of mechanical ingenuity, and owing to the difficulty of procuring, at that time, the necessary instruments, he himself constructed the whole of his beautiful philosophical and astronomical apparatus.
In July, 1834, Mr. C., for the benefit of his health, and also for professional improvement, made a visit to Europe, from whence he returned in August, 1835. He was favorably received by many of the scientific men of England, Scotland and France. He attended the meeting of the British Association, at Edinburgh, and prepared a paper for that learned body, which the celebrated Dalton volunteered to present.
Mr. C. appeared to be greatly improved in health by his visit to the old world, but shortly after his return his strength declined, and his old disease, which was hydrothorax, with an enlargement of the heart, returned, so that he was unable to attend to the duties of the laboratory.
Although Mr. Chilton was a laborious chemist, and was accomplished in his profession, he published but little. To the Mineralogical Journal of the late Dr. Bruce, he however contributed several valuable articles, and some of his papers are inserted in this Jourmal. His reputation as a scientific and practical chemist was so extensive, that for many years he was consulted in the line of his profession by persons in all parts of our country, and in the city of New York, in almost every case that occurred in the courts of justice, where the opinion of an accurate chemist was needed, Mr. C. was the person selected. As a private citizen and friend he was greatly respected for his virtues and his amiable character; in the domestic circle he was affectionate, and in his protracted and painful illness he was sustained by the hopes of the Christian.
He retained his interest in science even after his infirmities became both distressing and alarming. He brought with him from Europe the latest improvements in apparatus and processes, and was always frank and liberal in communicating his knowledge. He was the principal mover of the effort to arrange the public course of geology, which was given in April and May, 1836, in Clinton Hall, and although his unrelenting malady, which then pressed heavily upon him, prevented his attendance on the fectures, he participated with a most respectable audience, in the interest excited by that sublime and delightful science.
We understand that the well known establishment, 263 Broadway, for chemical and philosophical apparatus and supplies, so ably and faithfully conducted by the late Mr. Chilton, will be continued under the care of his son, Dr. James R. Chilton. This gentleman, trained by his father, and having already much experience in the business, is well worthy to receive a transfer of the confidence so long reposed in his predecessor. From much experience of the fidelity and capacity of this house, we can and do cordially recommend it to all who may have need of such assistance, or of the efforts of analytical skill. We understand that the department of analysis will be conducted as heretofore. It is a subject of congratulation to the cultivators of science, that this country now affords so many facilities for its prosecution, and the establishment mentioned above is well entitled to rank among the best in the United States.
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Obits for Robert S. Chilton, who went on to a career at the State Department.
New York Sun, May 20, 1911, Page 2, Column 6
Obituary
Robert S. Chilton, a former employee of
the State department and later American
consul at several posts in Canada, died at
his home in Washington on Thursday at
the age of 89 years. He was born in Westfield,
N. J., and was a son of Dr. George
Chilton, a prominent analytical chemist in
New York in the early part of the last century.
He came to Washington in 1848 and
entered the Patent Office as librarian. In
1852 he was transferred to the State
Department. He served as private secretary
to Secretary of State Seward and had much
to do with the handling of the Confederate
documents and papers which were
surrendered to the Federal Government at
the close of the civil war. On Octoher 16,
1866, Mr. Chilton was appointed Commissioner
of Immigration. He entered the
consular service on February 2, 1871, as the
American reprsentative at Clifton, Canada.
He also served at Fort Erie and Goderich,
where he remained until he resigned about
ten years ago. He is survived by a wife
and ten children. One of his sons, Robert
S. Chilton, Jr., is now American Consul at
Toronto and was formerly chief clerk of
the State Department.
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New York Tribune, May 20, 1911, Page 7, Column 6
ROBERT S. CHILTON.
