Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-22
Buchignani The Last Chapter in the
Romantic History OF MRS. EatOn's


Young MAN. rf aNfNW
From the New York Tribune.l
The public have not forgotten the in
tense excitement created in the spring of
1866 by the sudden disappearance of the
young and handsome husband and fasci-
mating granddaughter of lady then
well known to fame, and long before
noted in the annals of the country.
Those intimate in the family of the
once handsome and even now extremely
fascinating Mrs. General Eaton did not
hesitate to say from the day of the ill
assorted match that trouble and disaster
must necessarily follow, though no one
was wise enough to point out the particu-
lar danger. The irascible, ungovernable
and infamously profane temper of the
old lady, which, Madame Rumor says,
drove her two former husbands to pre-
mature graves-Timberlake to suicide
by cutting his throat, and Eaton to drunk
enness-was assigned as the certain rea-
son of speedy separation. The private
life of the poor fellow was rendered des.
perate, in Washington, during the first
five or six years of his married life, and
the old neighbors of the Eaton Block
even now the tell tales of the furious
quarrels between the passionate young
Italian dancing master and the irascible
old dame. The remonstrances of neigh
bors were Of no avail.
The war continued with unabated vigor,
each party by turns appealing to the
sympathy of the Hon. s. c. Pomeroy,
United States Senator from Kansas, who
was, during the first year of his Senatorial
term, q guest at the Buchignsni mansion.
While here the rotund Senator became
much attached to the fair little Emily,
who, even at that tender age--twelve-
began to shew the disposition so soon to
be developed, and he often expressed his
intention Of adopting her and arming for
her future. He often told her he would
see that she should have dover hand
some enough for any girl. At this time
the affection between the Senator and his
adopted was of an extremely touching
character, she spending the most of her
time in bis lap when be was in the house,
and he lavishing upon her gifts Of every
description.
As time passed on, an intimacy sprung
up between the young husband and preco-
cious granddaughter of very confiden-
tial and tender character, though nothing
of a.criminsl nature trsnspired until the
removal of the family to New York. In
the summer of 1865 they rented the cozy
little house of /. M. Singer, at Spuyten
Duyvil, and here the intimacy ripened
into criminal love, and the numerous op.
portunities offered by the shady walks,
the deserted and silent barn, the secluded
bath house and the convenient sail-boats
proved too much for their strength of
virtue, and there began that criminal in
terceurse, which, when it could no longer
be concealed, drove them, oGscasts, from
the country. After a short residence
abroad the guilty pair returned to New
York, residing in little dingy frame
building, No. l70 West Thirty Second
street, where they billed and cooed un-
known to their neighbors, or to their de-
serted old relative, then residing in Ho-
boken.
While in New York at this time, the
whilom dancing master assumed new
role, that of q successful smuggler OF
silks, perfumes, opium, etc., which, with
the assistance Of certain officials in the
New York Custom-house, he was enabled
to carry on with impunily and success.
The private detective, so Buchignani
himself states, kept him posted on all
matters of interest to, him, and finally,
when his guilt was discovered, posted
him long enough in advance to render
his search, when armed with the neces-
sary documents, altogether unsuccessful
This smuggling was carried on in pecu-
liar manner, several persons on both
sides of the ocean being engaged. Prin-
cipslly here were Buchignani aud VIM.
Leiss, a jew broker Of the Custom-house,
whose sign still hangs out on Broadway
Just above Bowling Green, though he
himself has been slso obliged to fec the
country to escape the clutches Of the
Treasury officials He is supposed to be
in Europe. On the other side the prin-
cipsl operator was one ID. Arico Pigns-
tell, assisted in Lyons by confederate
who repacked the goods. After the dis
covery the smuggler fed to Montreal, and |
Webster, who was then Wakemsns
Deputy Surveyor in the Cus.om-house,
was extremely exercised in mind. The |
pretty mistress, Miss Randolph, was sent |
for. and an interview held in the deputy's |
private room. Though he was extremely |
gallant, suave, courteous, the young girl |
was too smart for him. She was per |
sistent and unalterable know-nothing. !
To every question her reply was, with
decided shake of the head and firm
puckering Of the lips, u don't know,
SIR" Webster gave it up as bad job,
sud the mistress soon followed the SNUG
gler to Montreal
Here Buchignsni opened resiaurapt
and bar-room at No. 10 81. Francois
Xavier street, after the plan Of Dslmoni-
cos lunch-room in this city, and be met
with considerable success. During all
the time since his return from Europe me-
gotiatious had been pending to secure a
divorce from the old lady, so that the
lovers might be married, and thus legili-
mstize their boy, which had been born in
Europe. Once Buchignani came back TO
secure some smuggled silks left in the
custom-house at the time of bis hurried
fight, when he vas arrested ct the in
..snca of hia deserted wife and made To L