Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-27
The Startling Events of a Sunday
Night at the Maxwell.
Mrs. ID. WallingfOrd's Little Tete-a'
Tete Interrupted,
Involving an Unsuccessful Assault b!
the Hotel Brigade,
And an Awkward Expose for a Gay
Young Cavalier.
VirtuOus Indignation and Twenty
Thousand Dollars Damages.
How a Railroad Kings Niece $50
Called Travels on Her Shape.

NaAACul ALaNOAo Oh AAOA
Last Saturday lone traveller of the soft
er sex, but Of so buxOm figure and indie
pendent mien as TO have little need Of
protector, stopped in Nashville and put up
a. the Maxwell House. She registered as
oMRs. d. wALLINGFORD, WASHINGTON,
d. c."
The attention of people about the hotel
was somehow drawn toward her, but no
one dreamed that she was going to be the
cause Of a real sensation before Monday.
a plot was forming, however, destined to
lead TO that result.
Saturday night little past what might
be called early hours this guest rang for
bell boy. After answering the call the boy
returned to the office and betrayed conf
dence which had been reposed in him
while at her room. He reported that she
had asked him if be were
"a GOOD HAND TO KEEP A SECRET"
and, OIL being answered affirmatively, had
said, ''Well you send me a nice-lOoking
man with plenty of money! This natural
IL excited suspicion, and the night watch
man was posted and instructed TO keep
sharp look out. During the rest Of Satur-
QdN UlGUt lie dALGnuCAA " ILLS uuLl anu
observed that till about midnight the light
was kept burning brightly in Mrs. Walling-
ford's room, and her key was kept on the
outside of the door.
Nothing further transpired, however, till
Sunday night. About o'clock Mrs. w.
left the parlOrs and sought her room. At
the hour OF 10 the Waterman went through
the house to turn down the lights, and 10
ticed that
THE GAS WAS BURNING VERY LOW
in the suspected apartment. He also heard
the murmur Of a low conversation therein,
and he decided all was not right. His in
slant determination was to lock up the in
mates with his pass-key and then make ar
rangements for further proceedings. But
before doing so
He HEARD THE BOLT TURN
from the inside, and retired a few PAGES,
keeping in the shOdows near the wall. The
door quietly opened and out popped the
head Of yOung man, which turned this
way and that, looking up and down the
hall. Then the whole figure appeared in
the hall and moved toward the head Of the
stairway, the door remaining sjar behind
him. lie was hailed by the Waterman
with,
"sTOP THERE, YOU'VE MAN, WANT TO
SEE YOU"
The order was obeyed and the officer ap-
preached and asked why he had been in
that room, remarking that he knew he had
no business there that the room was Oc-
cupied by a lone female guest.
The young man at first denied that any
thing wrong had been going on. But after
being invited to 20 down to the Office, and
going part Of the way, he said TO the watch
man: "LOok here, l see 1 am caught, I've
done wrong freely confess" and then be
began to urge that it would be useless and
/ cruel to expose him, etc. They continued
their way 10 the Office, where the prisoner
made
A FULL CONFESSION OF THE NIGHTS
TRANSACTION,
and hoped not 10 be treated with too much
harshnesS, as lie was like most young men,
aDt 20 be led sStray in cases Of extreme
temptation. He heard some plain talk
from the clerk, tempered with moderation,
and promised not TO do so any more.
ThereupOn h. was released and betOOk
himself away from the Maxwell to his own
domicil, looking, and for that matter, feel
ing very bad.
A CONSULTATION
was new held as 10 the proper method Of
proceeding against the SHINING guest. The
first thing resolved upon was 10 send her
bill to her room, ask its settlement, and in
vite her to leave forthwith. The watch
man performed this duty, but without avail,
as the erring creature eTinced an obstinate
determination 10 stay where she was, and
let the claim 90 unsettled for that time.
Another psaceable effort was made, and
this line Of policy abandoned.
a COUPLE OF POLICEMEN
were sent for to eject her. In short time
officers Colbeck and Burger appeared, and,
in company with the WatChman, proceeded
to perform the duty assigned them. They
hailed the woman and made known their
purpose. She s-Outly declared she
WOULD NOT OPEN TIE DOOR,
and told them they would have 10 break it
down il they got in, and they would have
10 drag her out, if she went. COnceiying
a happy idea, the Waterman got a ladder
and placed against the door. Officer Bur-
gems form rose above the Others and he
quickly had the transOm turned. Taking
in the situation in moment, he
DISAPPEARED THROUGH THE TRANsOM
and unlocked the door. The fair guest
was not daunted by the three officers con-
fronting her, but lay in bed quietly con
templating their movements. They
thought to impress her with the serious
ness Of their mission and induce her TO-
volunteer an egress. She remained still
| however, eyinCing entire selfpCssessiOn,
and asserting that she
WOULD NOT PUT on HER CLOTHES.
To make a long story short, she staid all
NJ Of NH efn nVET
properly decided by the invaders 10 choose
the less Of evils and allow her to remain.
| Upon reflection, there was no disposition
TO conduct her to the streets in her night
clothes. All who were upon the scene, ex-
cept the recumbent guest, retired and soon
| ali was again quiet. The whole proceed
ings had been conducted in praisewOrlhy
manner, rs ~ stir had been made in the
hotel.
The young man, who had been drawn
| by the siren notes, was
NOT A GUEST OF THE MAXWELL.
| He has not been long in Nashville and is
| known to comparatively few. lie is quite
| good looking, and is respectfully connected.
This may be his first experience in so bad
| a direction. Anyhow, we have reason TO
| believe that he has a future before him
| that may, with proper Tetrenchment AMI
| reform, be made useful for the benefit Of
| himself and others. These considerations
| induce us TO withhold his name, nOtwith-
standing he has not requested such an in
eStimable boon.
THE LAWYERS CONSULTED.
Yesterday morning Mrs. WallingfOrd
packed up Der things, and, leaving them in
| the room, took her departure from the Max
well. She called and made her case known
during the day to two distinguished law
firms. The first refused to enter suit for
her on the ground that sit was regular
| counsel for the Maxwell House."
and could not think Of taking
any suit against the proprietor. She
was more successful in the second effort,
perhaps because she recognized the neces-
sity of being prettier this time. At all
events, the counsel in question entered
suit in the Circuit Court for $4,000 dam
| ages. The member who negotiated, how
| ever, went and heard the other side Of
the case aud concluding that he had been
| faL-an in a. Onpa ordered the suit dismissed