Kansas Physician Confirms Howard Report

[TradeName]

Chilton's endorsement of a brand of bitters.

Round Table (New York), Volume 1, December 26, 1863, Page 31

"In Hoc Vinces"

Romaine's Crimean Bitters

We present a summary of facts already advertised, viz: that CRIMEAN BITTERS were first used in a modified form In FRENCH ARMY HOSPITALS during the late Crimean war; (hence the name); that their efficiency as a REMEDIAL AGENT, was then fully established. But to guard against any possibility of subjecting the American public to imposition or hazarding our own reputation, we submitted the compound for examination and recombination to two of our most distinguished analytical Chemists, viz.: Professor James R. Chilton and Julius G. Pohle, whose joint certificate speaks for itself.

New York, Feb. 14, 1863

From a knowledge of the ingredients and their proportions entering into the composition known as ROMAINE'S CRIMEAN BITTERS, we are enabled to speak of it in terms of high commendation. CALISAYA, or Peruvian Bark, being one of its principal constituents, together with Herbs, Roots, and Extracts, having decided medicinal properties, we have no hesitation In recommending it to physicians, and the public generally, as an invigorating Tonic, intended to stimulate the digestive organs.

From its alterative properties. It is calculated to prevent, by its dally use In moderate quantities, CONSTIPATION, FEVER AND AGUE, mild forms of NEURALGIA, and RHEUMATISM. It is an antidote to the effects produced by the change of water and diet, correcting DIARRHEA, curing DYSPEPSIA, COLIC, SICK and NERVOUS HEADACHE, NAUSEA, SEA SICKNESS. It is expressly adapted to females of delicate constitutions, and the infirmities of age.

The preparation is composed exclusively of vegetable materials, containing no metallic or mineral substances whatever. Its taste is aromatic, warming and acceptable to palate and stomach.

JAMES R. CHILTON, M.D.
JULIUS G. POHLE, M.D.

That they have been administered to invalid soldiers by the head Surgeon of the U.S. Hospital at Newark, N. J., for months, with the most gratifying success-—the unanimous report of himself and seven Ward Physicians. That during this period they were placed for trial in families of the highest respectability and wealth in New York, Brooklyn and other adjacent cities, with results justifying our most sanguine expectations of their remarkable

TONIC AND RESTORATIVE PROPERTIES.

That they have the indorsement of the highest Medical authority of the U.S. Army, viz.:

SURGEON-GEN. HAMMOND,

AND

ASSISTANT SURGEON-GEN. BARNES,

founded on a knowledge of their merits from trials in U.S. Hospitals, but more particularly from long personal use, to whom we are permitted to refer.

We have numerous testimonials like the following: FROM HON. J. A. McDOUGALL, UNITED STATES SENATOR OF CALIFORNIA.

Washington, D. C., Nov. 3, 1863. Messrs. W. Chilton & Co.;

You wish to know the medicinal effects of Romalne's Crimean Bitters, as experienced by myself. I very cheerfully comply with your request.

They are excellent for digestion, correcting diarrhea, nausea, irritation of the stomach, and for the creation of a wholesome appetite. They pleasantly exhilarate, but followed by no stupefying reaction, and are extremely palatable.

In all respects they are the Best Bitters I have ever used.

Respectfully yours,

J. A. McDOUGALL.

EXHILARATING TONIC, our compound is the perfection of Chemical and Medica [sic] Art, as by its alterative properties It prevents constipation, and though it highly exhilarates,

NO DROWSY OR STUPEFYING REACTION FOLLOWS.

In this regard we CHALLENGE THE WORLD to equal it. Here lies the objection, even If there were no others, against the use of other Exhilarant Bitters known to us, that they one and all excite the brain for a brief time, then a dull, sleepy state ensues, thus unfit for the sick and convalescent, the student, and those of all other sedentary occupations, as well as exciting an Inordinate appetite for ardent spirits. Those who have used the CRIMEAN BITTERS for months uniformly declare the above to be true, and among them are Clergymen, Lawyers, and Students, whose names and post-office address will be given to any who will call at our office.

Put up in quart bottles, securely packed up in cases of one dotcn each, with directions for use. All orders promptly executed.

FOR SALE BY ALL DRUGGISTS.

W. CHILTON & CO., Marble Store, No. 22 Walker st., New York.

----end

Romaine's logo and an endorsement from a Freemason.

Vermont Phoenix, July 28, 1865, Page 4, Column 2

AD: Romaine's Crimean Bitters



[...]

Dyspepsia--From the Hon. Robert Morris, of Kentucky,
so extensively known to the Masonic Fraternity of the
United States:

New York, July 16, 1864.

Dear Sir: I have lived n the Southern States--much of
thee time In Mississippi for more than twenty years, and
have had my share of those complaints that affect the liver
and produce Dyspepsia. This has rendered a regular use of
tonics a medical necessity to me, and I am familiar with the
action of nil the standard "bitters" of the day. In my
opinion none of them are so efficacious in the Congestion of the
Liver and Dyspepsia as Crimean bitters. I say this after a
fair trial upon my own system and upon others to whom I
have recommended them. I believe if they were freely used
by persons whose systems are enervated, they would relieve
and eventually cure a large proportion of such cases.

[...]

----end

Endorse from a New York wine merchant.

Daily National Republican, June 08, 1863, SECOND EDITION, Page 3, Column 6

AD: Romaine's Crimean Bitters

Frederic S. Cozzens,
Importer of
Wines, Brandies, and Segars,
Penna. Avenue, Cor. 14th Street
Washington, D. C.,
And 73 Warren street, opposite the
Hudson River Railroad Depot,
New Yorks.

[...]

FRED'C S. COZZENS,
Sole Agent for Washington and Baltimore.

I have always refused to sell any of the
compounds known as tonic bitters, as I believe them
to be generally injurious, and composed of
deleterious drugs but from a careful trial of the
"Crimean" Bitters, backed by the certificates of
Drs. Chilton and Pohle, ot New York, I have no
hesitation In recommending them to my friends
and customers. FRED'C S COZZENS.

Washington, D. C. May 20, 1863.

----end

A police investigation in which Chilton was consulted. The Herald had been pushing this as a murder but it was found to be a suicide.

The New York Herald, August 29, 1845, Page 3, Column 1

Police Intelligence

The Case of Sophia Smith--Result of the Investigation

The Chief of the Police and Jonas B.
Phillips, Esq, acting District Attorney, completed
their investigation into the causes of the death of
Sophia Smith, late of No 80 Chambers street, this afternoon.
Upwards of twenty witnesses have been examined,
including several respectable physicians. The
result of their labors appears to have terminated in the
opinion, that the deceased came to her death by suicide.
In justification of this opinion, we present from the
mass of evidence, the testimony of Dr. Israel Moses and
Dr James Chilton.

Dr Moses, deposed as follows:--"I have no doubt that
the death of Sophia Smith was produced by strangulation,
and my firm opinion is, that it was produced by her
own hands. My reasons for this are, that she premeditated
suicide from the evidence of conversations with
others; the next place, the materials with which she
strangled herself and stuffed her mouth, had evidently
been cut off leisurely from a petticoat with a pair of
scissors. Another reason is, a chemise and another
petticoat were smoothly laid on the floor underneath her
body. The position of the knife in the hand, was such
as women are frequently in the habit of assuming, and
was evidently placed in the hand before death. The
general position of the body being natural. The ligature
being several times around the throat, indicated suicide,
whereas in a case of murder by strangulation, a ligature
passed once firmly round, would have affected the
purpose. If resistance bad been offered, so much cloth
could not have been stuffed into her mouth by a second
person; and again the ligature around the neck was not
so tightly drawn, but many respirations could have been
taken, allowing ample time for the infliction of the
wounds upon her person, by her own hands; but it
compressed the air passage so, as not to allow sufficient pure
air to enter the lungs to carry on their functions perfectly.
The appearances too, of the lungs, viz: the congestion
spoken of, was not so great as would have resulted from
sudden strangulation, From all these indications I have
arrived at the conclusion that the deceased committed
suicide. From the appearance of the intestines it was
evident that she had been laboring under some fever
previous to her death.

James R. Chilton, M. D., practical Chemist of the
City and County of New York, being duly sworn,
deposeth and saith, that he has made a chemical analysis of
the stomach and contents from the body of Miss Sophia
Smith, lying dead at No. 80 Chamber street, and
after a careful set of experiments, he has detected
nothing of a poisonous character, except a minute
indication of opium, so slight as scarcely to be able to
identify it. Deponent was also present at an examination of
the body of the deceased: the tongue was very much
coated and thickened; elevated, inflamed patches along
the intestinal canal, indicated recent fever, of a typhoid
character, which was very likely to have produced
delirium. From all the circumstances attending this case,
as well as from deponent's own examinations, he is of
opinion that the deceased committed suicide.

Samuel Smith, farmer at Shandakin, Ulster county,
father of the deceased, deposed that she was 25 years of
age, that she left home in 1840 to come to New York to
learn the milliner's trade; that she has been at home on
a visit every year except the last; that he came down in
the latter part of June last, to take her sister, Rebecca,
homw, as also Sophia, if she would go, but she could not
on account of her business; that the deceased was a very
affectionate girl; remarkably lively, cheerful and amiable
in disposition; and further, that so far as pecuniary
circumstances, she had always a good home to go to,
whenever she was disposed to avail herself of it.

In regard to the handkerchief that was tied roand [sic] her
head, with the name of C. Whitney upon it, Miss Whitney
deposed that the deceased and herself boarded together
at 64 Ludlow street for a considerable time, and
that during that time they interchanged handkerchiefs,
which is now more than one year ago.

It appears also that the deceased was addressed by a
young man named Edward Gray, to whom she was engaged
to be married, and that under the promise of
marriage he succeded [sic] in seducing her.

It also appears that the goods in the store No. 191
Greenwich street, belonging to Mrs. Hazard, and of
which store the deceased was to have half the profits of
the sales for attending, were seized by virtue
of an execution, and removed to he sold, and her business,
consequently broken up. This produced great depression
of spirits, and added to the sudden departure to
the South of Edward Gray, to whom she was engaged to
be married, caused, it is believed, an alienation of mind,
that led her to the commission of suicide.

----end

[TradeName]

I noticed in an ad for John Anderson's tobacco an endorsement by a chemist, James R. Chilton. Chilton was also involved in the introduction of the daguerreotype to the United States, and one of his sons may have taken a picture of Edgar Allan Poe.

A brief notice of Chilton's death.

Chicago Daily Tribune, July 30, 1863, Page 2, Column 8

Dr. James R. Chilton, the well known
chemist and physician of New York, died on
last Friday evening [24th], at Yonkers, in the fifty-
fourth year of his age. He had been in an
extremely delicate state of health for some time
preceding his death, and had gone to Yonkers
for the purpose of gaining strength and vigor
wasted in the pursuit of his exhausting
profession. Dr. Chilton was one of the most
distinguished chemists of New York, and
figured very prominently in many of the
causes celebres which have come before the
courts. The last case in which he participated
was that of the Rev. Rev. Mr. Harden,
tried in Belvidere, N. J., for the murder of
his wife. He was a graduate of the College
of Physicians and Surgeons of New York.

----end

The Anderson advertisement.

New York Daily Tribune, March 16, 1844, Page 4, Column 6

AD: Tobacco and Snuffs--John Anderson & Co.

[...]

I have analyzed a sample of Mr. John Anderson's "Fine
Cut Honey Dew Tobacco," and find it to be pure Tobacco,
without any mixture of those substances with which much of
the ordinary Chewing Tobacco is contaminated.

JAMES R. CHILTON, M. D., Chemist, &c.
New-York, April 9th, 1842.

----end

Another product endorsed by Chilton.

