Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-11-09
Extraordinary Developments.
s,ncrIAn cAsF OF INFATUATION.

.
One of the most extraordinary developments
We ever read of or heard Of, is contained in the
closing evidence of what is known as the Wood
man trial, now under hearing in New York
Mrs. Woodman, the wife of respectable gem
tleman living in New Orleans, became acquaint-
ed, during a visit to Paris, with an American
traveller there, named Mr.. Furniss. Mrs. Wood
man was taken sick. Mr.. Furniss paid great
attention to her in frequent inquiries about her
and in a thousand attentions insinuatingly and
irresistably paid. By and by, in the absence of
her husband, he came to WELD the most absolute
influence over her. She became his most alb
iect slave, all the while too, loving and worship
ing him almost to distraction. On her return
to America he haunted her continually, extort-
ing from her frequent sums of money, and, in
general, using her as his wants or caprice die
tated: as witness the following extract from her
affidavit:
About November, 1855, left New York for
the South, and went for time to the house of
nv father in Mississippi. While there cores
pended with said Gardner Furniss at his urgent
request By means of my letters and otherwise,
| he had it then in his power to ruin my reputa-
| ton, and, as he supposed, cause me to be dis
carded by my husband In January, 1856, after
had returned to New Orleans and settled there
for the winter, said Furniss arrived in New Or
leans The next day after his arrival he asked
me for some money. had them only 500,
which gave him. He was not satisfied with
| that. The next day obtained and gave $50
more. He urged me to geta divorce from my
husband, and then marry him. Stated that he
| had had lawyer to examine the laws of Lousi-
~. 7 70 IN a Il
| yOrce would be entitled to one half of my hus-
bands estate in louisiana, and thus could by that
means obtain from fifty to seycnty-five thousand
dollars; that if did not create some difficulty
and obtain divorce, he would expose my let
tiers to my husband, and that there We're express
sOns in them that would induce my husband to
apply for a divorce, which would disgrace me.
| He afterwards called repeatedly for
money, and upon my refusing to give it him
he threatened to show to Mr.. Woodman the
| letters which | had written him and also
portrait of me which he had. q He told
me the letters which had written him would
! cause Mr.. Woodtnan to discard me, and that
he, Mr.. Furniss, would disgrace and ruin me-
unless let him have all the money i could
get. had during that period an allowance from
| my husband of 500 per month, all of which |
gave Mr.. Furniss; with that he got along antil
the latter part of April. About the 25th. of
| April he called onme for money to pay his board
bill, which he said was about $3.50. had no
money and told him so, upon which he not only
threatened me, but actually beat me with viol-
ence-broke open my wardrobe, aud took away
| my iewelry and some valuable laces, some of
which he dropped in the entry as he was carry
! ing them away, and again threatened to disgrace
me and to send my letters to Mr.. Woodman.
At this time he wrote the note No /. Mr.. G.
| is intended for the proprietor of the hotel.
Twas much alarmed by his violence and his
Mr
Woodman and partly by the sale ola lace shawl
for $125 which had cost me 5000, and gave
Furniss the amount. From the time he arrived
in New Orleans in January until he left, about
the end of April, he obtained from me about
$500.
In August, 1856, was at the New York Ho-
tel. l then gave FurniSS about 5000, with
which he went to Newport. Afterwards, at
Newport, I obtained and gave him $50 more
On returning from Newport went again to the
New York Hotel Here, at this time, said Fur
Miss took away many of my valuable laces-
point d'Aencon and others-to very large
amount; also much of my fine jewelry- He
would come into my room when my husband
went out, and insist upon me sending out my
maid. Then he would go into my bedroom,
open my trunks take out whatever he choose,
and carry it off. About this time he broke n
valuable green enamelled bracelet which / had.
1t had cost me in Geneva ut the maaufnctory
about 2,OOO francs. lie TOOK IL away, ana Wnen
he brought it back, three of the sprigs of
diamonds were missing; they have never come
back.
Her affidavit goes on at length, detailing nu-
merous instances such as are given in the above
extract. After which we read as follows: ,
During the last eighteen months, my life has
been perfect torture. have acted with great
imprrdence, and have been led ON by Mr.. Fur
Mss to write him letters ofthc most compromi-
sing character. He has at times expressed to
me the most wild and passionate attachment,
and at times thought felt the same for him.
at other times have, with more reason, looked
on him as a monster, who was determined on
my destruction.
Mr.. Furniss first obtained power over me
| that had not the moral courage to resist and
the more l attempted to aPpease and please him,
and keep my husband in ignorance, the more /
became involved was afraid to confide in my
friends, particularly my husband, fearing that
fatal consequences would be the result, and that
| either the life of Mr.. Furniss or my husband
would be the penalty of any disclosure might
make
| During my acquaintance with said Furniss he
wrote me letters and notes almost daily. Many
! of them were without signature, or signed with
fictitious names, and many of them, when they
were sent by mail, were directed to me by ficti
! tious names, of which was always previously
! onnriSed nv him Among these names were