The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-11
A NEW YORK SENSATION.
The Widow of General Eaton and her
TerpsichOrean Husband.

IerpS1ehOrean HuSDAn0.
The New York Herald of this morning con-
tains the following:-
1t will not be forgotten by those now living,
familiar with the society Of Washington during
the Presidential term OF General Jackson, that
Mrs. Eaton, the vile of General Eaton, then
Secretary OF War, was refused recognition by
the eiite at that period resident there. They
will also remember that the inhexlble Will of
Jackson overruled this objection, and in time
Mrs. Eaton was acknowledged as one of the
reignlng bellies of that period.
That truth Is stranger than fiction" Is again
exemplided IN the case of this same Mrs. Eaton,
who is still living, will be readily admitted after
the perusal of the following facts regarding her
career subsequent to that ttme:-
AT the death of General Eaton his widow was
lett with such handsome competency that she
commanded the respect OF her former associates
in Washington, and retaining her wldo we'd
condition until the autumn OF 1857 she was the
ADMIRED of an admlrlng throDg. AT that time
she became enamored with an Italian dancing,
master, one Antonio Buchignani, who was then
teaching the lads and iasses of the capital the
art OF tripping the light fantastic. He was gay
and attractive, and, in fine, so ardently did he
return the affection that Notwithstanding the
disparity OF ages, she being siXty-siX and he but
nineteen years OF age, they were married. Here
Mrs. Buchignaui experienced new troubles IN
spite of her wealth, Tor her old friends fo:sook
her and refused to recognize her when on the
street with her boy husband, and for one year
her parlors were closed and they lived in seclu-
sion. At the end of the year, however, he be-
hayed himself so nicely that her former friends
overlooked her shortcomings and once more she
was admitted to society.
AT this time, 1858, through the intercession of
United States Senator's Mr.. Buchignani, after
refusing several political and military commits.
sons rendered him, was made the librarian to
Congress, which position he held two years.
The seeming felicity with which the lives of this
remarkable couple ran along was only imagi-
native, as Antonio succeeded by intrigue in
obtaining the control OF the bulk of his wifes
property-some $73,000-and one opportune
MOI hn I'D 0nil FOL
with the entire amount, not negecting to take
female partner, in the person of his wife's own
granddaughter, blooming girl yet in her
teens In the city of Lucca, twenty-five miles
from Leghorp, the absconding pair lived in all
the princely grandeur which their surreptitiously
gained fortune enabled them. But the shadow
of a dark cloud even then encompassed their
existence and still again it was marked that with
''ill gotten gains the pillerer never prospers,"
as Antonio lost or expended the bulk of his for.
tune, and with the little left he fed vita his wife
TO Montreal, Canada, there embarklng in a
common business enterprise.
Forgetting or not fearing his shameful act,
Antonio a few days since came to New York,
where his aged wife had been living several
House Official, and She, hearing of the fact with
the additional information that his business was
to secure the sum of $4,000, looked about
for the means of his arrest, and yesterday called
upon Justice Ledwith, who issued warrant to
this effect. Here the once youthful husband
was brought to grief, as an officer found him at
a hotel in Chambers street and conveyed him to
Station House. 1t was not long before his
aged wife, who had loved "well but not wisely"
confronted him before the above Justice, and,
telling her story. demanded support. Antonio
admitted all the charges, but not caring to agree
to an allowance OF So per week for this purpose,
he was committed to the care OF the Commits
sioners of Public Charities and Correction. This
disposition of the bandbox dandy did not suit
him, and late last evening he was discharged,
after prominent and wealthy lawyer of the
city entered into bonds that this amount should
be paid weekly.
Since Antonio has been living with the grand
daughter two children have been born to them,
one of whom is still living.
Mrs. Buchignani is an intelligent, well-appear-
ing woman, about seventy-eght years old; and
says, with all his faults, she still loves him
dearly; that she did not care for her money, he
was welcome 10 that; but she was greatly
injured by his disturbing the peace of the family
by living in open adultery with one of its
members.
Antonio is fine specimen of an Italian, good
looking, and about thirty-o -one years of age, who
seemed to treat the matter with indifference,
and accompanied the officer 10 prison quite
unconcerned. as though he were going into
dancing hall to instruct his pupils having no
scrupes against reducing his wife to almost
beggary, and himself to shame and disgrace.
Verify, truth is stranger than felton,"