The New York Herald, September 26, 1848, Page 3, Column 4

AD: ANTIPUTRID.--A NEW DISINFECTING AGENT

Discovered by Dr. Lewis Feuchtwanger.--This preparation
claims no relationship to any other now in use. The following
certificates are but few from ever 100 others, equally flattering,
viz:--I have tried the Disinfecting Liquid, prepared by Dr. Lewis
Feuchtwanger, and finding that it removes the unpleasant odor
occasioned by sulphuretted hydrogen, and other deleterious gasses,
which arise from utensils of the sick room, from privies, &c.
JAMES R. CHILTON, M. D, &c.
New York, Anguet 31, 1848.

[...]

----end

Chilton endorsed something called "Elixir of Opium."

The American Journal of Science and Arts, Volume 44, 1843, Pages xii-xiv

AD: Dr. McMunn's Elixir of Opium

This is a new chemical preparation, containing all the valuable medicinal qualities of Opium, in a natural state of combination, to the exclusion of its noxious principles.

Full proportions of the greatest number of the noxious principles of Opium are contained in Laudanum, Paregoric, Black-drop, Denarcotized Laudanum, Extract of Opium, and such other opiate preparations of this class hitherto made, and to which are justly attributed those disagreeable effects upon the stomach and nervous system, which so frequently follow their operation and limit their usefulness.

This Elixir may be adopted in all those cases in which either Opium or its preparations are administered, with the certainty of obtaining all their sedative, anodyne, and antispasmodic effects, without any of those disagreeable consequences of headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, tremors, and a train of other unhappy symptoms, which are often as distressing as those which it was applied to remove.

The Elixir of Opium is not only superior to the artificial compounds of Morphine, in its being more mild, permanent, and uniform in its effects, but the preparation possesses also a superior advantage to their solutions, in not being liable to decomposition or deterioration from variable temperature or long keeping-—a serious objection to which the latter are exposed.

Finally, Morphine, not being the full representative of Opium, cannot alone, and that in artificial combination, too, produce all the characteristic effects of so triumphant a remedy, when so many of its other valuable principles, as Codein, Narcein, and Meconic Acid, are excluded.

Those who take Opium and its ordinary preparations, cannot be gnorant of the fact that its distressing and pernicious effects result from the operation of its deleterious principles, and that the tremors, languor, and lassitude with which its devotees are afflicted, and for which they repeat the dose to relieve, are sensations of its own creation. But in consequence of the exclusion of those deleterious principles from the Elixir of Opium, it is not liable to derange the functions of the system, nor injure the constitution and general health; hence its high superiority in all those cases in which the long continued and liberal use of opiates are indicated and necessary to allay pain and spasmodic action, and induce sleep and composure, as in cases of fractures, burns or scalds, cancerous ulcers, and other painful affections.

And to those persons who, from necessity or other causes, have been accustomed to the use of Opium, this preparation will afford a gratifying substitute, as it operates effectually, as an anodyne, relieving pain and spasmodic action, which is the grand desideratum in its use.

TESTIMONIALS.

From Dr. Chilton, the eminent Chemist of New York, in proof of the accomplishment of this discovery.

Dr. John B. McMunn having made known to me the process by which he prepares his Elixir of Opium, and wishing me to state my opinion concerning it, I therefore say, that the process is in accordance with well known chemical laws, and that the preparation must contain all the valuable principles of Opium, without thote which are considered as deleterious and useless.

J. R. CHILTON, M. D., Operative Chemist, &c.

New York, December 29, 1836.

[...]

----end

From the same journal, an ad for Chilton's store, which sold various "philosophical instruments."

Pages xviii-xix

AD: J. R. Chilton, Practical Chemist, &c.,

No. 263 Broadway, New York,

Keeps constantly for sale at his establishment, a general assortment of Philosophical and Chemical Apparatus, Chemical Preparations, and every thing necessary for the study of Chemistry and other branches of Natural Philosophy—-among which are the following:

Pixii's French Air-pumps, With Glass Barrels; other airpumps with brass barrels, single and double, of various sizes, together with the various apparatus used with them.

Large and small Plate Electrical Machines, Cylinder Electrical Machines, and a variety of Electrical Apparatus.

Electro-magnets, mounted on frames, of various sizes, capable of supporting from 20 to 3000 lbs.

Page's Compound Magnet and Electrotome, for producing brilliant sparks and powerful shocks. The same instrument, with a contrivance attached by which the intensity of the shocks can be modified at pleasure, which renders it one of the most convenient instruments for the application of electricity as a remedial agent in the cure of disease, and for physiological experiments.

Small working models of Electro-magnetic Machines, of different kinds, and a great variety of Electro-magnetic Instruments for the purpose of illustrating the theory of Electro-magnetism.

Galvanic Batteries on Prof. Faraday's plan, and others, for deflagration, &c. Calorimotors of different sizes.

Gas-holders—-Compound Blowpipes—-Portable Pneumatic Troughs-—Mercurial Troughs—White and Green Glass Retorts and Receivers, Flasks, Tubes, and Evaporating Dishes-—Porcelain Retorts, Tubes, and Evaporating Dishes, Funnels, Mortars, &c.—-Iron Retorts, of different sizes—-Bell Glasses, plain and stoppered, Graduated Bell Glasses, Tubes, &c.-—Woulf's Apparatus, Glass Alembics, Stoppered Funnels, Precipitating Jars.

Nooth's Apparatus for impregnating water with carbonic acid.

Apparatus for solidifying carbonic acid.

Glass Condensing Syringes or Fire Pumps-—Magic Lanterns, with Astronomical and other Slides-—Agate and Steel Mortars.

Porcelain, Wedgwood, Hessian, and Black Lead Crucibles—-Muffles and Cuppels.

Berzelius's Spirit Lamps, with Stands and Rings, Glass Spirit Lamps—-Models of Crystals in wood, in boxes containing one hundred different forms-—Daguerreotype Apparatus complete.

An assortment of Platina vessels, such as Crucibles, Capsules, Spoons, Forceps, &.c.—-Platina Wire, Foil, &c.—Sets of Blowpipe Apparatus neatly fitted up.

A large collection of Minerals, for sale by the single specimen or in sets.

->Particular attention paid to the analysis of ores, minerals, mineral waters, &c.

New York, June 19, 1841.

----end

[TradeName]

A brief history of the New York Atlas, which published the 1840 story about a "beautiful cigar girl."

Journalism in the United States, from 1690-1872 (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1873), Pages 338-339
By Frederic Hudson

In 1838, two printers, Anson Herrick, of the Express, and Jesse A. Fell, of the Daily Whig, started the Sunday Morning Atlas. They had no money. They were not supplied with an overplus of industry. But a paper issued once a week they thought they could manage without injury to their health. The News was selling at sixpence a copy. These two disciples of Faust calculated that if they could publish a paper at three cents they would obtain a large circulation, and make the concern a success with advertisements. The editorials were supplied gratuitously for a week or two by Samuel J. Burr (one of the editors of the Daily Whig),Worthington G. Snethen (formerly of John Gibson's True American, of New Orleans), and Frederick West, who issued the first penny paper in Philadelphia called the Transcript, afterwards merged with the Public Ledger. On the issue of the third number, West, with a limited credit of $50 per week obtained of Dudley Persse, of the firm of Campbell and Persse, for paper, became editor and a partner in the Atlas. West was a happy man. He was a clever little Englishman, ready to assist any one with poetry or pennies. Shortly after, Fell fell out of the concern, and John F. Ropes was roped in, and then the firm was Herrick, West, and Ropes. Herrick and Ropes became politicians, and published a daily paper for a short time, to the depletion of their bank account. Then the former was elected an alderman of the metropolis, and the latter held a sinecure in the Custom-house. Herrick was afterwards elected to Congress, and, for obvious reasons, was called a deacon. He died a few years since. The Atlas, we believe, is now published by his son.

----end

P. T. Barnum writes about his association with the Atlas.

Life of P. T. Barnum (London: Sampson, Low, 1855) Pages 356-358
by Phineas Taylor Barnum


This is not exactly the place to introduce a newspaper, but the incidental mention of Mr. [Frederick] West suggests the "Sunday Atlas," which was always a favorite of mine. I knew its proprietors, West, Herrick and Ropes, when they commenced its publication. They were my early friends, and rendered me many favors, which I cheerfully reciprocated whenever opportunity offered. My European correspondence, before alluded to, was written for this paper.

The incident I am about to relate requires me to mention, that the proprietors of the Atlas had published my portrait with a brief sketch of my life, interspersed with numerous anecdotes.

At the time Adams was murdered by Colt, the excitement in New-York was intense; and when the body of the victim was discovered, cut up, packed in a box, and shipped for New-Orleans, a pamphlet was issued purporting to give a correct portrait of the murdered Adams. Like thousands of others, I desired to know how the poor man looked, and greedily purchased a pamphlet. I found that the stereotype of my portrait had been purchased from the Atlas, and was published as the portrait of Adams! I fancied then, as well as many times before and since, that "humbug" did not belong exclusively to the "show " business.

In about 1843, the editors of the Atlas were much annoyed by a series of libel suits. The first case required bonds of $5000. I gave them. A second suit from the same party was immediately instituted, and I again gave the same amount of bonds. A third suit followed, and I again offered myself as their bail. The lawyer of the plaintiff, having hoped by bringing so many suits to give the defendants trouble in obtaining bonds, was much annoyed at my continually offering myself as their bail.

On my third appearance before the judge for that purpose, the lawyer being much vexed became impertinent, "Mr. Barnum," said he, "you have already given bail to the amount of $10,000, and now you offer yourself for $5000 more. Are you worth $15,000, sir?"

"I am, sir," I replied.

"Of what does your property consist, sir?" he asked peremptorily.

"Do you desire a list of it?" I inquired.

"I do, sir, and I insist upon your giving it before you are accepted as further security," he replied firmly.

"With pleasure, sir. Have the kindness to mark it down as I call it off."

"I will, sir," he answered, taking a sheet of paper and dipping his pen in the ink for that purpose.

"One preserved elephant, $1000," said I.

He looked a little surprised, but marked it down.

"One stuffed monkey skin, and two gander skins, good as new— $15 for the lot."

"What does this mean? What are you doing, sir?" said he, starting to his feet in indignation.

"I am giving you an inventory of my Museum. It contains only five hundred thousand different articles," I replied with due gravity.

"I appeal to the court for protection from insult," exclaimed the lawyer, his voice trembling with anger, and the blood rushing to his face as he spoke.

Judge Ulshoeffer decided that I was doing just what the lawyer had required, and that if he was unwilling to take an affidavit as to my responsibility, I must go on with the "catalogue" of the Museum. The lawyer mutteringly decided to accept the affidavit and bail without going further into the "bill of particulars."

----end

The Knickerbocker notes that Frederick West, editor of the Atlas, had a poem published in a magazine edited by Edgar Allan Poe.