Washington, May 19, Robert S. Chilton,
formariy consul at several Canadian posts
and for half a century in the government
service, died here late last night and will
be buried to-morrow. Mr, Chilton was an
intimate fnend of John Howard Payne and
the author of the lines on Payne's tomb
at Tunis. He wrote and delivered the poem
at the unveiling of the monument to Payne
in this eountry. He was a contributor to
the old "Knickerbocker Magazine" and
served under Daniel Webster in the State
department. He leaves a wife and ten
children, lncluding Robert S. Chllton, Jr..
consul at Toronto.
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Profile of Robert from a book about authors.
Fifty Years Among Authors, Books and Publishers (New York: G. W. Carleton, 1884), Pages 641-644
By James Cephas Derby
Robert S. Chilton
Although the subject of this sketch has never published a volume, he has written enough good prose and poetry to make a very creditable volume if put in book-form.
Mr. Chilton has been a resident of Washington the greater portion of his life, and was personally acquainted with the authors and artists who have resided temporarily at the capital. Among his special friends, were the late Frederick S. Cozzens, Lewis Gaylord Clarke, Charles L. Elliott, and Emanuel Leutze.
During my residence in Washington in the winter of 1861-2, I saw much of Mr. Chilton, who at that time was the head of one of the Bureaus in the Department of State. His position brought him into personal relations with the United States representatives abroad-—among others, Mr. W. P. Chandler, who succeeded John Howard Payne, author of "Home Sweet Home," as United States Consul at Tunis.
Mr. Chandler had in his possession, and submitted to Mr. Chilton, the MSS. left by John Howard Payne, which contained, with other interesting letters, the correspondence between the latter and the widow of Percy Bysshe Shelley. Mr. Payne had introduced Mrs. Shelley to Washington Irving, who became greatly attached to the latter. The former said in one of her letters that Mr. Irving was the only man in the world that she could marry, and not lose her station as the widow of Shelley. In the correspondence it appeared that Mrs. Shelley was very much in love with Irving, and that the latter felt rather shy of her.
When the handsome monument was recently erected in Washington by that noble philanthropist and patriot William W. Corcoran, the latter selected Robert S. Chilton to write the ode on the occasion of its unveiling, which he read as follows:
"The exile hath returned, and now at last
In kindred earth his ashes shall repose.
Fit recompense for all his weary past,
That here the scene should end—the drama close.
"Here, where his own loved skies o'erarch the spot,
And where familiar trees their branches wave;
Where the dear home-born flowers he ne'er forgot
Shall bloom, and shed their dews upon his grave,
"Will not the wood-thrush, pausing in her flight,
Carol more sweetly o'er this place of rest?
Here linger longest in the fading light,
Before she seeks her solitary nest?
"Not his the lofty lyre, but one whose strings
Were gently touched to soothe our human kind,—-
Like the mysterious harp that softly sings,
Swept by the unseen fingers of the wind."
"The home-sick wanderer in a distant land,
Listening his song hath known a double bliss,
Felt the warm pressure of a father's hand,
And, seal of seals! a mother's sacred kiss.
"In humble cottage, as in hall of state,
His truant fancy never ceased to roam
O'er backward years, and—-irony of fate!—-
Of home he sang, who never found a home!
"Not e'en in death, poor wanderer, till now;
For long his ashes slept in alien soil.
Will they not thrill to-day, as round his brow
A fitting wreath is twined with loving toil?
"Honor and praise be his whose generous hand
Brought the sad exile back, no more to roam;
Back to the bosom of his own loved land—-
Back to his kindred, friends, his own Sweet Home!"
Mr. Chilton, in a recent note to me, says:
"A singular and pleasing incident occurred while I was reading the third stanza of the poem, "Will not the wood thrush, etc." I had just uttered these words when a bird-—a thrush, I think—-perched and sang from the limb of a tree over my head and towards which I chanced to look. Others observed this and spoke of it afterwards. Wasn't it strange? For the moment it possessed me with a feeling I cannot well describe."
Mr. Chilton relates the following anecdote, which was told him by his friend, the late Frederick S. Cozzens.
