Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-09-25
MafiIda Heron,S SOrrnMS.

Matilda HeTOn'S Sorrows.
THE ~AD STORY OF a ONCE FAMOUS ACTRESS
ROMANCE ~ AFFIDAVIT.
The application of Matilda Heron for al
allowance from the estate of Henry Ii
Byrne came up for further hearing in the
probate court of San Francisco, Augus
=, when her counsel filed the following
affidavit written by herself
deny that | have a considerable
quantity of any real or personal estate,
either in the State Of New Y ork or else
where, sufficient for my support, or held
by Robert StoeDel for my benefit. | have
not dollar in the world, either in rea
or personal estate, nor Is there any rela-
tiOn under heaven between Robert StoepeI
and me-nOt even our only living child,
the possession Of which l have obtained
through her father proclaiming her ille-
gitimacy. Since the dissolying Of my
marriage with Robert Stoepel he has re-
fused to pay one dollar toward the support
Of either myself or his child. When my
said illness, caused by suffering through
I the overwhelming calamity of my domestic
wreck between those two men, Henry II
Byrne and Robert Stoepe!, overcame me
! Robert Stoepel refused to pay my doctors
bin Or that Of his child what, then, can
be meant by his now holding property for
my benefit l am at loss to know.
Before leaving New York for San Fran
cisco. Mr. Stoepel sent a messenger to me,
Offering to settle on my child a large sum
Of money IT | would sell all right and
title to her this when | was on the bed
where | had lain an almost confirmed in
valid for fifteen months, and whence
arose to recover by act of habeas corpus,
my little daughter who was being kid
mapped from me to be transported to an
obscure and remote place in the Pyrenees.
So much for the estate now being held for
Imy benefit. As to the suit alleged to
have been commenced by me in ls67
| against Robert Stoepel, If such suit was
Or is in existence, have no recollection
or knowledge Of it whatever.
About eighteen years ago l was mar
ricd to Henry II. Byrne, with an agree
meut that [ should remain on the stage
two years, with the hope on my part that
might be as successful IN the East a. | was
iu san Francisco. After my return from
Europe where [ dramatized " Camille, -
studied under the best masters and pur-
chased a complete theatrical wardrobe
there was not one prominent manager who
would open his doors to me. 1t was
failure after failure The large amount
of money | spent in Europe, and what
sank ID San Francisco under bad
advice. had now impoverished me. To
Mr.. Byrne [ faithfully depicted my dis
aster The two years passed He came as
by promise, and as | thought to claim me.
/ was in Philadelphia in the bosom Of my
family, Mr. Byrnc remained three weeks
il New York without even writing me
Even this | forgive. At this time an en-
gagement in PIttsburg was open to me.
whittier he at length followed me ac-
compaincd by two members Of my family.
luguiring why he so neglected me, he
answered he had been led astray by some
California friends This also | forgaye.
During the four days he remained with me
We discussed all myprotessional calamities,
wherein | told him my sorrowful conviction
that | never could be the great artist my
soul had So long hungered to become, and
that now | was perfectly resigned to follow
him and his fortunes To all this the dear
gentleman thought a great deal, but very
little answered. The last morning came.
was offered an engagement in Buffalo,
and | said " Must 20 to Buffalo or
may l 90 with you " To which he
answered, Go to Buffalo"
Then and there we parted to Buffalo,
he to his friends One year passed, when
Mr. Byrne's letters came rarely. At last
I HI.
he had failed to write to me, and so | men
toned to my brother, Alexander Heron,
president Of Heron's line of steamships
from Philadelphia to Charleston and
Savannah, but my brother said "Tilly, if
you had one spark Of your mothers blood
in YOU, you would never speak to that
man again He has deserted YOU" This
was bitter blow for the young actress
\ third year had passed since our marriage
since which time | never received a dollar
| from him, not even a letter token After
the first shock was over | wrote to Mr..
Byrne calmly, and under the advice of
my brother asking for a divorce. An
immediate reply came to me in which he
used these exact words: '' Place this in
| the hands of lawyer and it will make
you as free as the day you were born
| placed the letter in the hands of a
lawyer, John Hopper Of 10 Broadway
New Y ork, and told him to procure me
divorce.
About this time had begun slowly to
succeed in my profession, and it was not
surprising that young girl should have
fatterers and snares about her. Often in
rehearsing 4" Camille | envied the hum
blest woman in the theatre who had a
husbands protection. In New Orleans l
met the conductor Of our orchestra. who
was polite, respectful and kind to me.
We net again in New York, when he pre-
sented his parents, sisters and brothers to
me, also his brother-in-law, William Vim
cent Wallace, the composer They hinted
marriage. | told them | was poor.
Robert Stoepel answered wealth is i'm
pertinent we will be poor together
love you and will labor for yon 1t is
your love | would marry not your purse"
[ asked for time Time passed and l
played Camille in Wallack's theatre for
one hundred nights, achieving a great
success. In that triumphant hour did
not forget the poor musician. After
successful trip all over the Union, l sought
! J ohm Hopper, who told me my case was