The Knickerbocker; Or, New-York Monthly Magazine, Volume 15, April 1840, Page 359

‘The GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, PHILADELPHIA.--Among the papers we have found leisure to peruse in this periodical for March, the only number we have seen for many months, we find two cantos of an elaborate historical poem, entitled ‘Columbus,’ from the pen of our correspondent “QUINCE,' in other words, FREDERICK WEST, Esq., editor of that lively and entertaining journal, the ‘Sunday Morning Atlas.' The writer displays an intimate knowledge of his subject, and brings a subdued imagination happily in aid of history. The progress of the autobiography is natural, the rhythm easy and flowing, and the images felicitous, yet not profuse. The whole poem, unless it should greatly deteriorate in its closing portions, will reflect much credit upon the author. We observe, also, in the same number, a continuation of the ‘Journal of Julius Rodman, being a minute account of the first passage across the Rocky Mountains ever achieved by civilized man.' We think we discover the clever hand of the resident editor of the ‘Gentleman's Magazine,' Mr. E. A. Poe, in these records; the more, perhaps, that the fabulous narrative of ‘Mr. ARTHUR GORDON PYM,’ of Nantucket, has shown us how deftly he can manage this species of Crusoe matériel. The number is accompanied by a view of the pretty little white house in the Highlands, owned, or occupied for two or three summers, by our worthy poetical and military contemporary of the ‘New-York Mirror,” but for some time past the property of Mr. Tompkins, of Staten Island, the original owner. A few good-sized trees, and a little easier access, would add to its attractions as a summer residence, though it would still scarcely be “the gem of the Hudson," as it is termed in the description, which was evidently penned "a long time ago.” It should be remembered that there are several “gems" of country-houses on our glorious river-—if not more . This "gem," however, says the description, acquires additional value, from being the spot where, under the inspiration of the scene, several of our amiable poet's cleverest lyrical effusions have been "ripened for the world."

----end

West's poem about chastity, children, death and the torments of conscience.

The Knickerbocker; Or, New-York Monthly Magazine, Volume 15, January, 1840, Page 71

Cabinet Pictures
by Quince [Frederick West]

CHASTITY

THE purely chaste, are those who're chaste in thought;
An angel’s purity within them lives:
Their unstained souls with Heaven's own fire are fraught,
Which its great glory to their being gives.
The unsunned snow upon the eternal hills,
The crystal ice, in regions where no ray
Of warmth the frozen air one moment fills,
To thaw its everlasting front away,
May not example peerless CHASTITY:
For they, removed from their peculiar sphere,
Lost in a moment to themselves would be;
But the chaste soul Temptation's self may dare,
And win itself from man a glorious crown,
On which the gods approvingly look down.

CHILDREN

MIRTH, pleasure, innocence, delight and joy,
Encompass children of a tender age;
Grief, sorrow, agony — sin's dark alloy,
Stamp no impression on that sunny page:
The untainted spring of life's mysterious river
Here owns its clear, its crystal fountain-head;
Pure as it flowed from the all-pure All-Giver,
Its light unclouded radiantly is shed.
We gaze on children sporting in their glee,
And pause to watch them as they gaily move,
And wonder what the infant charm can be,
That binds them to us in the bonds of love:
Ah! know we not that it is heaven we see?
That heaven itself exists in purity?

CHURCH-YARD

I wander in the city of the dead,
Midst streets of corses, mouldering to decay!
Where is the pride of riches? — it is fled!
Where pomp and circumstance – all passed away!
The loved and lovely lie together sleeping,
The high and lowly in one dust are laid;
A solitary mourner here is weeping
O'er the last tenant Nature's debt has paid;
Soon Time, Grief's great assuager, will dry up
The flowing tears, leaving the dead unwept.
Drink, then, proud mortal from the better cup
Of wholesome truth. Wake up!—too long thou'st slept.
High as thou art, lowly in death thou’lt lie;
The CHURCH-YARD calls to thee, ‘Prepare to die!'

CONSCIENCE

PAINT hell in horrors: picture liquid fire,
In which the quivering spirit ever lives
Where the fallen angels, now fell demon's, ire,
The eternal lash to the racked sufferer gives.
Crown him with scorpions, let each piercing fang
Stab him continuous, and let heaven's bright bliss
Live in his sight, to add a keener pang
To his dread suffering — picture thou all this!
'T is not more dreadful than the awful voice
Of CONSCIENCE torturing the sinful soul,
"Till madness is a blessing. Oh, rejoice,
Thou whose pure life gives Conscience no control.
In good men's hearts Conscience as love doth dwell;
It is the evil-doer's burning hell!

----end

Links to poems by West (or "Quince") appearing in the Gentleman's Magazine.

Burtons' Gentleman's Magazine and American Monthly Review, Volume 6, March, 1840, Pages 127-138

Columbus.
A Historical Poem

Canto First and Canto Second

By Frederick West, Esq., New York


April, 1840, Pages 172-178

Canto Third


May, 1840, Pages 216-223

Canto Fourth


Volume 7, September, 1840, Pages 121-124

Morning
by Frederick West


November, 1840, Page 233

Cabinet Pictures
by Quince

[TradeName]

A footnote in the Mabbott introduction to Marie Roget:

John Anderson is listed in the New York Business Directory, 1840-1841, as “Importer of Havana & Principe Segars in all their varieties, 321 Broadway, sign of the Indian Chief.” On September 13, 1840, the New York Sunday Morning Atlas carried a woodcut of a dark-haired beauty proffering a cigar as “The Cigar Girl,” No. 22 in an illustrated series, “Portraits of the People.” The picture was accompanied by an essay on the recently adopted English practice of hiring pretty girls as clerks in cigar stores for the purpose of attracting the “men about town.” Following the essay was a “brief history” emphasizing the dangers of such employment, although in the narrative the virtue of the fictional heroine triumphs and is rewarded. The Atlas picture was used again in that paper for August 6, 1841 as a portrait of Mary Rogers (see Walsh, Poe the Detective, p. 59).

----end

A 1995 book reproduced the woodcut mentioned above. (Not sure if the link will work for everyone.)

The Mysterious Death of Mary Rogers: Sex and Culture in Nineteenth-Century New York (New York: Oxford University Press, 1995), Page 135
By Amy Gilman Srebnick


I found a copy of the article mentioned, but unfortunately some of the text is not clear because of crinkles in the newspaper.


Richmond Palladium (Indiana), November 07, 1840, Page 1, Column 1

The Cigar Girl

From the Sunday Morning Atlas [New York]

It is but a few years since cigar stores sprung
up among us. Before they were opened in this
city, cigars were retailed almost exclusively at
hotels, groggeries, and groceries. Some calculating
Yankee who had travelled, or scheming
Englishman who thought he might make money by
adopting a custom of his country, doubtless was
the first to open a store in Gotham for the exclusive
sale of cigars. In a place that may almost
be called a city of smokers, the cigar store is a
great convenience, for there are many gentlemen
who inhale the weed who would not like to enter
a public house for a supply, which they must
previously have done, had they not supplied themselves
with a box at a time.

One custom brings on another very rapidly.

When the fox got his head into the house it was
not long before his tail came following after.--
The cigar stores, which depended exclusively upon
the excellency of their commodity to insure
custom, the more effectually to bring grist to the
mill.

In London there are a great many individuals
called "men about town." These are formed of
bucks, bloods, sporting characters and exquisites.
There all are, or effect to be, great admirers of
pretty women. Wherever a pretty woman is,
there they must be. It is thought that Madame
Vestris made her Olympic theatre so long a
profitable concern, not so much by her own exquisite
singing and dancing, nor by the inimitable
performances of Liston--natures droll--as by the
quantity of sweetly pretty women who she always had
upon the stage. Many of the cigar store keepers
in London were determined to try the experiment--
they did so, and succeeded. The "young
men about town" crowded the stores where pretty
girls presided, and expended their money
plentifully for the benefit of the proprietor. Now the
fact is, there are many "young men about town"
in this city--exquisite fellows in their own opinion,
whose lives are spent in the sublime art of
dressing and cultivating whiskers--those who
have any--and imperials and mustaches--in
discovering the most delicate scents to perfume
their bodies with--these beings are monomaniacs
--but very harmless ones. They go in extacies [sic]
at the performance of a pleasing dancer, and have
been known in their raptures to strike their
white kid gloves together with a force that would
produce a sound audible to any person who sat
next to them and who was blessed with good
ears, and furnished with a good ear trumpet.--
They have also been known to throw a delicate
wreath or a small boquet [sic] upon the stage when
[???????] dancer has been pirouetting before
them--but then they have always been in the
stage box upon such occasion, and to deposite [sic]
their favors on the stage has not required more
strength than would force them some two or
three feet. These "men about town" have two
articles of faith. First, they are the only
connoisseurs of beauty; and secondly, that they
are irresistably captivating. These animals are
well to do in the world, they are flush of money;
and it is to catch them & others not quite so weak
and insane as they are, that the Cigar Girl is
placed behind the counter. She is the magnet
of attraction, and the cigars go off as that very
erudite and philosophic Sam Veller would say,
"in consequence of the maneuver."

(To the following brief history we give neither
date nor location.)

In a back room, barely furnished with a bed,
a small deal table and two wooden chairs, sat
two females. The eldest looked exceedingly
sorrowful, the youngest wore a bonnet half pushed
from her head, as she sat with her face buried in
her hands, which were supported upon the table.
The long ringlets that escaped from her bonnet
and served entirely to conceal her feature, were
of raven blackness and silkiness. As she lifted up
her head, her face, which was of great beauty,
was set with tears. It was a sad thing to see so
much misery between these two lovely
beings.

"I can get no more work, mother," said the
youngest. "Mr. Brown says that the times are
so hard he has been compelled to discharge forty
hands, and that there is no prospect of doing
any thing for a long time."

"The Lord have mercy upon us!" exclaimed the
old woman.

"There is one chance left for us--one that I
dread to think of--but which is better than to see
you starve."

"What is that? what is that?" enquired the mother
with some quickness, and a heightened color.

"Mr. James has opened a cigar store, and he
wants a young lady to attend it--one who is--
is--good--a--"

"I understand you my child--good looking you
would say, and few would stand a chance with
you on that score. But no dear--we must not--
I, your mother, dare not think of it. You would
be exposed to the rude gaze of every creature, who
in laying out his beggarly trifle, expecting that
the exhibition of a pretty girl was included in
his charge, and that he had paid for the privilege
of staring you out of countenance. You
might be exposed to impertinence, or even insult.
No, no, my child, we must think of it. Go out
again Ellen among other clothing stores, something
surely will be obtained. We will economise,
and if we get but little, remember that
'God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.'"

Ellen's eyes were dry on the instant, and lighted
up with hope She kissed her mother and
departed. The old lady fancying that any sacrifice
while her daughter was with her, was preferable
to parting with her soul's treasue. It
would have taxed a nice calculator however, how
two beings who scarcely could be said to have
partaken of a meal a day, would have economized
unless it was living without nutriment altogether,
and to this straight they seemed likely to
be reduced. Ellen returned. Her mission was
vain. No employment was to be had. For several
days the mother and the child rather existed
than lived. At length the subject of a cigar
store was brought up.

"Mother, we cannot starve. I must accept
Mr. James' offer-- at least till something else
turnes up. You do not fear that I have strength
to maintain myself with respect, and honor to
you."

"No my dear Ellen. I have no fear on that
score. Your heart is pure--your principles are
sound. It is not by such creatures as could
address you in such a situation that a virtuous mind
could loose it glory and clothe itself with shame.
My only fear was the pain of exposing you to
the gaze of the many that will be attracted by
your beauty, and remarks you will be forced to
listen to."

"I shall not heed them, dear mother--no more
than the many profane remarks that I hear occasionally
in passing through the streets. I will
pray for their reformation."

"I believe, Ellen, I am wrong. It is our
province to fulfil [sic] our duty in whatever situation
Providence may please. Go, Ellen, go. He who
watches even a sparrow's fall will not desert a
trusting heart that confides in him."

The extraordinary beauty of Ellen drew many
customers to Mr. James' store, and so well was he
pleased with her attraction that he raised her salary.
Ellen's situation was at first very irksome,
and she concealed from her mother--anxious to
know every thing that occurred--some of those
little annoyances which she felt might pain her
parent or render her unhappy. She felt that she
was bound to do her duty unflinchingly in the
situation in which Providence had placed her, and
she proved that there is no situation in life, in
itself honest that may not be maintained with
respect and honor.

