The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-02-08

LULA.
.Intrigues Of the last Century..The Great
10 Sensation in New York.
The correspondent of the Boston Post fur
nishes the annexed particulars OF the great
trial progressing in New York city, in which
tine possession Of an immense estate belonging
to the celebrated Madame Jumel is involved
Atone time in life the belle of Gotham, the
curious history Of this noted woman,is is an at
tractiye theme, and contains much that is an
terestipg: oc
SIT Is now almost one hundred years since one
ofthe most remarkable women who have figured
in American society was born, and to so great
an are did she attain that the lawyers may De
said to be only at the commencement OF their
ouarrels over her estate Eliza Bowen was
forni in Providence, RI. l., in ITS, and died, as
Madame Jumel, in New York city, in 1865
Hers was most singular lie, and her history,
career and circumstances, giving rise as tney
did to nearly century's gossip and scandai,
are now for the first time being recalled to
memory in connected form by the efforts OF
the opposing lawyers in the trial before the
of the estate. The greatest interest is mani
tested in the case, particularly by those of mid
die and advanced age, who have had the op.
portunity of watching the movements OF and
taking part in the general conversation con-
cernine Madame Jumel during the past twenty,
thirty. forty, fifty years. When the old lady
died seven years ago, many were the remin-
iscences of the former "belle of New York" in
dulged in by wealthy dowagers and garrulous
old gentlemen, but as one cannot be forever
thinking of the dead, the theme soon became
as lifeless as its subject, and was only touched
upon at rare intervals and IN casual discussions
Now, however, the veteran affair has become
casus 5elli, and therefore not only the bench
and bar but also the cold society OF Gotham
are all sup in arms" about it
THE PARTIES IN THE SUIT.
The court-room is daily filled to absolute re-
pletion, many ladies being included in the au-
dience. Judge Shipman presides, and the law,
yers in attendance are goodly in number and
reputation. For the plaintiff appear MI. WI
Messrs. Chauncey Shafer, Levi S. Chatfeld, F.
q. Mcdonald and others. The defendant is
represented by Messrs. Charles OConor and
James G. Carter. The contending parties are,
respectively, Mr. George Washington Bowen
an old. venerable, Witch haired gentleman OF
Rhode Island, who claims to be the only child
Of Eliza Bowen-and MIR. Nelson Chase, the
present holder of the Jumel estate, who DIS
mites Bowen's pretensions, and claims to IN
herit the property legally, being the nearest
living relative of the deceased. wv here tneres
viii there's way" the proverb truly OBJ
serves but the trouble in this case is that there
is no satisfactory will. The only Instrument OF
the kind that was left behind her has been set
aside by the court and the surrogate, so that
the madame, although she made many attempts
at constructing will, was finally baff1ed IN her
Intentions; and though she went down to her
grave in the firm conviction that she had or
3ered her mundane affairs according to her de-
sire. she must have found disappointment
awaiting her in the "spirit-land," if "such
things be-"
- THE YOUTH OF MADAME JUMEI"
It is sufficient for the present purpose TO say
that the life of Madame Jumel, without being
positiyely and continuously immoral, was, to
saw the least, peculiar, involved the happiness
and misery Of a number of historical Ameri-
cans. and was of the most varied description.
AS related by Mr.. Shaffer, Eliza, or as she was
generally called, "Betsey" Bowen, was the
daughter of John and Phoebe Bowen. OF Provl-
dence, R. I. Her parents were OF the lowest 3I
class. John being seafaring man and Phe-
be waif from childhood, whose history cannot
be traced. Betsey had two sisters, one older
than herself, named Polly, and one younger,
named Lavina The youth of the girls. was
nassed under the most unfavorable conditions.
Their father was away at sea most OF the Tune,
and their mother did not pass the intervals OF
absence in mournful seclusion. The residence
of the Bowens was continually the scene OF
violent disorders, participated in by the most
degraded specimens of white and black hu-
manity. Twice was the house torn down by
o roob and at last Phoebe was arrested and
incarcerated, and Polly and Betsey were sent
In the workhouse. They were then only ten
or twelve years cid, and the effect OF these
early associations upon their youthful minds
NAV be imagined. Polly and Betsey lett their +
mother in 1889. Layina had been conhded on
in infancy to the care of relative OF OF Fa@9e'
living in Providence, namely, the vile OF MA
ior Reuben Ballon, Revolutionary soldier !;
and now Betsey Bowen sought and obtained
home in the same family. Her circumstances
do not appear to have been improved, now
ever by this change, for the mansion of the
Ballous was of the same turbulent character
as that of Bowen and his wife. Here Polly
died, but Betsey grew to be young woman,
and in 1894, at the age of nineteen, became
the mother of George Washington Bowen.-.
The identity of the father is somewhat OBJ
scure. but it is supposed that he was none
other than the redoubtable Revolutionary he
70. Major Reuben Ballou, himself. Inasmuch,
however, as Betsey had before that time made q! s
a pilgrimage to New York, and in in later lite lI
hinted very strongly of an intimate acquaint-
ance with distinguished American, there ar are
those who suppose that b the youngsters mG ap
R'is Rh;s is immateral, though, as the present ac-
t;nn n' 10 brought under the New York State
ststute st allowing children to inherit from their
n,o.beps nroperty. both real and personal.