"When Thackeray was in New York in 1856, he often spent an evening at the Century Club, with many of whose members he became quite intimate. Frederick S. Cozzens ('Sparrowgrass') being of the number, at whose home at Yonkers (Chestnut Cottage) Thackeray once dined and passed the night. Before going to bed at a late hour, he asked his host for a book, stating that it was his habit to read himself to sleep. 'Give me something new, something that I hav'n't seen before, if you can,' said he. Having just received a copy of Lewis Gaylord Clarke's 'Knick-Knacks from an Editor's Table,' Cozzens handed him the volume, thinking it might amuse him. It was brought down by Thackeray in the morning and placed upon the library table with the remark-—'Cozzens, you couldn't have been happier in your selection of a book for me last night. It was just what I wanted, for I hadn't finished reading the first page before I was so overcome with sleep that I had to put the light out.' This was rough on poor Clarke, but the dear old boy enjoyed the joke, when it was told him, as keenly as anybody—-as who that knew him could doubt?"
Among Mr. Chilton's intimate friends, was the late Charles S. Elliott, whose portrait of Fletcher Harper is believed to be as near a perfect representation of the human face as was ever produced by a portrait painter. He relates of him the following amusing incident.
"Among the many anecdotes told of Elliott, the painter, which I recall, the following as illustratinga strong trait of his amiable character-—a disposition to encourage young and struggling members of his profession-—and being highly comic withal, is one of the funniest, and, as I happen to know, founded on fact.
"Elliott at one time occupied a studio on the upper floor of a building on Broadway opposite the Art Union Gallery. On the floor beneath, a young landscape painter, newly come to the city and quite unknown, had set up his easel and painted a few pictures. He had called several times upon Elliott, whom he greatly admired as artist and man, and begged him to call at his studio to look at what he had been doing, which Elliott had promised to do, and did so one day; unintentionally, however, for he was making his way, not without labor, to his own room on the floor above, and thought he had reached it, when he entered the young painter's studio, considerably 'set up,'as unfortunately was too often the case with him, poor fellow. He perceived his mistake, but made the best of the situation, and seated himself opposite an easel on which his young friend placed a half-finished landscape for his inspection. 'That's good, ' said Elliott, 'very good, 'at's capital head—good modelling, good color, I like the beard. ev'so much.' 'But Mr. Elliott,' said the young artist, who had begun by this time to take in the situation, 'this is a landscape you are looking at. You know I paint nothing but landscapes.' 'O!' said Elliott, settling himself back in his chair and stroking his long beard, 'is 'at so? a landscape painter, eh? Well, s'pose you paint my landscape, jus' 's I am!'"
Mr. Chilton is at present filling the post of United States Consul at Goderich, Ontario.
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Privately-published collection of Robert's poems.
Poems (Goderich: 1885), link
By Robert S. ChiltonLeave a comment:
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A 1982 book available in Google books only in "snippet view" mentions that Howard Chilton, son of Dr James Chilton, was a partner in a photographic business in 1843.
Anthony, the Man, the Company, the Cameras: An American Photographic Pioneer (Pine Ridge, 1982), Page 25
by William Marder, Estelle Marder
Edward Anthony and Howard Chilton became partners in a photographic business during 1842 and 1843. Howard Chilton was the son of Dr. James Chilton, chemist and owner of the drug store where the first American daguerreotype had been exhibited. The year before his partnership with Anthony, Howard Chilton had his own daguerreotype studio in his father's store at 163 Broadway, and it was with his father's backing that he formed the partnership with Anthony.
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Entries from an 1843 directory relating to the Anthony/Chilton firm.
The New York City Directory for 1843 & 1844 (New York: John Doggett, Jr., 1843), Page 20
Anthony, Edwards & Chilton, artists, 247 Broadway
Page 69
Chilton Howard artist, 247 Broadway
Chilton James R. Chemist 263 Broadway
Page 381
Co-partnership directory
Anthony (Edward) Edwards (Jonas M.) & Chilton (Howard)
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Anthony, Edwards and Chilton won second prize at a trade fair in 1843.