Over the crowd that assembled daily to see her
beauty, she exercised a perfect control. Civil
and affable to all, was that in her look and bearing
which awed rudeness and even its conception.
It is said that before the firm and steadfast look
of man the lion quails, and that the maniac in its
wildest passion cowers and trembles--such spell
has virtue over vice--such spell had Ellen Somers
over the majority of those who visited the store.

Among the frequenters of the place were three
persons known in common parlance as gentlemen.
One was a thin young gentleman with a foreign
air, one who would unquestionably be taken by
any person unacquainted with him for one of
those Count Feignwells who have made so
much capital out of our fashionable citizens.
Another was a tall, stout, rosy cheeked, good
looking gentleman--the third had nothing to
distinguish him beyond a quiet propriety of dress, and
a gentlemanly figure and deportment.

The three gentlemen declared Ellen to be
devilish pretty, and the two first resolved to call her
their own. They even [?????????] to bet
on who should be the happy man to make the divine
creature his god[d]ess of pleasure. The third,
Henry Wilkinson, said nothing upon this subject,
and would by no means enter upon the bet
engaged in by the others. He watched the result
however, with much interest.

This was the crisis of the Cigar Girl's life.
All the arts that professed libertines use; were
to be put in force to gain their end. Each
anticipated a speedy victory--each was disappointed.
They commenced by being very liberal, much to
the good of the store, it advanced them nothing
--they endeavored to force upon her costly
presents, it was vain. One, upon an occasion, proposed
to her to take a ride in his barouche--they
never made a similar offer.--They retired from
the siege awed, abashed, and crest fallen. They
had never even an opportunity of pouring sophistry
or their slang into the maidens unpolluted ears
--and they finally hated her, while they respected
her, for they felt she was a superior being to
themselves. In this discomfiture of retiring like
used up hound their only conclusion was, they
were both in the same contemptible situation, and
that one could not triumph over the other.

It was at this period that Henry Wilkinson
became a frequent visitor. His advances were made
gradually. He entered into conversation with her,
and was surprised to find that her mind was as
in beauty, as her countenance. He saw the
position that she held and the manner in which she
held it. He admired her, and he caused by his
pleasing manner, a reciprocity of feeling.

Ellen's mother had always been in the habit of
calling at night for her daughter, and of
accompanying her home. She was, however, confined
to her bed for a time with illness. During this
period, Henry Wilkinson saw her home, and in
their walks the affection that had sprung up
between the young people grew into the warmest
feeling and each mutually confessed the passion.

It was on the evening of a dull day, in which a
drizzling rain had been most uncomfortably incessant,
that Henry appeared, according to custom,
to see Ellen home. He brought with him a
remarkable old looking umbrella, at which Ellen
laughed heartily. They had not been out long
before it was found to be totally inefficient.
Henry, professed to be deeply chagrined at this,
insisted upon ordering a barouche, which Ellen
resisted. Her lover, however, overcame her scruples
and they entered the carriage. Henry was
in the highest spirits, and so entertatning that
Ellen was totally abstracted in his remarks for some
time. At length she was recalled to passing events.

"What a time we have been," she said--"Why
you have told a story that must have occupied
half an hour at least, and--good heavens! we are
out of the city! stop the man, Henry, he does not
know where he is driving us."

"Yes he does. It is all right."

"O my poor mother!"

"She shall be well provided for."

"Cease, sir, to shock me by any illusions to
baseness. Oh, Henry, turn back, for the love of
heaven! and I will forgive you, and pray heaven
to forgive you too, Oh Henry, I would not think
you capable of this."

Here the poor girl shed tears like rain. Henry
was affected and it was some moments before he
spoke. At length he said.

"This is vain--I have gone too far to recede.--
It is useless for you to oppose my wishes. What
can you do?"

"I can die."

The whole of that night was passed by Mrs. Somers
in the greatest anxiety. Her only hope was,
that in consequence of the uncomfortable state
of the weather, Ellen had been induced to stay
with Mr. James family. Early in the morning
the mother hurried to the store and there learned
from Mr. James himself, that Ellen had gone the
night previously at the usual hour with a gentleman,
a friend of hers, who had been in the habit
of seeing her home nightly.

"It is my fault--it is my fault!" exclaimed the
distracted woman. "I should have known better
--I have sold her for filthy [lucre]. What says the
Bible? 'Lord, deliver us from temptation,' and
I, her mother, who taught her to breathe that very
prayer--I have placed her in temptation's way
myself. Oh! she is lost, so lost!"

More dead than alive [?????] mother tottered
home. On entering her apartment, there
stood before her, her daughter [and] Henry.

"O Ellen, Ellen Somers!" she exclaimed.

"Not Ellen Somers, but Ellen Wilkinson," exclaimed
Henry.

"Is it so, my child? speak!"

"It is, dearest mother," and the child and parent
were buried in each other's embraces.

It was even so. Henry had been struck with
Ellen's manners at first. [????] the libertines
won his admiration. The graces of her
mind, more than her person, [????] his love and
respect. He deemed the last [??} trial to which
he put her, necessary, and [????] that she
passed unsullied through the final ordeal.

After the scene narrated in the carriage, the
vehicle stopped at his country [residence], and there
in the presence of his family Ellen and Henry
were married.

That in every station in life the most humble,
as well as most lofty and [virtuous] mind may
support itself with respect [and] honor, may be
learned from the history of [the] Cigar Girl.--
At the same time, that [expressive] portion of
the Lord's prayer should be [???] present to us.
"Lead us not into temptation."

----end

I don't know how this story played in 1840, but it seems pretty messed up to me.

[TradeName]

Brentano, I have read Secret Agent 666.

This thread is fairly discursive. An under-developed underlying theme may be something like the underside of the history of ideas.

An excerpt from an article discussing the people that used to hang out at John Anderson's tobacco shop.

The Daily Gazette (Wilmington, DE), November 29, 1881, Page 3, Column 3

A Fortune from Finecut
Career of John Anderson, the Veteran Tobacconist

[...]

Thirty or more years ago he kept a
little tobacco shop in Wall street, close
to Broadway. It was so small that three
men could not move freely before the
counter, yet it was haunted by the
conspicuous men about town. Gen. Winfield
Scott, Col. Monroe, son of the
President; Mr. Williams, the translator
of Eugene Sue's works, Park Benjamin,
of whom Mr. Anderson used to say that
"he was the editor of more papers than
there were streets in that ward," C.
Edwards Lester, who wrote, "The
Glory and Shame of England," and
many of tbe fops, the merchant princes,
and the politicians of the metropolis
were among the frequent visitors there.
Snuff taking was universal then, and
many of the young men felt privileged
to go behind the counter and mix the
snuff to suit themselves.


[...]


----end

According to this, Anderson gave Thomas Williams, a literary/bohemian type, $500 for coming up with a trademark for one of his tobacco products.

The True Northerner (Paw Paw, MI), March 10, 1882, Page 6, Column 4

"Solace"

(New York Mercury)

John Anderson, the great tobacconist,
millionaire and philanthropist, died
recently; and that reminds me that some
years since and not so very long ago, but
many livin' men remember it, John
Anderson, Ben Wood and Fernando
Wood sat on the same bench together
makin' cigars. Anderson used to keep a
cigar store on Broadway, opposite Pearl
Street, near a big hospital with green
shutters, that has long since moved up
town. But it was in a little store near
Ann street that he laid the beginnin' of
his success.

Anderson's big hit was made by his
"Solace tobacco," and this tobacco
owes most of its luck to a name;
and this name had its origin in the
brain of an old New York Bohemian
called William--Thomas Williams--who
was a very curious character, and had
led an eccentric existence. He was a
big fat fellow, very dignified, and carried
a heavy gold headed cane. He was an
Englishman, belonged to a "good
family," and at one time had handled a
good deal of money.

But he had two hobbies, both expensive
ones--the stage and the lottery.
He was all the time followin' actresses
about, and buyin' ticket in all sorts of
"schemes." He followed Mrs. Siddons
all over England, with some friends in a
four-in-hand coach, always takin' a
private box at all the lady's performances.

These two hobbies soon brought him
to grief, and he came to this country to
make a livin' with the only things he
had left--his education and his brain.
He got some translatin' to do, and he
worked awhile on a paper that was
popular in its day, called Winchester's New
World.

One day he dropped in at Anderson's
shop and saw Anderson there. The two
got talkin', and Anderson said he had
been tryin' for some time to think of a
nice name for some tobacco he had
wanted to introduce. "Can't you think
out a name for me?" he said to Williams.
Williams tried the tobacco Anderson
spoke of, liked it very much, and said
he would take some of it to his rooms to
serve him as a "solace in his lonely
hours."

"By the by, Anderson," he said, "I
believe I have hit the very name you
want--'Solace.' That's it. Call your
tobacco the 'Solace' tobacco."

Anderson did so, and either the name
or the tobacco made a tremendous hit.

About eighteen months afterwards
Anderson met Williams on the street
and asked him to call at his store the
next day. Williams, wonderin' what
was up, did so, and, to his great surprise
and no little gratification, Anderson
handed him a check for $500.

"What's this for?" asked Williams.

"Why, its for one word," answered
Anderson.

"Five hundred dollars for a word!"
says Williams. "That's mighty good
pay."

"Pshaw!" replied Anderson; "I have
made over five thousand by it."

And then he explained to Williams
that this money was in return for the
lucky idea that Williams had given him
that day on the word "Solace."

----end

A link to a translation that Thomas Williams did for the New World.

New World, Volume 5, August 20, 1842, Page 120-121

Incidents of Travel
Mount Vesuvius, Herculaneum and Pompei in 42

Translated, for The New World, from the French by
Thomas Williams Esq.



An article about the 1838 disappearance of Mary Rogers, with some editorializing about women working in shops.

The Native American (Washington, DC), November 03, 1838, Page 1, Column 5

The Pretty Segar Girl

The well known
Pretty Segar Girl who attended Anderson's
store, next door to the Hospital, has eloped
under very distressing circumstances. Her name is
Mary Cecilia Rogers, and her mother resides in
Pitt street. She wrote a letter to her, in which
she expressed her determination to commit
suicide from a love affair, as 'tis supposed. Great
anxiety is manifested to procure some intelligence
of her, although it may turn out that she has gone
off with some person.

Generally speaking, we approve of females
attending various stores; we think every avenue
should be open to them whereby they can honorably
earn a living and become independent; there
are also several light trades in which they may be
occupied, and in many instances ladies would
rather be waited upon by females than by males,
but we do object to setting them up to public gaze,
and making them the peculiar feature of attraction,
particularly in a Segar Store in the most frequented
part of Broadway. All the young men in town
who smoke, were tempted to purchase their
shilling's worth of segars at this store, and those who
were not in the habit were led to commence the
practise in order to see and talk with that pretty
girl. The temptation was mutual, the men
purchased the segars which her taper fingers culled
from the box--she handed the slip of paper to be
lit from the lamp on the counter to ignite the
segar--all this took time, and enabled each to say
something complimentary to her; they gazed on
her beautiful and expressive face, and she in turn
drank whole draughts of flattery--the result is
either an elopement with some individual, or in
a romantic fit from disappointed or betrayed love,
she has made way with herself.

The principle and practise, as carried out in
this instance, are altogether wrong.

Hamlet. If you be honest and fair, you should
admit no discourse to your beauty!

Ophelia. Could beauty, my lord, have better
commerce than with honesty?

Hamlet. Aye, truly; for the power of beauty
will sooner transform honesty from what it is, to
a bawd, than the force of honesty can translate
beauty into his likeness.''--N. Y. Star.

