Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-02-23
A Ruined WOman's Story.


A sadder story than the following we
have not read in many day. 1t is
stranger than fiction. The unfortunate
woman who relates it was recently ar
rested ia Chicago upon complaint of her
destroyer, under circumstances which
appear below, and on trial was acquit-
ted. She then instituted proceedings
for the recovery OF her child, who was
in the devils keeping, but for the lack
OF technical proof tailed to gain her
case. We take the story from theEhi-
cago Jour3tut.
| a WRITTEN STATEMENT OF A BETRAYED
AND BRukEN-HEARTED WOMAN.
Three years ago resided with my
parents in Burlington, Iowa; but, re-
ceiving IA letter from Mrs. Mattock, the
wife ot the man who row stands my
accuser, stating that she was in delicate
health and unable to leave her bed, and
desirous OF my company, | weHt to her.
We had been old and intimate friends
before her marriage, and loved her as
] would a sister. l also was attached to
her children as much as to the mother.
l. attended her for months with the
most sisterly care, and | can say with
out boasting that the whole household
was benefited by my as-iduous aud
unceasing attention. There was one
in the house, however, who did not
appreciate my services, and that was
tile husband of my friend the father of
her children, the man who of all men
in the world ought to have felt grateful
to me, the one who should have stood
by me in the time of temptation or
danger. He alone of the entire house
hold could not appreciate the service
which was being so freely rendered to
himself, his wife, and his family i'm
their time of trouble. He was blinded
by his own brutal passion. and, as after
wards developed, bad resolved to ac-
cOmplish my ruin, though | was living
under his own root, and devoting my
self to his service. The first improper
overture he made to me was while
was one day engaged i'm the kitchen
liking up some little delicacy for his
wife. His conduct was such on that
occasion that | became alarmed and
announced to his wife my intention to
Immediately leave the house. She,
however, implored me TO stay, and as
sured me that her husband had been
only Joking, and promised me that he
would never again venture upon such
intimacies. Upon this condition con-
sented to remain; but, two or three
days afterwards, upon these overtures
being renewed, l took my departure,
and went to reside with some friends
in Peoria. AT this time was engaged
to be married TO young man named
Moore, who had gone into the army,
and for the next six months my time
passed tranquilly-living in a pleasant
dream Of anticipation, regularly receiy-
ing long loving communications from
ray betrothed, reading with boundless
delight his name as it was chrOnicled
through the newspapers. as he advanced
to hi II rank, and looking forward to
the day when the war should be ended
and The time of waiting should he pass
ed. During all these six months had
not heard from the Mattocks. isit Of
ten thought OF my sick friend and her
darling children.
About this time dear friend of ours
Mrs. MattOck's and miael died. and /
wrote to her about it. A few days after
wards ! received a letter in answer.
written Ivy Mr.. Mattork. He in ormed
me that he was soon coming to Peoria
OF business, and would bring with him
some photographs of his family for me,
and asked me to give him my address.
/ did SO, and shortly afterwards receiv-
ed visit from him. He told me that
he bad brought the pictures, and asked
me to 90 to the hotel with him for them.
and on the route he would tell me all
about the children. Delighted at the
thought of possessing the photographs.
j went out with him. We talked about
the children and other matters, until ]