Daily American organ., 1856-03-22
Real Life in CAarlostesville.


American, in writing from Charlottesville, shows
how some Of the citizens Of that guide towne"
we're recently "taksn in and done for" In the fol
lowing communication: ~
About three months since q fashionable and ale
gantly dressed lady might have been seen at the
Monticello House in onr town. Soon after her
arrival IN our midst, she sent for relation Of hers
who lives in the vicinity Of Charlottesville, and
forthwith discloses TO him that she was immensely
rich; that she was on a tour Of pleasure and was
gong TO New Orleans to spend the winter: that
she would return to Virginia In the spring, and
pass the summer at the springs. She represented
herself a. widow, and perhaps is, having in com
pany her mother, an aged and rather infrm old
lady, and q son of some fourteen or fifteen years
OF age, whom she represented as being Ia delicate
health. But perhaps should mention here, that
some thirty years ago she left our town in compa-
ny with her father, who was in INDECENT circum-
stances TO seek their fortunes in Missouri. For
tune smiled upon her. and her highest anticpations
were crowned with abundant success She was
now very rich, and could only remain in town for
few days. Suffice 1t, without going into further
details, that her relation glad to hear Of her good
fortune, insisted, and finally prevailed upon her to
go to his house.
Finding Charlottesville so much improved,
blessed with salubrious climate, and SO well pro-
vided with schools for the education of youth she
determined, on her sons account TO forego the
pleasure Of passing the winter in New Orleans, and
to remain here This point being settled, she must
keep house, and that too in a style becoming her
wealth and rank. Completely deceiving her rela-
ton as to her real condtion-he thinking her ex-
tremely rich--it is not very surprising that ru-
NOR was soon in every part Of our town that she
was wealthy and it is not to be wondered at that
our merchants and mechanics should vie with each
other to secure the custom of this wealthy stran-
ger. few days after she came to our town, che
called at one of our largest mercantile establish
ments to examine the stock. Seeing fine collar,
she asked the price of it, 1t was only $40.
"Oh, like that" said she, and paid down the
amount.
Passing day or two afterwards, she stepped in
to take look at the silks. She selected one at
$40, because she " liked" it. and again she paid
the money. This convinced the merchant that
she was rich and when she called again, being
anxious to secure so good a customer, he informed
her that it was not material about paying for such
little things as she might want and that he should
be most happy to have her make bill with him.
She did SO and snug little bill it is. This is an
isolated case but she was by no means partial,
and gave all of our merchants chance to compete
for her custom.
During her stay here she lost no opportunity
ofrepresenting herself as the mistress Of two plan
tations--the one in Mississippi, the other in Mis-
Souri ana also tnat she owned numerous houses
and lots in St. Louis Some few confiding souls
had the kindness of heart to loan her money, and
could not doubt for moment that her money
would arrive by Adams Il Co. Express, as soon
as navigation was resumed. She made two trips
to Washington, to devise ways and means of dis
posing of her property, in Mississippi particularly
In the meantime, 1t is estimated that in the short
space of three months her liabilities were not short
of 81, 900, liberal, but by no means a very ex-
travagant amount for lady Of such immense for
tune .tt.& p5 s4t es
Finally, some of the merchants became little
uneasy about her Indebtedness, strange as it may
seem. The bills began to come in, and one per
son, whose debt was little less than $40, was re-
quested to send the change and she would send
$50 note. The change, amounting to several dol
of the note. A deed followed this uneasy feeling
among the merchants and mechanics, and they all
got just nothing at all, or thereabout.
About daybreak, few mornings ago, a lady
closely muffled up with a cloak, in deep Disguise
might be seen walking to the University depot to
await the arrival of the cars. On arriving at the
depot she called for dark room, as she was suE
fering greatly from sore eyes. Thus she managed
to make her escape.
1t has been ascertained since she left that she
was perfectly insolvent.. This lady calls herself
Mrs. Hannah Ward
Some of our merchants feel themselves slightly
sold in the Ward case and presume will be rather
particular in the future how they vie with each
other to secure the custom of another wealthy
stranger. '4at +s-i ita