----end

[brentano]

I forgot to mention yesterday that if readers of this thread are finding difficulty following connections between the different topics brought up, they may be interested in reading these two books:

1) Secret Agent 666: Aleister Crowley, British Intelligence and the Occult by Richard B. Spence

2) Prostitution and Prejudice: The Jewish Fight Against White Slavery 1870-1939 by Edward J. Bristow

The first details how revolutionary political causes, like Irish Nationalism and the Bolshevik Revolution were exploited by British Intelligence. Also, Occultism was used to this end. Much of Crowley's "Magick" centered around controlling people by *psychologically* obliterating their identity. Crowley basically used same psych control methods that pimps use to control the whores who believe the pimp 'loves' them.

The second details international organized crime and its connection to state-sponsored terrorism, various intelligence communities, various militaries. Prostitution rackets were great informant networks; almost always state-sponsored (e.g. police cooperation, military funding, intelligence community patronage).

Prostitution is the common denominator that links the two books. Very lucrative. To have state funding though, organizers would need to guarantee girls clean-- the most organized international prostitution rings were run by medical doctors. (Ding, ding!) There was a lot of violence in this community. Lot of police protection. Lot of bodies, particularly young female ones. Lot of psychopaths.

[brentano]

Publishing and Crime

Tradename-- I'd like to say thank you for all the wonderful information you've posted over the last few years. I found your work on Springmuhl of Hopein fame and it has kept me busy for nearly a year now.

A while ago a poster mentioned that they couldn't see where all this information is going, and I'd like to throw in a thought to that point:

There seem to have been connections between some Anglo-American publishers and international organized crime.

Crime against sexually available women was often featured and sometimes facts obscured by publishers, almost as if they intended to protect perps while being excited by sex crime themselves.

A great deal of international organized crime at this time was prostitution, the so-called "White Slave Trade". Lots of money was made from that racket. Publishing is another facet of the entertainment industry; pornography is its underbelly.

I would be very interested to hear Tradename's opinion on what I see as an overall trend in this evidence.

[TradeName]

In a 1978 collection of Poe's tales, editor Thomas Ollive Mabbott discusses the story that John Anderson paid Poe to write Marie Roget. Mabbott mentions that Anderson in 1845 advertised in the Broadway Journal, which was edited by Poe at the time. Here's a link to Mabbott's essay. The discussion of Anderson is on pages 720-721. (The page numbers are embedded in the text.)

A link to page 720 in the Google books preview of a 2000 edition of Mabbott's collection.

Edgar Allan Poe: Tales and Sketches: Volume 2: 1843-1849 (Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2000), Pages 720-721
By Edgar Allan Poe, Thomas Ollive Mabbott, Eleanor D. Kewer

Mabbott cites this article:


New York Tribune, May 27, 1887, Page 2, Column 5

They All Thought Anderson Sane
Mr. Achenberg Gives Some Information about Mary Rogers

Much of the testimony presented in the Supreme Court
before Justice Lawrence and a jury yesterday, in the
suit of Mrs. Maud Watson, granddaughter of John
Anderson, the millionaire, against Messrs. Phyfe and
Campbell, the present owners of property in which she
claimes an interest was of a negative character. Ex-Judge
Hooper C. Van Vorst testified that while he was a
tenant of John Anderson he had ocasional converstaions
with him on business matters, and found him a shrewd
and careful business man. "I did not regard him as a
very liberal landlord," the witness said. "None but
absolutely necessary repairs were made. I regarded him
as rational."

Amos R. Clark, a neighbor of Mr. Anderson at Tarrytown,
during five years; acquaintance saw nothing irrational
in him, and never heard him speak of Garibaldi,
Mary Rogers, or ghosts.

Andrew C. Wheeler, known in journalism as "Nym
Crinkle," testified that while living at Tarrytown he had
frequent conversations with Mr. Anderson, whom he
once asked whether his house was haunted. The reply
was: "The only people who haunt me are those
who want money." Mr. Anderson was not
boastful or grandiloquent and never made an irrational
remark. In 1880 Mr. Anderson furnished money for a
Democratic newspaper, of which the witness was editor.
It lasted only a year and cost Mr. Anderson from $6,000
to $8,000. The witness had heard him speak of the case
of Mary Rogers, referring to the "Marie Roget" of Edgar
A. Poe. He did not know that Mr. Anderson paid Poe to
write the story in order to divert suspicion from himself,
nor did he know that Mr. Anderson was arrested at Saratoga.
The witness's daughter was once engaged to
marry the step-son of Mrs. Anderson, and the witness
came to court at her request.

Josiah F. Kendall, Benson Ferris, Abram E. Revere
and David Silverman, all of Tarrytown, never saw
anything irrational in Mr. Anderson. David Armstrong,
who bought material for Mr. Anderson's house at Tarrytown,
explained the working of the steel shutters with
which the house was provided.

William H. Hike and Robert H. Archenburg bore testimony
to Mr. Anderson's business ability. Mr. Archenburg gave
the following sketch of Mary Rogers:

She was a young woman employed in Mr. Anderson's cigar
store, who disappeared in the year 1847 [sic]. She was very
attractive--in fact, just the person to draw the trade of the
young men. This is what Mr. Anderson had her for, I suppose.
I believe she was the first girl ever employed at a
New-York cigar stand. I have known young men in Albany
to promise themselves that upon reaching New-York
they would go to Anderson's store and buy cigars from
Mary. I even went myself before I knew John. (Laughter.)

Cross-examined, the witness said that John Anderson
was not disposed to talk of Mary Rogers when her name
was mentioned after the mysterious discovery of her
murdered body in Hoboken.

Alfred Wagstaff, husband of Mrs. Mary A. Wagstaff, a
granddaughter of Mr. Anderson, identified Mr. Anderson's
signature to a letter dated "Isle of Wright, October 9,
1871," addressed to William Girod, in which he asked:
"Is McCloskey one of the seventy? If so, they have begun
in high places."

The trial goes on today.

----end

A 1922 letter by Mabbott.

The New York Herald, November 22, 1922, Page 10, Column 5

Poe's "Marie Roget"

Did it Give the Final Solution of the Mystery of Mary Rogers?

To The New York Herald: Miss
Edith Anderson's recent letter on Poe's
solution of "The Mystery of Marie
Itoget" leads me to call attention to an
article, "The Tragedy of Mary Rogers,"
by Will M. Clemens in the Era magazine
of November, 1904. Therein the
author shows that Poe's solution cannot
be accepted in view of all the known
facts and that the confession of which
Poe speaks in his note is not entitled
to full belief.

It is probable tbat Mary Rogers's
male companion instead of being her
murderer shared her fate and that the
motive of the crime was robbery. I
note that Poe's words are somewhat
guarded in his motto and note and he
emphasizes his correctness about details
according to the confession. Actually
Poe's destructive criticism in destroying
several absurd theories might have
proved valuable, but some very important
evidence was not accessible to him,
and tends to discredit the confession,
which was made by the mother of the
three probable assassins in such a fashion
as to throw suspicion on nobody
by name and take it away from her
sons.

Nobody was ever convicted of the
crime and Poe's story should be regarded
as a remarkably logical story
based on a small nucleus of fact and
pointing out obvious errors in other
solutions, but in itself must be read
only as a story and not a complete or
final solution of the mystery.

Thomas Ollive Mabbott

Columbia University, November 21.

----end

[TradeName]

An advertisement for an interesting sounding pamphlet about the Rogers case from 1841.

New York Tribune, August 10, 1841, Page 2, Column 5

AD:

Life and Murder of Mary C. Rogers, the beautiful
Cigar Girl, in pamphlet form, with a splendid Portrait, declared to be
a perfect likeness, will be published at 21 Ann-street this morning at
6 o'clock, with further particulars of the Murder, the knowledge of
which is confined to the Police and the writer of this pamphlet. Nine
persons, Broadway Gamblers, supposed to be concerned in the Murder;
State's evidence expected. The Life is full of interest: it
contains an account of several attempts at courtship aud seduction,
brought about her by manifold charms; as also of the early attachments
in which she was known to have been engaged. Price 6 cents.

Sunday Times Office, 31 Ann-st

----end

Link to a 1904 article by humorist turned criminologist William Montgomery Clemens which critiques the views of both Inspector Thomas Byrnes and Poe. I don't know if Clemens or his editor is responsible for misspelling Poe's middle name.

The Era Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly, Volume 14, November, 1904, Pages 450-463

The Tragedy of Mary Rogers

Solution of the Mystery Made Historic by Edgar Allen [sic] Poe

by Will M. Clemens


A new wrinkle introduced by Clemens is this notice he found about a coroner's inquest on a man found drowned. Clemens argues that the man was murdered with Rogers.

Page 462

In the New York newspapers of August 5, 1841, I find this obscure item: "On August 3, the body of an unknown man, about thirty-five years of age, was found floating near the foot of Barclay Street. The body had been in the water for some days and was badly decomposed. The unknown was a tall, swarthy man, and had on when found a white shirt, silk vest, dark pantaloons, 'morocco' shoes and worsted hose. The coat was missing. The coroner's jury returned a verdict of found drowned."

---end

Here's a version of this notice from the Tribune.

New York Tribune, August 04, 1841, Page 2, Column 4

Coroner's Office

The Coroner yesterday held, an inquest
at No. 198 Front st. on the body of an unknown man aged about
40, found floating in the East River at the foot of Catharine st.
He had been in the water several days, and was clad in morocco
shoes, worsted hose, dark cloth pantaloons, white shirt and
satin vest. Verdict, found drowned.

----end

Like to a later magazine article which mentions the Clemens article.

The Scrap Book, Volume 9, June, 1910, Pages 801-817

The Mystery of Mary Rogers
by Frank Marshall White

[TradeName]

A letter Poe wrote when he was shopping "Marie Roget."

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume 17 (New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1902), Pages 112-113
By Edgar Allan Poe

POE TO ROBERTS.

(From the Collection of Mr. F. R Halsey.)

Philadelphia, June 4, 1842.

My Dear Sir, —- It is just possible that you may have seen a tale of mine entitled "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," and published originally, in "Graham's Magazine" for April, 1841. Its theme was the exercise of ingenuity in the detection of a murderer. I have just completed a similar article, which I shall entitle "The Mystery of Marie Roget—-a Sequel to the Murders in the Rue Morgue." The story is based upon the assassination of Mary Cecilia Rogers, which created so vast an excitement, some months ago, in New York. I have, however, handled my design in a manner altogether novel in literature. I have imagined a series of nearly exact coincidences occurring in Paris. A young grisette, one Marie Roget, has been murdered under precisely similar circumstances with Mary Rogers. Thus, under pretence of showing how Dupin (the hero of "The Rue Morgue") unravelled the mystery of Marie's assassination, I, in reality, enter into a very long and rigorous analysis of the New York tragedy. No point is omitted. I examine, each by each, the opinions and arguments of the press upon the subject, and show that this subject has been, hitherto, unapproached. In fact I believe not only that I have demonstrated the fallacy of the general idea-—that the girl was the victim of a gang of ruffians-—but have indicated the assassin in a manner which will give renewed impetus to investigation. My main object, nevertheless, as you will readily understand, is an analysis of the true principles which should direct inquiry in similar cases. From the nature of the subject, I feel convinced that the article will excite attention, and it has occurred to me that you would be willing to purchase it for the forthcoming Mammoth Notion. It will make 25 pages of Graham's Magazine, and, at the usual price, would be worth to me $100. For reasons, however, which I need not specify, I am desirous of having this tale printed in Boston, and, if you like it, I will say $50. Will you please write me upon this point? —- by return mail, if possible.

Yours very truly,

Edgar A. Poe.

George Roberts, Esqr.

----end

The first appearance of "Roget."

