New-York tribune., 1875-03-08
mott who believes that in Miss Turner no has found
a lost sister, tells sngular,s story

mott who believes that In Miss turner no mas Iouho
lost sister, tells sngularsstory
Twenty-Five years ago. 1t is stated, the wife OF
Bartlett McDermott Of Sheffield Mass, died, leaving
two sons and little daughter four years old. This
daughter is supposed to be Bessie Turner Soon
after Mrs. McDermotts death the children were
placed in the Orphan Asylum in Brooklyn. and tho
father did not visit them for considerable time.
Having married again he went TO the Asylum to Sc.
cure his children but found that the boys had been
bound out and that the girl had been taken 1or
adoption by family in New-YOrk. Mr. McDer-
mott advertised for the children, he says both at
that time and year later in 1866. but did not get
upon the track of either the boys or the girl
1t not until year or Two aItef
that Mr.. McDermott heard anything from
the missing children. The boys in the mean time
had grown to manhood, and when the Rebellion
broke out they enlisted in the Union army. After
the close of the war tho youngest, William, went 10
Orange County in this State, and the other James,
went to Bridgeport. Conn. Both were naturally
desirous Of finding their kinsfolk, and William Nc
Dermott hearing of family with his name IN
Sheffield Mass; wrote to one of its members. Bart
lett McDermott, meanwhile. had moved to Lee III
Massachusetts,, and the person to whom young Nc
Dermott wrote proved to be his own uncle ana /.
was not therefore long before the young man found
William McDermott was unable to find the sister
with whom he had been placed in the AsJ lum III
Brooklyn.
sThe Beecher-Tlton scandal brought Miss turner's S
name into some notorety, and the fact that the
Young lady was also known as Lizzie McDermott
was made public in one of Mr.. Tilton's statements
This single leafin Miss Turner's history came under
the notice of William McDermOtt who was then
and is now residing at Long Branch, n. j. He
caught at this clew and renewed the search for his
sister, which he had almost hcpeessly abandoned.
Bessie Turnenproved to be the Lizzie McDermott OF
his childhood, but an unexpected obstacle stood in
the way of clear Identification OF the
young woman as his sister. Mrs.
Fruuke. now widow, was formerly the
wife of Capt. Turner from whom she was divorced
and she claims now--and has claimed for many
years-that Miss Turner is her daughter. Mrs.
| F1unke says that when the young woman was q
mere babe on account of family troubles, the infant
was placed in the care Of Mrs. McDermott when
| Mrs McDermott died, as before stated, the chlId
! was put into the Orphan Asylum, and about the
events Of Miss Turner's history that follow there Is
no dispute She was taken from the Asylum into
the family of a New-York gentleman. but her home
was changed several times, and she finally found her
way into the family of Mr. Tilton, with whom she
remained IA or Is years. During this time she oc-
casionally heard from her supposed father, Capt
Turner, who is now. employed IN New-lorS ana
also from Mrs Frunke, who claims to be her mother
AT present the matter still has mystery about it.,
| and although William McDermOtt is endeavoring 10
clear away the cloud and the friends OF Miss Turner
| Tor McDermott) are assisting him by oil means in
their power, there seems yet no clear way to es-
tablish the true parenage of the girl beyond doubt