The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-08-09
TO TIE PEnLIC ::

,,ith n view 10 correct certain false and
wicked reports that have been clrcuia-
ted by designing persons against me,
and which, for the sake of my father
less. and, perhaps, soon to De mother
less, child, feel it duty to make. !
have strong conviction in my own
mind that right will ultimately TIL
umph in my case, and that the su-
nreme Court OF this State will, by its
adjudication, place me once more
where l stood before my trial, and
where can again be heard in defence
of my conduct before jury OF my
countrymen, who are true, honest and
inst. bearing no hatred or malice to-
wards q moor woman who has never
done them harm. In this, my state
meut, shall give names and dates as
nearly as can remember. them; and
if. bv accident, should make any mis-
takes. then those referred to can cor
rect them but trust they viii have
no occasion to do so. 1t has been pub
licly charged against me that my first
marriage was to wealthy old man,
whose wealth was squandered by me
after his decease. The name of my
first husband was William II. Stone,
who was about 36 years of age at the
time married him, l being a young
and thouehtIess girl, only 16 years OF
ace. was married to him at the re-
quest of my father. We were married
in New Orleans, where Mr. Stone lived,
being one of the commission house and
wholesale liquor store of II. l.. Stone
g. Co. Mr.. Stone died in about one
year after my marriage to him, and
left me without a farthiug, although ]
have no doubt his estate was worth
money. AS proof that 1 have never
received anything from Mr.. Stones es-
tate, refer the public to letter from
Fl. L. Stone TO me, written since / have
become involved in this difficulty.
which letter reads as follows:
New ORLEANS, La. I
March 6, 1871. s
Mrs. Laura Fair:
am informed that you are my cous
in Laura, formerly Laura Stone, from
whom l have not heard for many years
l regret to learn that you are in trou
BILE, and suppose you viii need all you
resources to get out Of it. Ionce wrot.
you that if could save anything 70,
you from the estate Of w. I'll. Stone,
would do so. He left nothing at hi
death except an interest Of one-thiit
in twelve hundred acres of land il
Texas. Mr.. Roberts and myself owl
the other two-thirds. 1t cost twenty
five cents per acre. | think it vii
now sell for fifty cents per acre, o
5000 for the whole. This would 10
$500 for his estate, which, by law
would he divided between you and hi
mother; 800 to each. She viii talk,
500 for her portion. Presuming yo'
will do the same, have caused an &C
of sale to be prepared, which will b
forwarded TO you through the house O
r. C. Dunn & Co., of your city. o.
signing the act of sale, they will pa.
you 800. T shall have to be at som
expense to sell the land at fifty cent
per acre, and I may have to keep
some time longer; but for The pnlpos
of getting control of it, so that 1 ca
sell it when I have a chance, am will
ing to take it at the price. Pleas
write me good long letter; tell m
all about your troubles. l fully sym
pathize with you, aud hope TIE Lor
will show you the way out of them.
Yours, truly,
II. L. STONE.
Direct to care OF John A. Roberts
Box s43, New Orleans.
After Mr.. Stones death entered til
Convent of the Visitation, at Mobile
under my maiden name, there to fms
my education. had no money or an
means, and my mother paid my e2
pcnses there out Of the small mean
left her by my father. l left the Cor
vent in June, 1856, and returned t
New Orleans. where met
THOMAS j. GRAYSON,
person had formerly known in thu
city, and being without money {
friends who could assist me, / marie
him in the month of August, 1856. e
proved to be. very bad man and
terrible diunkard, and he became {
hopelessly lost, was obliged to leas
him; and in January, 1852, leaving hi
there, 1 came with my mother an
brother to San Francisco. He d.
manded that should return 70 hin
but 1 positively refused, and he al
piled for divorce upon the ground {
desertion, and none other. He en-
ployed an attorney by the name of !
w. Hennen, then of New Orleans, bl
now of New York City, and William
Hunt, of New Orleans, acted for me-
r, n J.,xo~ ~.->.