The Ladies' Companion, November, 1842, Pages 15-20

The Mystery of Marie Roget
A Sequel to "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"
[Part I]

by Edgar A. Poe


The Ladies' Companion, December, 1842, Pages 93-99

The Mystery of Marie Roget
A Sequel to "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"
[Part II]

by Edgar A. Poe



The Ladies' Companion, February, 1843, Pages 162-167

The Mystery of Marie Roget
A Sequel to "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"
[Part III]

by Edgar A. Poe

[TradeName]

In the 1887 trial contesting John Anderson's the Judge disallowed a question about Anderson having said that he had paid Poe $5,000 to write "Marie Roget" in order to divert suspicion from himself.

New York Tribune, June 03, 1887, Page 3, Column 5

Closing Testimony at the Anderson Trial

The taking of testimony in the suit of Mrs. Mary Maud
Watson for the recovery of an interest in real estate which
formerly belonged to her grandfather, John Anderson, was
finished yesterday in the Supreme Court before Justice Lawrence
and a jury. The plaintiff recalled in rebuttal denied
that William Girod had any conversation with her mother in
which her mother admitted the validity of Mr Anderson's
will. John Charles Anderson never supported her or gave
her dresses, except some that had been worn by his daughter.

Felix McCloskey declared that John Charles Anderson's
statement that the witness did not enjoy the confidence of the
dead millionaire was untrue. Several questions asked by
ex-Judge Curtis, counsel for the plaintiff, were ruled out. Among
these were inquiries whether John Anderson had referred to
Peter B. Sweeny as a ringleader of the Tweed "ring;"
whether Sweeny had told the witness that he would not
nominate Anderson for Mayor because he was crazy and that
Anderson had offered him $50,000 for the nomination of himself
for Mayor, and $100,000 for the nomination of Justice
George G. Barnard, his son-in-law, for governor; whether
Sweeny said the Mary Roger's scandal would defeat Anderson
and that Anderson was crazy on the subject; and whether
he had been told by John Anderson that he had given Edgar
A. Poe $5,000 to write the story of "Marie Roget" in order
to divert suspicion from himself. On various points the witness
contradicted the witnesses on the other side.

Dt, Matthew D. Field, examined as an expert in insanity
cases, in reply to a hypothetical question embodying the
testimony for the plaintiff in regard to John Anderson's delusions,
said that a man entertaining such views must be insane.
Ex-Judge Arnoux asked Justice Lawrence to direct a verdict for
the defendants, which was refused. The case will be given
to the Jury to-day.

----end

Another paper's account.


New York Sun, June 03, 1887, Page 4, Column 2

Scandal of Tweed's Day
A story that John Anderson Offered a Bribe to Peter B. Sweeney

Felix McCloskey was a witness again yesterday
in the case before Judge Lawrence in which Mary
Maud Watson is trying to break the will of her grand
father John Anderson the tobacconist. Mr Curtis
asked the witness whether Peter B Sweeney had told
him that he Sweeney would not nominate John Anderson
for Mayor because Anderson was crazy; that Anderson
had offered him (Sweeney) $50,000 for the nomination
of himself for Mayor and $100,000 for the nomination
of George C. Barnard, his son-in-law, for Governor.
The question was ruled out. McCloskey was also
prevented from telling whether Sweeney said that the
Mary Rogers scandal would defeat Anderson, and that
Anderson was crazy upon the subject. Mr McCloskey
was not allowed to answer a question as to whether he
had been told by John Anderson that he had given
Edgar Allan Poe $5,000 to write the "Mystery of Marie
Roget" in order to allay the suspicion that Anderson
murdered Mary Rogers. Judge Lawrence refused
yesterday to direct a verdict for the defendant and the
case will be summed up today.

----end

[TradeName]

Some items related to the Mary Rogers ("Marie Roget") case.

Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography, Volume 5 (New York: D. Appleton, 1888), Pages 308-309

ROGERS, Mary Cecilia, b. about 1820: d. in Weehawken, N. J., 25 July, 1841. She was the daughter of a widow that kept a boardinghouse in Nassau street, and was engaged by John Anderson as a shop-girl in his tobacco-store on Broadway, near Duane street, where young men of fashion bought their cigars and tobacco. No suspicion had ever been attached to her character, and much excitement was manifested when she suddenly disappeared. A week later she reappeared at her accustomed place behind the counter, and in reply to all inquiries said that she had been on a visit to her aunt in the country. Several years afterward she left her home one Sunday morning to visit a relative in another part of the city. She requested her accepted suitor, who boarded with her mother, to come for her in the evening; but, as it rained, he concluded thut she would remain over night, and did not call for her. The next day she failed to return, and it was ascertained that she had not visited her relative. Four days later her body was found floating in Hudson river, near Weehawken, with marks that showed beyond doubt that she had been murdered. Every effort was made to determine by whom she had been killed, but without success. A few weeks later, in a thicket on the New Jersey shore, part of her clothing was found, with every evidence that a desperate struggle had taken place there; but these appearances were believed, on close inspection, to have been arranged to give it that aspect. Subsequently it was shown that she had been in the habit of meeting a young naval officer secretly, and it was alleged that she was in his company at the time of her first disappearance. He was able to account for his whereabouts from the time of her leaving home until the finding of her body, and the murder would have been forgotten had not Edgar Allan Poe revived the incident of the crime in his "Mystery of Marie Roget." With remarkable skill he analyzed the evidence, and showed almost conclusively that the murder had been accomplished by one familiar with the sea, who had dragged her body to the water and there deposited it. Many persons were suspected of the crime, and, among others, John Anderson, whose last years, he claimed, were haunted by her spirit.

----end

A brief bio of John Anderson.

Makers of New York (Philadelphia: L. R. Hamersly, 1894), Page 213
edited by Charles Morris

JOHN ANDERSON, the millionaire tobacconist, was the son of William Anderson, who came from England to this country early in the present century, his immigration being due to Robert Fulton, the celebrated inventor of the steamboat. He became an earnest and patriotic American, took part on the side of his adopted country in the second war with Great Britain, and fell in battle, as an officer, in the year 1812. His son John was born shortly after his death.

Deprived of paternal care, the son, as soon as of sufficient age to engage in the struggle of life, began a career which proved quickly successful, and rapidly led to fortune. The business into which he entered was that of tobacco dealer and manufacturer, and his history as a merchant presents no salient points on which we need to dwell, other than to say that he won honor and respect among his fellow-merchants of New York, and eventually retired from business as one of the millionaires of the metropolis, and as one of the liberal supporters of art, science, and humanity.

Among his intimate friends must particularly be mentioned the famous Italian patriot Garibaldi, who had come to this country as an exile from his native land. Here he was forced to labor for his daily bread, but found in Mr. Anderson a warm and appreciative friend, who did much to assist him, and earnestly encouraged his patriotic views. In 1860, the year in which our own civil war was impending, the struggle for liberty began in Italy, and Garibaldi, gladly hearing the news of the patriotic uprising, was quickly upon the occan on his return to his native land. His fellow-patriot Avezzana, who was prevented from accompanying him by the fact of his having here a wife and children, was liberally aided by Mr. Anderson, and enabled to join his chief and engage with him in the great struggle for Italian liberty. A great sympathetic meeting of the citizens of New York was called, and an address to the people of Italy prepared, under the supervision of Mr. Anderson, whose earnest tones warmed the hearts of the friends of liberty in all lands.

Mr. Anderson was as warmly interested in the defense of his native land against rebellion as he had been in the liberation of Italy from tyranny. In the carly days of the war, when the State proposed to raise a fund for the families of drafted men by the issue of bonds, and its legal right to do so was questioned, Mr. Anderson solved the difficulty by immediately heading the subscription, an example which quickly brought in the requisite funds. Later, when Jersey City found itself unable to provide, in a legal manner, for putting its contingent into the field, Mr. Anderson cut this knot also by sending to the mayor a gift of $60,000, a sum which fully sufficed to send the regiments on their way to the seat of war.

In 1870, Mr. Anderson, having retired from business, went to Europe with his wife, and while there had the pleasure of meeting again his old friends, visiting Avezzana, then residing in Florence, and remaining for a time as the guest of Garibaldi in his island home. On his return to New York he purchased a tract of land at Tarrytown, and built there the handsome brick mansion which remained his home during the rest of his life. This beautifully situated dwelling, with its well-kept grounds, is among the ornaments of that locality.

In 1873, Professor Louis Agassiz, who desired to establish a school for the instruction of teachers in natural history, applied to the Legislature of Massachusetts for a grant of money for that purpose. His appeal failed, but when the news of the failure of this highly worthy project came to the attention of Mr. Anderson, he immediately resolved to furnish the desired sum. The well-situated and beautiful island of Penikese was placed by him at the service of the great naturalist, and with it the sum of $50,000 as an endowment for the proposed school, to which was justly given the title of “The Anderson School of Natural History."

Mr. Anderson was twice married. By his first wife he had six children. His second wife was a descendant of the same family as Washington Irving, and had one son by a former marriage, Stanley Conner, a well-known sculptor. In the fall of 1880 Mr. Anderson made another visit to Europe, intending again to visit his old friend, the liberator of Italy. But soon after reaching Paris he was taken suddenly ill, and died there on the 22d of November. His remains were brought home and interred in the family tomb at Greenwood.

----end

The story about Anderson believing he was haunted by the spirit of Mary Rogers came out during trials contesting his will. This is a summary of the case.

A Treatise on the Medical Jurisprudence of Insanity (Albany: Mathhew Bender, 1893), Pages 181-185
By Edward Cox Mann

The Psychological Aspect of the Anderson Will Case

The last will and testament of John Anderson, the millionaire tobacconist, was executed October 25th, 1879; a codicil was added to this will on September 29th, 1881, revoking some provisions of the will. John Anderson died on the 22nd of November, 1881.

The case was commenced about May 27th, 1882, and was brought by Mary Maud Watson, a granddaughter of John Anderson, her mother's name having been before marriage Mary Louise Anderson, afterwards Mrs. Carr. The action was brought to recover one undivided fifth part of the property mentioned in the complaint, it being part of the realty belonging to the estate of John Anderson, deceased.

The plaintiff claimed that the alleged will and codicil were not, nor was either of them, duly executed; that at the time of the execution thereof respectively, the said John Anderson, deceased, was not of sound mind or memory nor capable of making a will or codicil thereto, and that the execution of said alleged last will and codicil, respectively, was procured by the undue influence, duress and restraint exercised upon him.

