Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-30
1he Wickedest Woman in New York.

Correspondents the Cincinnati Times.
The wickedest woman in New York,
according to the popular verdict, is no
doubt Madame Restell, the famous or
infamous "female physician and profes-
sor of midwifery" as she is styled in her
advertisements and in the City Directory.
Some sixteen or seventeen years ago
she was arrested and tried for abortion,
and the death of young woman, who
had been put under the Madame's treat
ment to conceal story of sin and shame,
was laid at the midwife's door. EA
Restell lived in Chambers street then,
and was comparatively obscure. Her
trial created intense excitement all over
the country The newspapers teemed
with its details, and editorials upon edi-
torials we're written, rejecting severely
and eloquently upon the crime with
which she was charged. Enough evil
dence was offered to prove her guilty, not
only of the particular offense, but of nu-
merous other offenses equally heinous.
There seemed to be no escape for her.
The pententiary stared her in the face,
and if the law and justice had been ad-
ministered she would have been sent to
Sing Sing for the remainder of her natu-
raj life. But she was tried in New York,
where law is one thing and justice an
other; where he who has the most money,
or the political Influence to bear upon
the Judge, is sure to gain his case. The
Madame had liberal means, acquired by
her calling, and consequently she ss
capped. She bought witnesses, Judges,
jSries, it is alleged, and was duly ac-
ouited. 1t was stated at the time that
she purchased Justice to the extent of
800, ,000 and that she considered it one
Of the best investments she had ever
made. 1t certainly was, if preservation
from life long imprisonment has value
in money.
That trial of Madame Restell was a
superb advertisement of her business.
1t made her known everywhere, and has
probably been the means of adding to
her fortune twice the sum she expended.
Some years after the trial she removed
nm town-it was considered very far up
tben-having purchased lot in the Fifth
avenue, corner of Fifty-second street,
and erected a large and comfortable
brown-stone-froDt there. She is said to
have made the purchase through an
agent. as the owner of the real estate
advanced in price, and as the tide OF So
ciety went toward the park, many and
nunifcent were the offers to the midwife
to dispose of her property. She was
pressed to take five times the amount she
paid, but she would not She said she
had bought the place for home, and she
intended to end her days there. No i'm
portunity, no display of bank checks or
bank notes could change her resolution.
There she remains in her tall, tawdry-
looking house 10 this day. The lots at
the side Of her dwelling cannot be sold,
even though houses built on them would
be too far from hers to catch contamina-
ton. They have been offered, it is said,
at one quarter of what those on the next
block have brought, but there are no
takers. Law suits have been threatened
against Restell to dispossess her; but she
has no dread of Law. She declares she
is a regular physician, and as much en-
titled TO practice her profession as DR..
Carnochan or DIR. Dixon. Those who
are anxious 10 get rid Of her remember
her triumph long ago, and teei tnat she Is
too rich to be prosecuted with any nope
Of success on the island OF Manhattan.
Restell is so notorious that she Il more
talked Of and written about than even
Greeley or Stewart She is q God-send
to correspondents Of the country press,
aud they tell such tales Of her as are re-
lated Of Messelina, Sabina Pompeia aud
other notably wicked women Of Antiquity
ia the interdicted books that have come
down 70 us.
She does precisely What might be ex-
pected from her calling, and, to be &C
ousinted With her makes no sscrst Of IL.
She claims, say these Who pretend 10
know her, TO have done . great deal Of