Annual Report of the American Institute, Volumes 2-3 (Albany: 1844), Page 59
LIST OF PREMIUMS
Awarded by the Managers of the Sixteenth Annual Fair, of the American Institute. October, 1843.
[...]
Daguerreotype Likenesses And Plates.
John Plumb, 251 Broadway, N. Y., for the best daguerreotype likenesses, (for the coloring.) Diploma.
E. White, 175 Broadway, N. Y., for the best daguerreotype likenesses, (for the grouping and general effect.) Diploma.
Anthony, Edwards & Chilton, 247 Broadway, N. Y., for the second best daguerreotype likenesses, (for coloring and general effect.) Diploma.
John Plumb, Jr., 251 Broadway, N. Y., for an electrotype copy of a daguerreotype. Diploma.
T. M. L. & W. H. Scoville, Waterbury, Conn., J. B. Curtis, agent, 208 Greene-st., N. Y., for daguerreotype plates and matting. Diploma.
Joseph Corduan, 106 Laurens-st., N. Y., for daguerreotype plates. Diploma.
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The next edition of the NY directory shows Howard Chilton as associated with a Robert S. Chilton in the firm of Chilton & Co. at 281 Broadway. This could be the Chilton brothers mentioned in the description of the Poe portrait mentioned in a post above.
The New York City Directory for 1844 & 1845 (New York: John Doggett, Jr., 1844), Page 70
Chilton, Howard, artist, 281 Broadway, h. 103 Crosby
CHILTON JAMES R. chemist, 263 and 756 B'way
Chilton Robert S. dauer'type, 281 B'wy h. 263 B'wy
Chilton & Co. daguerrotypers, 281 Broadway
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A recommendation for the firm of Chilton, Sunshine & Co., at 281 Broadway.
Brother Jonathan, Volume 4, March 18, 1843, Page 314
Have you had your likeness done by the sun–-drawn by Apollo with a sunbeam for a pencil? In other words have you sat to CHILTON, SUNSHINE & Co. for your portrait in daguerreotype. If you have not, and wish for a few minutes astonishment, pray go to 281 Broadway, and bring away a reflex of yourself “done to a hair” for the trifle of two or three dollars. Somebody well calls this photographic art “sublime.” It is certainly the most remarkable of modern discoveries. The likeness (taken of you in two minutes) is faithful in the minutest particular-—except only in color—-and for resemblance, even with that deficiency, no painting by the most skilful hand can at all compete with it. It takes you as you are at the moment, seizing what artists strive for so much and so vainly the colloquial expression of the face. The absence of color affects the likeness of but few persons—-those of ruddy complexion, and, of all pale persons, the resemblance must of course be infallible. Many are prejudiced against daguerreotypes from seeing the comparative failures of the first experiments; but improvements are constantly making in them, and Mr. Chilton has had singular success in perfecting his practice. The specimens at his rooms are worth the seeing of every person with an enquiring mind. And, by the way, those who wish for good miniatures should sit first for a daguerreotype. It saves at least four out of six sittings to the artist, and as a guide to paint from at the artist's leisure, it is an inestimable advantage. Mr. HITE, the admirable miniature-painter in Park Place, follows this plan, we understand, and gives one of his highly finished pictures with very little trouble to the sitter. His prices, we may add, too, are such as “suit the times.”
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Links to the other volumes in the Stedman/Woodberry edition of Poe.