The only heirs-at-law and next of kin of the said John Anderson, deceased, are and were John Charles Anderson, the only surviving son of said decedent: Kate Anderson, of the city of New York, his widow; Laura V. Appleton. wife of Edward J. Appleton, of Brooklyn, N. Y., the only surviving daughter of said decedent; Fannie A. Barnard, Mary A. Wagstaff, wife of Alfred Wagstaff; Alice Barnard, George G. Barnard and John Charles Barnard, the surviving children of Fannie A. Barnard, deceased, a daughter of said decedent—-said Alice, George G. and John C. Barnard being minors, and said Alfred Wagstaff being their general guardian; Agnes Bryant and Amanda Bryant, the only surviving children of Amanda Bryant, deceased, a daughter of said decedent, and lastly, Mary Maud Watson, the plaintiff in this suit. The testimony of the appellants discloses many indications of mental disorder, the most prominent being as follows, viz: The case as developed on the trial claimed to show on the plaintiff's side that John Anderson, deceased, was not of sound mind and memory at the time of making his will, for the following reasons, viz., Mr. Anderson was a man between 50 and 60 years of age, who, by his own efforts, amassed a large fortune. He was a man of limited education, and on reaching the age of 50 or 60, he was under the impression, or stated that he began to be visited by ghosts or spirits. That he supposed his boy, Willie, then dead, appeared to him, and that he held communication with him from time to time, or with his spirit after death. That on one occasion he handed to a man, who had saved this boy's life, $100, saying that the boy, Willie, then dead, had appeared to him, and had asked him to make that gift of that $100. That the decedent supposed that he was haunted by the spirit of Mary Rogers, a girl formerly in his employ, and who had disappeared, and that her spirit gave him much trouble for some period of time, until finally he announced that it was all right with her and with her spirit, and that she gave him no more trouble. He adhered to these news and would not be persuaded that they were all delusions or imaginations. That he believed a certain investment would pay 25 per cent., because the spirit of Mary Rogers said so. That he believed the mother of the plaintiff illigitimate, and that his wife was a prostitute or had been. That, although a man of large wealth, he lived with his wife and one servant in a large house, which was but partly furnished. That the house had steel shutters, which were closely drawn at night. That he was afraid his food would be poisoned, and gave directions to keep the ice box containing food locked. That he gave directions that no brass pins should be around the house, because he was afraid of being poisoned or affected by the pins. That he gave directions never to unbolt the door unless it was first learned who sought admission, because he was afraid somebody would shoot him. That he believed there was a conspiracy on the part of his family, or some of them, to stab him or kill him, or both. That he believed his son was a thief and robbed him of a large amount of property in a house of prostitution, though his son was the residuary legatee under his will and inherited the bulk of his property. That he had exaggerated ideas of his ability to re-fashion the governments, or some of them, in Europe, or to fashion these governments into a republic. That he stated that he expected to be a man of much importance in such a republic. That he desired to go away from the world and be alone. That he was troubled with loss of sleep and severe pains in the head. That he had an intention to kill himself on that account. That shortly after making his codicil he left for Europe, with the remark that when he got away from these people he intended to make a different will. That late in life his walk was irregular; that his feet and hands shook, and left foot dropped and he walked with a halting gate [sic]. That he became weak and feeble in body, incoherent in conversation, passing from one subject to another, without apparent causes, from business to the discussion of the situation of spirits. That he made untrue and disgusting remarks about men or acquaintances. That he threatened or offered to expose his person in a public place in order to convince his friend that his physical powers were not impaired. That he had a shot gun, rifle and sword ready to do deadly injury to a son-in-law of his. That he died within about two years from the date of his will, and within a few months from the date of his codicil. That out of a fortune of several millions, he left the child of his daughter the income of $20,000. That at one time, late at 'night, he left the residence of his son-in-law, Geo. C. Barnard, in cold weather, in his stocking feet, without shoes and without a coat. and was afterwards, in that same night, discovered at the Astor House in that condition. That he refused to go to the residence of Judge Barnard because they had a conspiracy to kill him. That he tried to persuade a friend or a gentleman to go to Judge Hackett and converse with him on that account.

On the contrary, the witnesses to the will testified that in their opinion (?) said decedent was of sound mind and memory when he made the will.

The facts we relate were testified to by several witnesses, one of whom, Mr. McCloskey, had been acquainted with the decedent for thirty-five years and had been connected with him in business.

The great medico-legal point in this case is this: Did the delusions of the decedent (Anderson) influence the disposition of the will? If so, the mental disorder was sufficient to vitiate the will in question. There, it seems to me, we are brought face to face with a will, the manifest offspring of a gross delusion.

A person to make a valid will, must understand perfectly the nature and amount of the property they are disposing of; must have a sound disposing mind and memory; must not ignore the natural claims of relationship and affection, and must be free from undue influence, duress or restraint.

The first trial was before Judge Van Brunt, but he would not give the case to the jury, but directed a verdict for defendant. An insane delusion affecting the provisions of a will must invalidate it. Now, can a belief in Spiritualism and communications from the so-called spirit land be considered an insane delusion? A very safe rule in medico-legal trials of this sort is the following: When a person entertains a belief opposed to the general experience of mankind, and incapable of being verified by human means, and such belief leads the person to disregard the ordinary obligations of duty and affection, it is to be hoped that a will based upon such conditions may never stand. Any alleged religious belief that leads a testator to commit wrong and injustice may safely be set down as a delusion.

----end

[TradeName]

In "The Great Grill Street Conspiracy," Sir Gilbert Campbell mentions that one of the characters, Rhoda, read a story by Bulwer Lytton, "The Haunted and the Haunters," which inspired her to try her own hand at exercising mental powers.

Here's a link to the first version of the story.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 86, August, 1859, Pages 224-245

The Haunted and the Haunters, or, The House and the Brain

Later a truncated version was published in a book, which a note explaining the reason for the abridgement. I'm not sure which version Campbell was familiar with.

A Strange Story; and The Haunted and the Haunters (London: Routledge, Warne, and Routledge, 1864), Pages 325-343

This tale first appeared in Blackwood's Magazine, August, 1859. A portion of it as then published is now suppressed, because encroaching too much on the main plot of the "Strange Story." As it stands, however, it may be considered the preliminary outline of that more elaborate attempt to construct an interest akin to that which our forefathers felt in tales of witchcraft and ghostland, out of ideas and beliefs which have crept into fashion in the society of our own day. There has, perhaps, been no age in which certain phenomena that in all ages have been produced by, or upon, certain physical temperaments, have excited so general a notice,-—more perhaps among the educated classes than the uneducated. Nor do I believe that there is any age in which those phenomena have engendered throughout a wider circle a more credulous superstition. But, on the other hand, there has certainly been no age in which persons of critical and inquisitive intellect-—seeking to divest what is genuine in these apparent vagaries of Nature from the cheats of venal impostors and the exaggeration of puzzled witnesses-—have more soberly endeavoured to render such exceptional thaumaturgia of philosophical use, in enlarging our conjectural knowledge of the complex laws of being—-sometimes through physiological, sometimes through metaphysical research. "Without discredit, however, to the many able and distinguished speculators on so vague a subject, it must be observed that their explanations as yet have been rather ingenious than satisfactory. Indeed, the first requisites for conclusive theory are at present wanting. The facts are not sufficiently generalized, and the evidences for them have not been sufficiently tested.

It is just when elements of the marvellous are thus struggling between superstition and philosophy, that they fall by right to the domain of Art—-the art of poet or tale-teller. They furnish the constructor of imaginative fiction with materials for mysterious terror of a character not exhausted by his predecessors, and not foreign to the notions that float on the surface of his own time; while they allow him to wander freely over that range of conjecture which is favourable to his purposes, precisely because science itself has not yet disenchanted that debateable realm of its haunted shadows and goblin lights.

[TradeName]

Like "Mandeville Square," "Grill-Street" features a scene of disturbing violence that ends in the obliteration of the victim's indvoduality.

The villain of the story, Craddock Lipthwaite, flees justice and seeks refuge in Whitechapel. Finding the atmosphere of a rooming house too repellent,
he returns to the streets where an argument with a woman results in an angry mob mistaking him for Jack the Ripper.

FICTION. THE GREAT GRILL-STREET CONSPIRACY. By SIR GILBERT CAMPBELL.

CHAPTER XXVI.--THE FULFILMENT OF THE PROPHECY.

[…]

As these thoughts passed through his brain he walked slowly along until he came to the line of iron railings which enclosed some large public building, of the name of which he was ignorant. He leaned against them for a moment, and pulling, out his pipe, was proceeding to light it, when one of the wretched outcast women who infest the neighbourhood came up to him, and pulling him roughly by the arm, suggested the propriety of his paying for some refreshment for her of a liquid and spirituous nature. The unceremonious grasp which she laid upon his arm caused him to burn his fingers with the match, and with an angry oath he pushed her away with more violence, perhaps, than be had intended. The woman staggered back, and, losing her balance, measured her length upon the pavement, uttering at the same time 'a dismal shriek for help. Half a dozen other women of a similar unfortunate class hurried up, a violent altercation ensued, and as Craddock Lipthwaite strove to disengage himself from them and proceed on his way, the woman who was still prostrate on the ground uttered a loud cry of “Murder!”

Murder! how the dread word rang out through the silent night; how it seemed to fly from house to house and be carried by the breeze over the roofs and down into the cellars. Murder! it seemed as if the word had a magic spell in it, which roused the whole neighbourhood from its slumber. No more rest, no more repose; half-dressed men stumbled out of doorways, pronouncing it in sleepy accents. Women, with their hair hanging down, and clasping their clothes with one hand to their bosoms, shrieked it out in accents of alarm and dismay. Children caught it up and lisped it out in awestruck accents. The very dogs, who barked and howled as the turmoil swelled louder and louder, appeared to be uttering the same dread word in their canine language. The sound of hurrying feet echoed along the pavement; lights appeared at the windows, doors opened and slammed again, and al Whitechapel was on foot to hunt down the mysterious murderer who had filled the locality with panic and affright.

The men who had followed Lipthwaite now came up to where he was standing, and one of them seizing him roughly by the collar, inquired with an oath what he was doing to the woman.

“He tried to murder me,” screamed the half-intoxicated woman, who still lay upon the pavement, “he is out on his devilish work again to-night, and I have barely escaped with my life.”

“Do you hear what the woman says?” asked the man, accompanying his demand with a rough shake of Lipthwaite's collar. “What have you been a doin' to her, you bloodthirsty villin? “

“Take your hands off me,” answered Craddock calmly, for he did not yet see the full horror of his position, “you have no right to detain me in this manner.”

“Come, stow that gab,” exclaimed another man, coming up and pushing with much violence against Lipthwaite, sending him staggering against the iron railings.

Craddock's hat was knocked off, but in an instant he recovered himself, and springing forward, caught his assailant by the throat, and held him with a grip of iron. “You insolent dog,” cried he, his face blazing with the intensity of his wrath. “How dare you venture to lay a hand on me?“

For a few seconds the man struggled stoutly enough, and strove to strike his assailant, but Craddock Lipthwaite's long arms held him at such a distance that he was unable to do so, and as the strangling clutch began to tell upon him his face grew black and his tongue commenced to protrude, whilst a hoarse, rattling sound gurgled from his throat.

A large crowd had by this time collected, and was increasing every moment. Those on the outskirts could see nothing of what was going on, but hearing that the man who had committed the terrible murders, which had overshadowed that quarter of the town with a mist of blood, were loud in their menaces and their calls for vengeance. “Lynch him!” shouted they, “Lynch him!” and the boys, who ever hover on the verge of popular outbreaks, as the stormy petrel skims over the wave at the approach of the tempest, took up the cry with shrill vehemence.

The tumult that had arisen, as if by magic around him, at length warned Lipthwaite of the perilous position in which he was placed, and letting the half insensible man drop to the ground, he endeavoured to force his way through the ring which had now formed around him, the prostrate woman, who was still raving wildly, and her female companions. But his attempts were vain, no one offered to make way for him, and darker, and darker, and darker grew the scowl upon the faces of the bystanders, and fiercer the yells for vengeance that went from the crowd. For the first time Craddock Lipthwaite realized the real danger of his position. “Great heaven,” muttered he, “the fools take me for the mysterious murderer who has half frightened them out of the small amount of wits they possess; and in their blind, unreasoning panic, they are as likely as not to tear me to pieces.”

“Listen, my friends,” cried he aloud, throwing all the calmness and persuasion of which he was capable into his voice. “You are completely in error. I am quite a stranger in Whitechapel; indeed, this is the first time I ever entered it in my life. 1 am an honest, hard-working man like yourselves, and look with as great horror as you upon the infamous crimes that have been committed in your midst.”

He spoke with such an air of truth and candour, that those who stood nearest to him were impressed with his statement, but his voice did not penetrate far, and from the more distant portions of the crowd rose a few faint cries, of “Hand him over to the police,” which were speedily drowned by the savage roar of “No police ! no police ! lynch the cowardly devil, and make an end of the thing once and for all.”

