, 1874-10-09
THE PERKINS TRAGEDY.


TO the EH1tor 9f the C1le1nnt.ti Commercial.
Aad hoped to have avoided rushing into print
concerning my domestic troubles. and would
laye much preferred that the public would have
learned through the medium Of judiciat iuve3-
tlgntloo the exact facts concerning the same but
the quss-2uthorized statement OF Joseph Clare
which has appeared in thepublio press Of this
date. demands. in justice to myself and my
friends, that should break the alence which T
had determined on maintaining.
1t il unnecessary that I should 20 into de-
tailed statement OF my early acquaintance with
her who subsequently became my wife, Suffice
it to ray, that when just tatering upon man
hood, sona eight years since, became entan-
gicd with Julla 4. Smell. I found her after she
mad already fallen, beca1ne infatuated, aud was
led on step by step till I married and sought to
reclaim her. Whileit may be truly said that I
hare not been immaculate or faithful to my
marriage VOWS that have, as most young meQ
are likely to be, been led ast1ay-yet, IN extenu-
alton, let mo urge that before, at the time Of,
aud after my marriage, she koew my habits,
character and disposition, and it was by her
knowledge in this respect that not only did she
obtain her mastery over me, but which, III fact
led to marriage itself.
Since she became my wife hare sought b3
overy means in my power to elevate her sociM
condition, introducing her into the family circle
and ueaning her from the society and compan-
ionship OF those who knew her before her re-
fot1natiou- L hayo always provided for her
abuudautly, and upon this ecore there has never
rio1is disturbance between ua because OF my at-
tcntion to others.
1t il not necessary that should at this writ
ing 20 into tho history Of the introduction of
Joseph Clare into my household, tho facts which
have already appeared in print are sufficiently
accurate, nor that I should make detailed
statement Of all that occurred betvten MS. (u1y
wife, Glare. aud mysclf upon that iltfated night
Suffice it that saw and heard enough 70 con-
vince mo that my wife had been fathlesA, and
l,- bad T-$x EAxS
been for sons time previous maintaining GRIM
i1al relations with her Upon that very night,
under my own roof, had they agreed to repeal
ti,at which Ind eo often taken place between
them before, waiting only .or the child to fall
asleep to accomplish their purpose. Ali this
had overheard myself, and cron after had
forced the guilty pa1r into my presence, no posi-
tiro denial was attempted on tho part Of either.
True. when l nentionad dates OF previous &C.
currences. Glare would Say, mo, nok them"
was made as to tho untrutlfulnoss OF the accu-
saiio,. As to my wife, che not oaly then freely
confessed to rae her Intimacy with Clare, but has
since repeated tho statement to others Of the
family.
And now, Lot me ask, What could have done
under the circumstances which then surrounded
me other than I did? lad no desire for
scene OF public exposure. simply desired,
tor the sake OF all parties concerned, to avoid as
much ~ I possibly could the scandal which
NUulu 1o34oH. VI CUuAsef btE1h1AAloA WIS LIZ
cyltable, and wished that it nigh. be accom-
plished as quietly a. possible. Therefore it uns
arranged, At tho urgent request Of both my wifo
and Glare, that they might remain under my
roof until tho following morning; then she was
to so to her fathers home, at Medina, O.. and
}e was to sec her safely to the train. With this
plsa agseed upon, l left the house At
o'clock in tho morning. The dreadful
tragedy which followed, tho public - al
ready acquainted with. It is not my purpose
now to trace the footsteps Of Clare upon the
succeeding day, NOT to correct tho untruthfu1
statements as to his movements which have been
put forward By his friends concerning the same.
Sucl, an investigation here ia uucalled for, aud
would be out OF place.
aly only desire il to acquaint the public With
bis connection with the events Of that fatal
night And now let me say emphatica1ly that
my transsressions, however unpardonablo they
may have boon, did not enter into nor did they
form any part Of, the difficulties or quauels Of
the night in question, or were they in any way
connected with the tragedy that followed My
only request now is TINT the community will
await the judicial investigation which must in
eyitably follow. aud tlcn lot tue Ak Of public
censurc fall whera the sworn testimony thus de-
veloped shall place it. CuAs. L. PEnK1Hs.