Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-02-19
Bell RaTd.

Perhaps the memories and incidents Of
thirteen years ago are not pleasant, and
that is the reason the once famous and
confederate spy has secluded herself FROM
the pTying investigations Of the euriSus,
and in a measure sffectually concealed
from the public her identity with the
daring, daGhing girl who, In the Days OF
our national distress, east CONSCIOUSNESS
behind, and pursued her own adVent1r-
GUS career. Perhaps, too, written In the
records of those days, are sonte passages
In her life which she would now wish 10
be forever obliteratsd. IL matters not
what the motive may be, the woman Hhs
WAS once known far and wide as Bell
Boyd, and some of whose exploits have
found An enduring place in history, has
for some years led the quiet life OF re-
spectacle mat-on In the city of ST. Louis.
No consideration, apparently, can induce
her to lay aside this quiet domestic life 10
appear again before the public. She has
another name now, and husband and chill
dren, and if the individual lives, she
name, at least, has ceased 70 exist. Nor
does she or the very few persons WhS
know her intimately with the daring spy
care TO recall that name again from the
tomb of the years in which it is buried.
SO careful has Mrs - and her friends
been in guarding this secret, that even
when imposters have assumed her disear-
ded name, and traVerEed several Southern
the character of lecturers, she has saId
nothing and charged her friends e say
nothing, and her silence has proved TO be
the opportunity of the pretenders TO make
money on her credit. Perhaps the fact
that the once celebrated Bell Boyd is now
a respectable matron, residing in this
city, would never have been revealed 70
the public had not her father been q
member OF the Masonic fraternity, 4 fact
which being known has been utilized by
the. fictitious Belle Boyd who has traV-
ersed Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas
and Florida, everywhere calling upon
the brotherhood for advice and sympa-
thy.
But description of the deceiver was
printed in an Atlanta paper, and that
description Was read by the brethren Of
Equality Lodge No. "A A. F. and A. II.
at Martinsburg, West Virginia, 70 which
lodge ID. r. Boyd, father Of the real Belle
Boyd, belonged. These AasOns had
known the realI Belle in the days Of her
girlhOod, rs a bright faced, blue eyed,
light haired maiden, and they knew that
the one who called herself Belle Boyd,
with brunette complexion, black eyes
and hair dark 2s the ravens wing, WAS
not the real Belle, and 80 as late as the
twenty-second of January the lodge pre-
pared circular letter adddressed 90 this
brethren throughout the country 10 be-
ware OF the imposter. Among other
things they state: '',rhe real Belle Boyd
is now married, and living in st. Louis,
No, with her husband, and her mother,
and two brothers reside in Baltimore
This letter is signed by Alexander Parks,
Jr., W. N, and B. Hughes, secretary.
On bright Sunday morning, trio con-
sisting of an aged woman, . hale, we'll
looking man OF middle age, with deep
blue eyes, light hair and sharp, Roman
features, may be seen entering u certain
church in this city. The old lady is Belle
BOyd's mother, the gentleman her hus-
band and the middle-aged lady is the
veritable Belle Boyd OF the war-tiRSs!-
st. Louis Republican.