In spite, however, of these threatening suggestions, Craddock Lipthwaite might have induced, those standing around him to hear reason, had it not been for a strange unforeseen incident, which entirely changed the face of the whole affair.

“Then what did the woman mean by saying that you had tried to murder her?” asked one of the men who had first accosted him, speaking in a more civil manner than he had yet done. “She swears I don't know what, and makes out a black case against you, guv'nor.”

“Pshaw,” returned Lipthwaite, scornfully, casting a look of bitter contempt upon the outcast, who was now sitting up on the pavement rocking herself to and fro, and muttering a farrago of nonsense with drunken volubility. “Are men's lives to be placed in jeopardy by the statements of such cattle as those?” and, taking a step forward, he pushed the woman roughly with his boot. His contemptuous manner, more than the actual brutality of his behaviour, seemed to goad the unhappy creature to madness. She uttered a scream like a wild beast, and springing to her feet, lacerated his face with her nails, and tore his hair before he could make an effort to defend himself.

Furious both at the pain and at the ignominy of the assault in such a place, and by such a creature, Lipthwaite swore a deep oath, and raising his right arm, struck the woman a savage blow which felled her to the earth. Even, however, this cowardly act upon his part might not have injured him with the crowd which surrounded him, the members of it being for the most part perfectly accustomed to see the weaker sex cuffed and kicked, without any feeling of disgust arising in the hearts of the lookers on, but as the unfortunate woman fell backwards, she caught hold of her assailant's coat, and tearing it open, the long keen knife, which Lipthwaite had secreted, fell with a clang upon the ground. With a cry of triumph, the outcast darted upon it, and waving it high above her head, shrieked, “Now, who is the liar, he or I? He says he ain't the cove wot does the murders; why, 'ere is the very knife with which he cuts our throats and rips us open. Now, am I right or I not? Curse you all, are you going to let him slip through your fingers, now that you have got him?”

The tide had now turned and Craddock Lipthwaite would have been safer in the midst of a pack of famished wolves than in the centre of the howling crowd which now set up one long yell to heaven for his blood.

In an instant the unfortunate man saw that all was over, and at the same time the ghastly vision of David Acland recurred to his mind. He was the object of universal execration--all were crying out against him, all were thirsting for his blood. Death was very near to him now, and what a death, one by inches, one by kicks and blows, a death amidst the mud and mire of a crowded thoroughfare, with not one pitying eye to look upon him or one heart to feel sorrow for his untimely end. “Better the convict prison,” he muttered to himself, “at least, that gives me a chance of life.” Then lifting his voice he shouted with all the force of his lungs, “Police!” “Police!” A roar of execration and hatred greeted this appeal, and the answering shout came swiftly back “To hell with you, you murdering dog, we want no police to do our work.”

Wildly he glared round at the ring of smiling faces which was narrowing round him, and read in them that his fate was sealed. “At any rate,” he thought, “I will have blood for blood, and those who attack me shall not escape unscathed.”

As these thoughts passed through his mind he sprang at the woman who was still flourishing the upturned knife, and endeavoured to wrench the weapon from her grasp. With a wild shriek she sprung backwards into the crowd which opened to give her passage, and at the same time a small urchin, who had crept between the legs of the bystanders, cast a handful of mud in the hunted man's face. From that moment he felt that it was all over with him, for the flashing eye which had to some extent kept back the crowd was now temporarily hidden, and the infuriated mob closed around their victim.

As he strove to clear the foul mud from his face a man struck him a heavy blow upon the back of his head with a wooden shovel which he was carrying, causing him to fall upon his knees, but saving him from many other blows which whistled harmlessly over his head. In an instant, however, Craddock Lipthwaite was on his feet again, and having partially cleared his eyes attempted to grapple with his nearest assailants, at the same time shouting loudly for the police. Blows now rained upon him like hail, the blood streamed from his face, and his shouts and cries grew more and more feeble. Now he was down again upon his knees, whilst his assailants kicked savagely at his back and ribs, and once again he was on his feet, only kept erect by the pressure of the crowd, and a target for every blow that could be aimed at him. His shouts had now died completely away, and only a hoarse gasping sound issued from his throat. For an instant the crowd drew back a little, as though to gather strength for a fresh onslaught upon the wretched man who was standing alone in its midst.

His aspect was so terrible that a thrill of horror passed for an instant through every heart. Hardly a feature was visible, nose, lips, eyes, and forehead seemed to have been mashed into one unrecognizable pulp, his right arm hung broken and helpless by his side, a few tattered shreds of garments hardly covered his body, his boots were nearly ground to powder. He stood erect amongst them, an image of life in death, a low moaning sob breaking at intervals from the mutilated lips. It was a sight that might have moved a heart of stone, but the hearts of the rough crowd were made of some harder materials, and as the wretched creature stood swaying unsteadily backwards and forwards a stout man of the East End bully type stepped up to him, and with a tremendous left handed blow felled him to the ground. Craddock Lipthwaite fell with a sickening crash upon the flagstones, and the crowd, as though their appetite for murder had been freshened, looked upon the prostrate form with more inveterate ferocity than ever.

Dull heavy thuds were heard as fists and boots rained a hail of blows and kicks upon the motionless body, which now did not gratify its murderers by the utterance of a single groan.

All at once a cry was heard, "Here's Joe the Knacker, make way for him, and let him treat the devil as he treated the poor women."

Once more the crowd drew back a little from the bruised and disfigured mass of humanity, and a tall young fellow, whose thigh boots and linen vest were marked with huge patches of grease and mud, was pushed forward to the front rank. He held a long shining knife in his hand, and amidst the shouts of "Rip him up as he did the poor girls," he bent over the motionless form.

"Now then, Joe, show us a sample of your handiwork," was the cry that arose, mingled with peals of brutal laughter.
The man looked upon the still breathing body before him, and then glared helplessly at the threatening crowd. "I can't do it," exclaimed he, with an oath, and casting the knife aside he elbowed his way out of the ring.

But the woman who had been the primary cause of Craddock Lipthwaite's terrible fate was close at hand. During all that terrible scene of Lynch Law she had contrived to retain a front place, and more than once had had the inexpressible felicity of administering a blow or a kick upon the unhappy victim.

With a cry of exultation she darted upon the knife which the horse slaughterer had let fall, and kneeling beside the prostrate form gashed the abdomen with hideous transverse wounds. As if the excruciating pain had once again aroused Craddock Lipthwaite to a sense of agony he uttered one long ear-piercing shriek, which for a long time haunted the slumbers of the listeners, rose to his knees and endeavoured to compress the gaping wounds with his hands, then fell back heavily, a dead man.

When the police, by the merciless use of the batons, forced their way to where the body was lying, they found it entirely unrecognisable, and no one could trace in that battered fragment of humanity either the intellectual features of the Apostle of Brain Power or the crafty lineaments of the dreaded Revolver.

----end

[TradeName]

The year after "Mandeville Square," Beeton's Annual featured another story by Sir Gilbert Campbell.


The Literary World, Volume 40, December 13, 1889, Page 504

CHRISTMAS NUMBERS AND ANNUALS

Beeton's Christmas Annual (Ward, Lock, and Co.), contains 'A Wave of Brain Power,' by Sir Gilbert Campbell, and a short musical play 'Minette's Birthday,' by Mr. R. Andre. Speaking of the book as a whole, the latter, though pretty, may be disregarded. The former is a highly sensational, oftentimes gruesome, narrative. Occult forces, exercised by Craddock Lipthwaite alias Revolver, chief dynamitard of a London gang, subject David Acland, a true-hearted young author, to the villain's will, and make him an active agent in a series of crimes. Rhoda Harding, David's betrothed, discovers his misery and exerts her ownspiritual and mental powers to combat the will and eventually to triumph over his cruel taskmaster. Human interests are not wholly absent from the working out of the plot, but many of the details are ghastly in the extreme, and more than one passage we wish we had never read.

----end

This story was also later serialized in an Australian newspaper, under a different title.


Launceston Examiner, September 17, 1892 Page 1

Chapter I. -- Great Grill-Street


Launceston Examiner, September 24, 1892 Page 1

Chapter II. -- In the Silent Night


Launceston Examiner, October 1, 1892 Page 1

Chapter III. -- A Pipe of Tobacco


Launceston Examiner, October 8, 1892 Page 2

Chapter IV. -- 13, Marshgate-Street


Launceston Examiner, October 15, 1892 Page 2

Chapter V. -- A Dastardly Scheme


Launceston Examiner, October 22, 1892 Page 2

Chapter VI. -- At the Chateau Music Hall


Launceston Examiner, October 29, 1892 Page 2

Chapter VII. -- A Domiciliary Visit


Launceston Examiner, November 5, 1892 Page 2

Chapter VIII. -- An Innocent Experiment

[mentions "The Haunted and the Haunters" by Bulwer Lytton]


Launceston Examiner, November 12, 1892 Page 2

Chapter IX. -- A Guardian Angel


Launceston Examiner, November 19, 1892 Page 2

Chapter X. -- A Pinch of Snuff


Launceston Examiner, November 26, 1892 Page 2

Chapter XI. -- Master and Man

["They say there was a baronet there once or twice, rather a broken down one, I believe, but the real thing for all that."]


Launceston Examiner, December 3, 1892 Page 2

Chapter XII. -- Opposing Forces


Launceston Examiner, December 10, 1892 Page 2

Chapter XII. -- Opposing Forces (continued)


Launceston Examiner, December 17, 1892 Page 13

Chapter XIII. -- A Patriot's Resolve
Chapter XIV. -- V. 29


Launceston Examiner, December 24, 1892 Page 9

Chapter XIV. -- (Continued)


Launceston Examiner, December 31, 1892 Page 9

Chapter XV. -- Another Defeat


Launceston Examiner, January 7, 1893 Page 9

Chapter XV. -- Another Defeat (continued)
Chapter XVI. -- Opening the Campaign

[some text out of order]


Launceston Examiner, January 14, 1893 Page 9

Chapter XVI. -- (Continued)
Chapter XVII. -- A Sceptic Convinced


Launceston Examiner, January 21, 1893 Page 9

Chapter XVII. -- (Continued)
Chapter XVIII. -- A Timely Rescue


Launceston Examiner, January 28, 1893 Page 9

Chapter XVIII. -- A Timely Rescue (Continued)
Chapter XIX. -- The Return to Bondage


Launceston Examiner, February 4, 1893 Page 9

Chapter XIX. -- The Return to Bondage (Continued)
Chapter XX, -- 'From Information Received'


Launceston Examiner, February 11, 1893 Page 9

Chapter XX -- From Information Received (Continued)
Chapter XXI -- Harder Than Adamant


Launceston Examiner, February 18, 1893 Page 9

Chapter XXI. -- Harder Than Adamant (Continued)
Chapter XXII -- Waiting for the Explosion


Launceston Examiner, February 25, 1893 Page 9

Chapter XXII. -- (Continued)
Chpater XXIII. -- The Last Mission


Launceston Examiner, March 4, 1893 Page 9

Chapter XXIII. -- (Continued)
Chapter XXXIV. -- At the Police Court

The prisoner, who, in the exuberance
of his drunken spirits had
simply knocked down his wife, and
trampled upon her face, thereby totally
disfiguring her for life, was, by the
Draconic severity of the English law,
sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment
with hard labour, during which time the
wife had the option of starving or applying
to the Union for relief.


Launceston Examiner, March 11, 1893 Page 9

Chapter XXIV. -- (Continued)
Chapter XXV. -- Flight


Launceston Examiner, March 18, 1893 Page 9

Chapter XXV. -- (Continued)
Chapter XXVI -- The Fulfillment of the Prophecy


Launceston Examiner, March 25, 1893 Page 9

Chapter XXVI. -- (Continued)
Chapter XXVII -- The Last Wave