The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-10-14
THE GREAT TROJAN SCANDAL.
The True story Of Paris and Helen
Report Of the Committee OF Six.
y. y. Graphics' Constantinople Letter.
Sent |

BY Or. Scnllemann on the site Oh ancient
Troy is one which not only fully con-
firms the Homeric legend, but which is
in itself So extraordinary "a to seem al
most incredible. 1t is nothing less than
the discovery among the So-caIlcd
treasures of Priam' of a series of papyri
containing full account of the ABDUCTION
of Helen. The preservation OF these
papvri is to be accounted for by the fact
that they were enclosed in II chest form
ed of thick slabs of aSbstoS, which re-
sisted the fire which consumed Troy.
They include copies Of several of the
leading Greek and Trojan journals Of
the day, thus rrfuting the popular
theory that journalism was unknown to
the uncicntS. have been PERMITTED,
through the kindness of Herr Won
Schwrinhunn, late German Consul ut
Constuntinoplr, I" see the original d"cu-
mrnts-,ll of which are written i'll Cir ci>
and To- make trnnsiatiunS of tn" most
interesting facts set fourth 10y them.
| am, therefore, in position to give your
readers the first trustworthy account al
the great Trojan scandal which hna APP
prarcd for 1000 years.
The indemnity Of the Homcric chaiac-
tiers is fully confirmed and the legend
that Paris visited Mcnclaus at McsSenc
j. >uhstantiated in all its main features.
Paris was, however, not the most hand
some muard>man whom Homer has dcS-
rribcd, but Il Young Prince of great
promise who had already written num-
Der of popular works, and who was en-
ra"rd while ut McSScnc ona Life OF
Promc:hcuS.
Menclaus does not seem to nave
suspected any intimacy between the hand
some Trojan and his wife until tn" latter
in a moment of rcmorSe, caused by over
indulgence in weak tea, made con-
fcssion to him. He therefore met Paris
ut the house of Ajax, who was the
friend of both, and, after obtaining II
confession from him, agreed TO hush the
matter up.
Unfortunately, retired priest OF
Dclphos, with strong desire for ms
chief rot wind of the mattcr-doubtleSS
thought one of the Pythoncse-and be-
ran to abuse Menclaus in the columns of
the McSscncan Nc'cS. About the same
time Paris returned to Troy, taking
Helen with him, and Mcnolaus, IN his
indignation, made the whole story quo
| lie.
The excitement created was enormous,
and Paris. to save his reputation, de-
nauded AN investigation, selecting SIX
! troopers OF his own regiment IA II COM
mittrp. The investigation was conduct
ed with the most perfect fairness, II com
puuv of archers being stationed outSid"
| the door of the committeeman, WIN
orders to shoot every witness who ana
not testify in Paris favor. They failed
however to hit Menelaus, and wrr"
! ohliucd to content themselves with m
stigatinr the camp followers to throw
! mud at him.
Mcnrlaus told straight forward story,
which, when published by the Trojan
and Grrclan papers, convinced near!
every intelligent person "t MS tru'h'
,sn.ci,llv as il contained letters written
hr Paris, in winch he expressed ms
| entity attachments. and rcmarkcd tha'
! .,Nrnclor,s had conducted himself most
generously towards him, but that he
| ,hould nevertheless be very nervous uu-
Ill he could carry Helen away to Troy
with him. Paris Of course, denied thH'
h, was guilty. Helen, he admitted,
came to Troy with him, but it was ~
order to read the proof-sheets "i his Lille
of Prometheus., His expressions IT. l"
nervousness in certain of his letters were
dine To the fact that his father the veneer
able Prism. had frequrntlyb""n troubled
v.;,L deafness, while he himself had
f,r v.,rS believed that he WAS IN danger
orrsc.;vins "A blow IN the head from II
c,cn,uut in case lc should ever VISIT inc
Snuth sea islands. A. 10 the rest "i MS
Letters he could not at that distance "i
.;mc remember what they meant, hut
Father f.ncied they alluded t"an attack
os measles. from which his ilttIe ""yl'""h
had suffered. In closing his t,%tihi"h!
he remarked that hc considered AlaN
i;,r and y thief on general principles
ond Informed him that, whatever h'
minh; SAY. no intelligent trooper wo''l"
believe him.
Now Ajax waS-as Homar represent
"a b;m-9uc of the bravest ofthe brave
Ue wos greatly incensed against f"rH
.rd nrocccdcd to crush him, 10y making
- fnIi statement of the facts in the case
lie published letters from Paris, ir'i"
his sister CaSsamdra-who knew mn, l,
h. ruiltv-and from numerous ''hSl
nersSns, The guilt of Paris was made
- clear rs MONDAY, and thereupon sfh'
trooners who were investigating th'
matter hastily brought ina verdict ''
the effect that, inssmuch as MeneIaa'
! and Ajax had proved Paris guilty OF
shameful crime, he was unque''iohao'I
innocent. .. c,I
The report Of the committee was i"E
+ lowed by q general publication oil state
ment. ON the part Of ererybody. AJa'
. and Menelaus each made new statement
mere terrible than their original ones
., The Pv,honcsis VIII" had been away 81
/ A voyage TO Egypt returned anu nls .L
? a weekly statement for three month
without intermission, Cassagdra msa'
her statement claiming that Paris wa va,
;nnncent because she had originally can
al him guilty. Helen and her wsitinl
maid both made statements, out tne.
,ysrc so full of impossibities that tne.
werc booted at. The mother OF heiel
I'D her little statement occupying
fnrty-e;ght closely-printed columns IS
Tho Troy Wing, impartially calm:
everybody concerned in the seanaa
borse-tnieves shd drunksrds, and enalhi
4 VIII a reouast that some one would az
~ 4