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume I (Chicago: Stone & Kimball, 1894), link
By Edgar Allan Poe, Edmund Clarence Stedman, George Edward Woodberry
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume II (Chicago: Stone & Kimball, 1894), link
By Edgar Allan Poe, Edmund Clarence Stedman, George Edward Woodberry
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume III (Chicago: Stone & Kimball, 1894), link
By Edgar Allan Poe, Edmund Clarence Stedman, George Edward Woodberry
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume IV (Chicago: Stone & Kimball, 1895), link
By Edgar Allan Poe, Edmund Clarence Stedman, George Edward Woodberry
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume V (Chicago: Stone & Kimball, 1895), link
By Edgar Allan Poe, Edmund Clarence Stedman, George Edward Woodberry
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume VI (Chicago: Stone & Kimball, 1895), link
By Edgar Allan Poe, Edmund Clarence Stedman, George Edward Woodberry
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume VII (Chicago: Stone & Kimball, 1895), link
By Edgar Allan Poe, Edmund Clarence Stedman, George Edward Woodberry
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume VIII (Chicago: Stone & Kimball, 1895), link
By Edgar Allan Poe, Edmund Clarence Stedman, George Edward Woodberry
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume IX (Chicago: Stone & Kimball, 1895), link
By Edgar Allan Poe, Edmund Clarence Stedman, George Edward Woodberry
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume X (Chicago: Stone & Kimball, 1895), link
By Edgar Allan Poe, Edmund Clarence Stedman, George Edward WoodberryLeave a comment:
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A collection of the works of Poe includes a portrait derived from a daguerreotype obtained by a collector from a "Mrs. Chilton."
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume IV (Chicago: Stone & Kimball, 1895), link
By Edgar Allan Poe, Edmund Clarence Stedman, George Edward Woodberry
Portrait from a daguerreotype in the possession of Thomas J. McKee.
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A description of the origin of the picture.
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume X (Chicago: Stone & Kimball, 1895), Page 260
By Edgar Allan Poe, Edmund Clarence Stedman, George Edward Woodberry
Vol. IV.-— "Portrait from a daguerreotype in the possession of Thomas J. McKee."
We are indebted to Mr. McKee, the eminent New York student and collector of literary and dramatic Americana, for the privilege of reproducing this likeness. While very interesting, it is sharply distinguished, except in costume and bearing, from other pictures of the poet,—-most of which have so much in common. The expression is one of care and serious reflection, and the general presentment that of a man older in years than the original of any other portrait save that in our sixth volume. As opposed to this, it is said in a footnote to selections from Poe's correspondence, in the "Century Magazine," October, 1894, that this portrait "so closely resembles that printed with Hirst's Biography in the 'Philadelphia Saturday Museum,' March 4, 1843, as to suggest that the latter, though very rude in execution, was copied from it." The suggestion renders it possible that this is the earliest, rather than one of the latest, of the likenesses given. Mr. McKee purchased this daguerrotype, together with plates of Halleck, Bryant, Webster, and others, from a Mrs. Chilton, "whose husband and his brother were daguerrotypers, on Broadway, New York, somewhere back in the forties." The evidence of its genuineness is thought to be complete, and the original case bears the poet's name.
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Links to the magazine articles referenced above.
Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine, September, 1894, Volume 48, Pages 725-737
Poe in Philadelphia
Selections from the Correspondence of Edgar Allan Poe
edited by George E. Woodberry
October, 1894, Pages 854-866
Poe in New York
Selections from the Correspondence of Edgar Allan Poe
edited by George E. WoodberryLeave a comment:
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Varqm, I've never come across information about a committed doctor that matched the description in the Forbes Winslow interview.Leave a comment:
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Interesting.It could have been a prank.
Waterloo Bridge, London. October 8, 1857. 11.30pm. Out of the darkness shuffled an elderly woman carrying a large, heavy bag.
The toll keeper on the Strand side of the Thames, Henry Errington, watched as she laid a halfpenny on the iron plate and struggled to push through the stile. The bag was too big, perhaps three foot deep and two foot wide,.
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Interesting,in 1850s and 1860's,sounds similar to the Thames/Pinchin torso.Seems like to sell newspapers,to make money,like John Cleary.So they purchase a headless body and display it.The Waterloo Bridge mystery is new to me.Originally posted by TradeName View Post
Anyway was the doctor,found by Winslow,whether Jack or not, confined to the asylum found out?
----Last edited by Varqm; 11-16-2018, 09:13 PM.Leave a comment:
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