New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-13
THE INFATUATED LOvEREss
LYDIA THOMPSON TERRoREss
HER EXAMINATION IN CHICAGO
PISTOL PRESENT IN NEW ORLEANS

PISTOL PRESENT IN NEW oRlEAN
Yesterday morning, we published q chap
ter Of the prosecutions of Lydia Thompson
at Chicago and elsewhere, by an infatuate,
young woman. The Chicago Post of Tues
day evening gives us the result ..--
Now shift the scene, as the novelists say
from the boards of the Opera House to tn,
courtroom of the ArmOry; or, in legal par
| lance, change the Venue from the jurisdic
| ton of MelpOmene to that of Summerfield
| At the usual hour this morning, the ArmOry
| Police Court was crowded with auditors
| One could comprehend, at q glance, that
| something unusual was going on. The
| dramatis persona Of the play were present
Miss Griffin does not look like one who
would impress q person of either sex with
the warmest feeling, and Miss Thompson is
quite excusable in declining to return the
affection which seems to have survived SO
many railroad Journeys, and grown warmer
with rebuffs, especially as women are not
expected to lavish the wealth OF their affec-
ton on members of their own sex. Miss
Thompson, attired neatly, but conspicuous
from her blonde coi6ire, and surrounded by
few friends, sat at one of the witness
rection of her indnorata. An ardent love
seemed to beam in one eye, to wit: The eye
that looked toward Thompson, while the
other. which was fixed on Henderson, shone
sayagely. Only a Griffin could have ac-
compiished this optical feat.
The prisoners name was called, where
upon she took the usual position in the box.
She was charged with disOrderly conduct.
and pleaded not guilty, most decidedly"
vr0c fad hvv I'm
Lyle King A bell boy at the Matteson
House was sworn. 1t was sworn by him
that about three o'clock yesterday afternoon
the prisoner sent a letter to Miss Thompson,
who recognized the handwriting, and de-
clined to read it. The letter was returned
by the boy with the information that she
would not see her. Upon receiving this
message the prisoner grew wroth, and de-
clared her intention to make Miss ThOmp-
son read it, saying at the same time, "Ill
fix her."
Mr.. Hall, member of the Thompson
troupe, testified that he was present yester-
day when some trouble occurred between
Miss Thompson and the prisoner. He was
awakened from sleep by the cries of the
former, and rushing into the hall in front of
Miss ThompsOn's room, found that the pris-
oner held her by both wrists, and was using
abusive language toward her. He has been
prisoner first at Reno, in Nevada. She
Travelled on the same train with the troupe,
and constantly obtruded herself on Miss
Thompson.
Miss Thompson was called. She said
substantially. that year ago last January
she was playing an engagement at NiblO's,
New York She received basket of flowers
and diamond ring, accompanied by note
signed by the prisoner, requesting the
pleasure of her acquaintance and permis-
sion to visit her occasionally. She met the
lady, who informed her that she was in the
habit of dressing herself in male attire, and
visiting the gallery, when she became infatu-
ated with her performances. The ring was
returned to the donor, when it was learned
that it was family relic, but its place was
supplied by jewel of different setting.
One night Miss Thompson was surprised by
the receipt Of card thrown from the gallery
at NiblO's. on which was written, ''1f you
don't return nv dead sisters ring, I'll
jump down and snatch it from your fin
GER Miss Thompson came West. She was
followed by Griffin. At St Louis she an
noyed her terribly with opportunities. Her
behavior on one occasion in the hotel parlOr
at st. Louis was described as most extraOr
binary. A gentleman at Chicago had writ
ten to her, saying that he took a kindly in
terest in Miss Griffin on account of her fam
lily, whom he knew well; that he knew
she was possessed by strange and unnatu-
raj infatuation for Miss Thompson, but that
if she would show her how mad her conduct
appeared, and how futile it was to follow
her, he was satisfied that she would cease
her mad wanderings. Determining to act
on the gentleman's suggestion, she granted
an interview to Miss Griffin. which
proved to be particularly stormy The
ring. which appears to have been rung
in on all occasions, was again the source
of dispute. Miss Thompson wished ore
turn it, and after some effort, persuaded
Miss Griffin to sign a receipt for it. pOr-
ter had to be summoned to remove the OBJ
streperous maiden, and as she was being
borne off, she threw the ring on the floor.
When Miss Thompson returned to New
York, the mother Of the girl called upon her,
that her daughter had become
,lienated from her home: and to restrain
ler following Miss T. over the country, she
would be glad to have her arrested aud de-
aimed on charge of lunacy. 1t appears
hat the diamond was the same which had
been given to Miss Thompson originally, |
,nly that it had received different setting.
The jewel was returned to the mother
Miss Thompson stated that she had re-
'eived hundreds of letters from the prisoner,
md proceeded to read some Of them. In
loing so she displayed, without appar-
mt effort. and undoubtedly without
Intending to do so, very marked dramatic
bility, which pleased the audience quite as
much as some OF her artistic efforts on the
boards. The following extracts are made:
Hiss Thompson:
81 love you, love you.
Let Henderson dare
To chide me for loving |
Your golden hair.
az love YOU love YOU
And cost what it may
Will follow you again
At some future day,
Beautiful lines, are they not. Worthy of |
fay, passionate, freckle-faced,
suitors. l never met with so
an individual as yourself
rue love never did run smooth, so why
hould it in my case9 | received letter
'om that mother Of mine. She is in de-
ghtful state Of Indignation against me for
rayeling alone. The fact is, I've got my
elf into jolly mess. On the principle Of
e who runs away will live to fight another
ay, suppose / may as well return, receive
Il the scolding in store for me with hum
lest submission, and do the same thing
gain.
lear Miss Thompson:
You know love you. and your unkind-
ess has made me miserable
f. A. GRIFFIN"
Extract from letter written at salt Lake City.l
:. When You get tired of burlesGue
3u can act in comedy. and YOU are lust as
in one as the other | wish I
as a man, would run Henderson to the
,vii and marry you whether You liked If
not Allow me to say [ do not love any
ale member of your troupe. have too
uch pride to run after a man in this way:
1t don't think Henderson would leave
III for me. and he would be a d-n fool if