Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-16

Husband--Hi Remarkable Abandon
ment Of His Spouse and Subsequent Ad-
ventures.
1t will not be forgotten by those now
living. familiar with the society OF Wash.
ineton during the Presidential term of
General Jackson. that Mrs. Eaton, the
wife of General Eaton, then Secretary of
War. was refused recognition by the elite
at that period resident there. They will
also remember that the infexible will OF
Jackson overruled this objection, and in
time Mrs. Eaton was acknowledged as
one of the regning bellies of that period;
That truth is stranger than fiction,
is again exemplifed 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 time:
At The death of General Eaton his
widow was left with such handsome
competency that she commanded the re-
spect of her former associates in Wash
ington, and retaining her widowed con-
dition until the autumn OF 1857 she was
the admired of an admiring throng.. AT
that time she became enamored with an
Italian dancing master, one Antonio
Buchignani, who was then teaching the
lads and asses of the capital the art OF
tripping the light fantastic. he was gay
and attractive, aud, in fine, so ardently
did he return the affection that, notwlth-
standing the disparity of ages, she being
sixty.six and be but nineteen years OF
age, that they were married. Here Mrs
Buchignani experienced new troubles in
spite of her wealth, for her old friends
forsook her aHd refused to recognize her
when on the street with her boy husband,
and for one year her parlors were closed
and they lived in seclusion. At the end
of the year, however, he behaved himself
so nicely that her former friends over.
looked her shortcomings and once more
she was admitted TO society.
At this time, 1858. through the interces
sion of United States Senators, Mr..
Buchignani, after refusing several polit-
ical aud military commissions 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 ims ginative, as Antonio succeeded
by iutri que in obtaining the control of
the bulk of his wife's property-some
$73,000-and one opportune moment he
decamped to the sunny soil of Italy with
the entire amount, not negecting to take
a 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 Legborn, the alb.
sconding pair lived in all the princely
grandeur which their surreptitiously
gained fortune enabled them. But the
shadow of dark cloud even then encom-
passed their existence, and still again it
was marked that with ill gotten gains
the pilferer never prospers," as Antonio
lost or expended the bulk Of his fortune,
and with the little left he fed with his
wife to Montreal, Canada, there embark
ing in a common business enterprise.
Forgetting or not fearing his shame
fnl act. Antonio few days since came to
New York, where his aged wife has been
living several years, supported by son,
who is Custom House official, and she,
hearing of the fact, with the additional
information that his business was to
secure the sum of $4,000, she looked
about for the means Of his arrest, and
yesterday called upon Justice Ledwith,
who issued n warrant TO this effect Here
the once youthful husband was brought TO
grief, as an officer found him at hotel in
Chambers street. and conveyed him to a
station house. It 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 al
lowauce of s. per week for this purpose,
he was committed to the care of the Com
missioners of Public Charities aud Cor
rection. This disposition Of the band
box dandy did not suit him, and late last
evening be was discharged, after a
prominent and wealthy lawyer Of the city
entered into bonds that this amount
should be paid weekly.
Since Antonio has been living with the
granddaughter two children have been
born to them, one Of whom is still living
Mrs. Bachignani is an intelligent, well
appearing woman, about seventy eight
years old, and says, with all bis faults,
she still loves him dearly; that she did
not care for her money, be was welcome
10 that; bat she was greatly injured by
his disturbing the peace OF the family BY
living in open adultery with one Of ia
members
Antonio is a fine specimen Of az
Italian, good looking and about thirty.
one years Of age, Who seemed 10 treat
the matter With indifference. and accom-.
panied the officer to prison quite uncon-
cernedly, IS though be we're going into q
dancing ball 10 instruct bis pupils, hav-
ing no scruples against reducing bis wife
to almost beggsry and himself 10 shame
aud disgrsce. Verify truth is stranger