The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-27
DEATH OF EX-GOV. THOMAS.


Ex-Gov. FRANK THOMAS, of Mary
land, was killed on the track of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, near Oak
land, on Saturday last. He wus walking
along the track with his head down, APP
parently in a meditative mood when a
locomotive making u turn in u short
curve struck him killing him instantly.
He was native of Frederick county,
Md, and was in his 18th year, at the
time of his death. Gov. THOMAS had
been member, and one session Speaker
of the House of Delegates, President of
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal; from
1881 to 1871 he was in Congress and
again from 1861 to 1869. In 1911 he
was elected Governor of Maryland. He
was man OF fine personal appearance
pleasing manners, cultivated mind and
splendid voice. There was one sad
occurrence in his history which Swallowed
his whole life. By one or those singular
misunderstanding which sometimes &C.
cur in this world, the happiness of his
lite was destroyed by single blow.
While member of Congress he married
SALLlE Mcdowell, the oldest daughter
Of Ex-Governor JAMES MCDOWELL, OF
Virginia, who was magnificent looking
woman, and was then the reignIng belle
of Washington society, her father at the
time being representative in Congress
from the Lexington District. Life was
all sunshine then, but soon an evil day
came. Soon after Mr.. THOMAS had been
elected Governor of Maryland, report
came TO his ears that his wife had been
unfaithiul to him, and in contlrma-
ton of the suspicious so aroused.
letters were placed in his possession
written 10 physician who had moved
in high circles in Washington and who
had recently died. These letters were
of character showing an improper re-
lation between the correspondents and
signed ''Ssllie Mcdowell" and the Gov
ernor believed to be IN the
handwriting of his wife. He at
once entered suit in the Courts of the
District of Columbia for divorce
His wife who at the time was visiting at
the home of her father, Immediately re-
armed and defended the action in vim
dication Of her character. The case will
be remembered as exciting great deal
Of interest at the time as all the parties
were of such high standing.
The trial of the cause came on and the
letters introduced seemed to be over
whelming evidence against Mrs. THOMAS
and fate seemed against her, when an
unexpected turn in her favor was made,
which really seemed providentisl, by the
discovery of new testimony that COM
pletely relieved her from all suspicious,
and blasted the life OF her husband.
A grocer living in this city was reading
the report Of the case in the morning
papers and bad his attention called to the
letters which had been introduced agains,
Mrs. THOMAS. A few weeks previous TO
that time q woman who by singular
coincidence was named SALLIE Mellow
ELL had died, and her estate committed
10 this party for ADMINISTRATION. Ittarned
out that this woman had been the para.
mour of the physician above alluded to,
and upon an examination OF her papers
this gentleman found number of letters
from the doctor clearly declaring the re-
lations existing between them. He at
once gathered up the papers, carried
them to the court room and gave them
over TO the parties An examination of
them convinced the Governor of his
mistake and Of his wife's inno-
cence, and rising from his sea.
with trembling emotion; announced
to the Court that he had wronged and
perhaps ruined his wife, and now salts
fed Of her innocence asked that the suit
be dismissed, He then retired to the
Of Maryland where he spent
/, be remainder of his days, except during
he war. He served in Congress; but