The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-06-04
The Mystery UnfoIded

The correspondents we have published
in relation to DR.. John Pocock Holmes, :
has developed the history Of his life with. i
out giving US any reasons for the aban-
donment Of his large practice and high
position in London, and the secret cause
Of his subsequent unhappy career in this
country. The following letter from a
highly respectable lady reveals, perhaps,
the mystery. II is painful, after re-
ceiviug so many eloquent tributes to his
worth and goodness, from all who had
known him in this country, to give
place to an imputation 80 criminal as
that which follows. We have had it on
ile many days, hesitating to give it to
the public. There are circumstances in
the course of his life here, that corrobo
rate the suspicious that he was driven
from his former position by some great
fault or crime. His history affords a
deep moral, and presents q painful pic
ture of the terrible consequences of one
mis-step-of yielding, for once, to the
criminal suggestions Of avarice and evil
passions.
DEAR sIE:-Your favor came duly to hand,
for which allow me to tender my thanks, on
behalf of my friend, Mrs. Esther Holmes
1t is well to think kindly Of our fellow be-
ings; and it il also sometimes well TO know
that the Good Father does no. punish the
innocent and good, by rendering them soli
tary outcasts.
Ny knowledge of the poor fallen man,
commenced in the winter of 1851 and 3d.
At the house of the mother of the present
Countess - Harrington, frequently met,
among OF agreeable guests, Mrs. Holmes,
whose intelligence and hberality of senti-
ment, soon won my high esteem. Our ae-
quaintance soon ripened into intimacy. /
supposed she was q widow, as l heard no
mention made Of her husband. But one
evening when at her house, noticed very
fine bust, and, on inquiry, learned that it
was her husbands, DIR. John Pocock Holmes.
She inquired if had ever met any one in
America, who resembled it, and then went
, on to inform me that, if living, he was in
America. In confidence, she related to me q
history Of her life, and especially OF her
connection with DR.. Holmes. She could not
bear to tarnish his reputation, for he had
stood 50 high with the public, and she had
herself so venerated him, that she bad suf-
: ferod much in silence, rather than to expose
; him to the just rigor Of the law.
: His open handed generosity, and possibly,
, profigate habits not so well known, had en-
barrassed him to considerable extent, and
his wife had freely given him two Thousand
pounds to relieve, as he said, temporary
pressure, in bis affairs. She had four thou
| sand more In bank, so secured that he could
. not draw it without her signature. He wish
ed her to give him this, but she told him, II
he was really so much embarrassed, he had
better let his creditors settle his affairs Gas
be was notorious for net collecting for him
. self, and she bad better retain the small sum
. she had, for any future emergency.
a He was angry, and in the hearing Of SER
q want Of her mothers, made some threat.
!, which were afterwards remembered. She
: was taken with sick headache, and he ad.
ministered portion, which be said woult
. soon relieve her, and went ont. She notices
q the phial from which he took IL, and obser
!. we'd that It tasted strangely. She begged hin
= to send her maid to her, but instead Of do
ing 90, he went down and ordered her not 4
y go into her mistress room, till she had step
n for an hour or two. She became deathl
. sick and vomitcd freely. The maid, wo
man of good deal Of experience, came int
: the room, perceived an odor, and inquire
: what she had taken. She told her she di
10 net know, but pointed out the phial. sb
Is put 1t in her bosom, and as soon rs she coul
D. leave her mistress, went to chemists shol
"a and learned that it was a poison. Mr.
q, Holmes was naturally good deal alarmed
and as soop as she was able to ride, went
y, her mothers. The Doctor did not return ii
W. after she had left. She felt afraid to return
It. and her friends thought it not best that 81
On should do so, until be should make some e,
rt plantations. think her brother saw him
be but do not recall all the particulars. 81
:. was i'll for some time, and when able to {
out, went to the bank to draw some mope-
&C To her utter establishments, she learned th
Cd the Doctor had been there with a lady, pc
sonating herself, and had drawn the who
amount This money was property left h
80 by deceased friend, and the Doctor Ia
'"' never any claim to il. He had promised b
ne q marriage settlement of Eco, 900, which
u hud never arranged. When she made il
tee quiry for him. he had left and was not to
he found, subsequently,, she traced him to Anne
- ica, through the aid Of, think, bfother.il
%. law of the distinguished Chevalier Bunso
OIL whose family treated her with great kin
IT. ness. So the $4,000 he brought with hir
en- was stolen from his wife, and who cou
for wonder that his speculations did not pro
!, per. Beyond the State Of New York, 81
Ae had rot been able to trace him distinct
BE though she believed he was in the West. II
nd motives she could never fathom. His pos
ed ton was so high, his pride Of character
A great, it was to her unaccountable. I shou
Nv have before stated that she was his secol
:. wife, and the daughter Of Danish gentl
=. man, who. had married an English lady.
nv his youth he had been an intimate friend
me the Crown Prince Of Denmark.