New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-12
LYDIA THOMPSON IN CHICAGO
Her Female Prosecutor.
AND RELEASE
The Chicago Repu6lican Of Tuesday saws

The Chicago Republican of Tuesday says:
Lydia Thompson came here ON Sunday,
no doubt congratulating herself that on this.
her third, visit to this city, she would GER
tainly be freed from all annoyances and
that nothing would happen to disturb the
| monOtOnOus success of her season in Cali
fornia and her trip eastward. Chicago.
however, is bound to have her sensation,
and Lydia reckOned without her host just
| before the curtain rose at the Opera House
| last evening, and while she was dressing
for the part of Sir Rupert. she was placed
under arrest. The reason therefor is as fol-
lows:
For two years Miss Thompson has been
| bored almost to distraction by the frantic
persecution of a lady named Ellen A. Griffin,
whose residence is in New York When
the fair Lydia first appeared in that city,
| one of her audience was the aforesaid Ellen.
She became infatuated with the smiling
burlesGuer, and sent her diamond ring. at
the same time politely requesting the privi-
| lege OF making call, to which Miss ThOmp-
son assented. The wOlnan's attentions,
however. became unendurable. She wrote
letters. declaring in rather masculine man
ner that only in the fair Lydia's presence
could she be happy. Finding that per-
suasion and love declarations had no weight
she threw aside her wOmaniy modesty and
| lady department., and became exceedin Civ
abusive. She put on male attire, went to
the theatre, and threw bouquets. To these
were attached billcts doux, couched in
language much more foreible than elegant.
| Lydia sent back the diamond ring. and also
some few trinkets which she had reason to
believe the agapOmaniac has sent her
subsequently. Lydia and her troupe
| started out on her Western tour: and the
| fascinated Miss Griffin did likewise. Wher-
| ever Lydia appeared, her prosecutor was
! close at hand. Every evening she went to
| the theatre. and at the conclusion of the
performance returned to her hotel. which was
generally the one at which Miss Thompson
| was stopping. This was done in Buffalo
Pittsburg. Cleveland, st. Louis, Memphis,
New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia De
| trOit San Francisco. Sacramento. Omaha
| and Chicago.
Yesterday afternoon, abOu. three O'Clock,
| while Miss Thompson was in her room at
the Matteson House, q beil-boy brought up
a note. A glance at the superscription re
vea'ed the writer, and Miss Thompson sent
the note back by the boy with the remark
Tell tile lady do not wish to read it,
The boy conveyed the message to Miss
Griffin, who was in the parlor land we may
parenthctically observe that she was also
stopping at the Matteson) SHE became
indignant. and marched up stairs TO Miss
ThOmpsons room, the door of which she
found locked. On her turning the handle,
Miss Thompson exclaimed, who's there p
No answer was returned, and Miss Thomp-
son thinking that some of her people wanted
tosee her. opened the Goor lite. Miss Grif-
fin rushed in and immediately seized Miss
Lydia, who screamed go out of here or
will call the porter and have YOU put out"
and al the same time tried to put her out.
The noise made in the struggle was heard
by some of the male members of Miss
Ihompson's troupe. who Immediately has
tened TO her assistance and the maniac
was led down stairs. The proprietors of
the hotel. on being informed of the circum-
stances. requested the woman to leave the
house, which she promised TO do. She went
Oft TO Justice Banyon and warrant for
the arrest of Miss Thompson. on the charge
OF assault and battery. The warrant was
placed III the hands of Constable Z. C.
teeney who was pulled u gambling
house a few nights since. and fined at the
Armory under the name OF John Jonesl for
service.
After tea. Miss Thompson went over to
the Opera House. and commenced her toilet
for her performance in Lurline. She had
probably got half through. when a knock
was heard at the door. and in reply to her
question who's there she was informed
that she was under arrest Miss Thompson
replied that sne was not dressed. and re-
auested the officer. whose name is p. &.
Feeney, TO see Mr.. Henderson. This he re-
fused 10 do. and insisted on her coming out
of the room. Mr.. Henderson, on being in
formed of the trouble, hurried to the scene,
and learning the trouble. hurried out to find
justice. Squire Summerfield was in front.
he was requested to step in behind the
scene. He did so, and on reading the war
rant. told Feeney that it was all right; that
Justice Banyon was in the house, and that
the affair would be satisfactorily arranged
so far as the officer was concerned.
Henderson and Summerfied then went ont
for Banyon, leaving Feeney standing at
Miss Thompsor's door. The moment
Henderson and Summerfield had disap-
peared. Feeney burst open the door and
grasped Miss Thompshn by the arm, telling
her in a very brutal manner to come along
with him. just at that moment. one of the
members OF the troupe was coming off the
stage. He took in the situation, and taking
the officer by the collar, relieved Miss
Thompson. who immediately went into |
another dressing room. AL that happened !
to Feeney was, he was showed into the |
room vacated by Miss Thompson.
Immediately 'afteward Justice BanyOn |
and Summerfeld and Henderson appeared |
on the scene. The matter was explained !
by Miss Thompson to his honor, and he took
her recognizance for one hundred dollars
for her appearance at the police court to-
day. Mr.. Feeney quietly skulked away. /
Meanwhile, one of her party, to whom
Miss Thompson had pointed out her female
prosecutor, discovered her in the audience.
A charge OF assault was made out. an Off
GER was sent for, and Ia a few minutes
Miss Ellen A. Griffin was en- route tor the
Armory.
Two hours later Miss Thompson received
4 note from Miss Griffin. begging that she
night be released from the Armory, as she
lad no desire to stay there all night, but
which. however, she did.
1t is almost impossible TO find words
strong enough to condemn the action of
Constable P. c. Feeney toward Miss Thomp-
on. His language and department would
lave disgraced corner loater, and if he had
'een in the role of the criminal he would
lave found his true level. At al events, he
night to be dismissed from Office, and that
peedily.
The Houston Union, Of the second in