New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-16
vs.. WATKINS
Card from Lydia Thompson
SHE vrNDIcArEs uERsELF

Somebody who evidently Is preludiced
against Lydia Thompson, sends us the fol-
lowing, which was taken from the Chicago
ZSnees-Mr. Storey's paper:
The London (England) Globe of March "a
contains the following:
"This afternoon the case OF watkins vs.
Watkins was heard. The petitioner was a
widow of considerable means, aud settled
three hundred pounds year on the respon-
dent OH the marriage. After the ceremony
the husband persistently refused to consum-
mate the marriage, and frequently ill-treated
his wife by beating aud kicking her.
"The respondents valet proved that Miss
LYDIA Thompson, the well-knoWn actress,
was in the habit of visiting his master, and
that, on many occasions, be saw long, fair
hair on his masters lace and coat after Mss
Lydia Thompson's visits. The respondent
left England to go to America with Miss
lydia Thompson, and dismissed witness, as
he said he would be spy upon him. Evl-
dence was also given OF his adultery with
Mrs. Douglass, which, being more cOnclu-
sive than that against Hiss Thompson, the
Judge ordinary granted decree aSS' on
that ground, with Costs"
Who's Watkins? Is his other name Hen
derson?
Yesterday we found this in the New York
World, and we publish it to vindicate Miss.
Thompson:
In reply to a piece Of scandA published in
oae of the New York papers, Miss Lydia
Thompson, of burlesque fame, with her
usual summary method, on Wednesday last
made the folio wing affidavit:
City and County of New York, ss.-Lydia
Thompson being duly sworn, deposes and
SAYS: I am the manageress of the Lydia
Thompson Burlesque Troupe" and am at
present residing IN the city Of New York.
In the year 1858, while performing an en-
gagement at the Strand Theatre, ia London,
I received present of some jewelry from
person unknown to me, which WAS Imme-
diately returned to the address of the donor.
Subsequently some iewe!ry was sent to me
as "a compliment to my merit as an artist. y
This present I accepted, and although the
name of the glTer, with those OF many
others who have chosen to Distinguish me
by similar attentions. had for the moment
passed entirely out of my remembrance, l
have now no doubt, from the newspaper
articles which have appeared, and the
most explicit of which | have
received only to-day, that he is one
of the parties to the action known as
Watkins against Watkins. 1t so happened
that after the receipt of the present 1t came
to my knowledge that this jeweiry belonged
to Mrs. Watkins, and | therefore immedi-
ately sent it to the lady by my sister, to-
gether with a letter of explanation. To this
letter Mrs. Watkins replied IN very kind
note, which is now N my possession.
In regard to Mr.. Watkins, 1 would say
thai. I never went to his rooms, nor was [
ever alone in his company, nor do | know
anything whatever about him further than
I have stated above.
LYDIA THOMPSON.
Sworn to before me, this seventh day OF
April 1870.
Notary Pablo FOR the city and county OF
New York.
Il Miss Thompson will kindly chastise
some of the nincompoops who send presents
to actresses it might have salutary effect,
and prevent any possible scandal IL the fu-