Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-08-23
THECAREER OFAyADVENrUREss.
Her Marriages: Her Filtration with
MI 1ilden: Her Claim Az atast the
Governments: Her Missing Thousand
Dollar Bfll. Etc.

Mrs. Anna Wallingford, well known to
the Washington lobby, and somewhat known
over The country, particularly to hotel pro-
prietOrs, as an oily toDgued, dashing, and
rather handsome woman again comes prom
incl tly to the surface. Sic charged George
F. Benkert, a prominent wealthy and fash
ioDable boot and shoe dealer of Philadelphia,
with having stolen 81 600 bill from her at
Cape May on the 14th OF the present month
Ii seems that the woman made BenkerTs
acquaintance last fall, and since about the
first of the year the two have been living
together, or rather boarding at the same
house, the man deserving his family for the
purpose of following her up, Since he has
kept her company he has become ruined
financially, and she has oftentmes paid their
hotel bills. More than week ago, through
the persuasion of his brother and members
of the family, BeDkert attem pied to rid him
self of Mrs. WalliDgford, and there was some
trouble. They made up and proceeded to
Cape May, stopping at Congress Hall. On
the afternoon of the nth she alleges that
Benkert distracted 81 600 bill from her
pocket book, and she therefore caused his
arrest. At the hearing of the case in Pnila-
delphIa Tuesday, Hon. Alden &. Scovel, who
represented Mr.. Bensert, made an address in
favor of his client, when he read extra It's
from all the principal western papers, which
showed the extent of her operations in the
west. The woman originally came from
Dalton, Ga, aud her maiden name is be-
lieved to have been Anna Claudine White
more She figured extensively in Kansas,
especially at Atchison and Leavenworth,
HER MARRIAGES..
Mr.. Scovel said II was believed thai she
was married secretly in st Louis to Lieut..
Tiffany, q son OF Rev. DIR. Tiffany, of the Me-
irOpolitan Methodist church of Washington
city. She was also married to Lieut.. ID. w.
Walling ford, OF the regular army, who was
dismissed from the service for conduct un-
becoming an officer. In his summing up Mr..
ScOvel said there was scarcely hotel pro-
prietor in the west who had not good fat
bill against her, which he kept as a remem-
hrQn M no
tel ded to have lost some baggage, and made
a ella m against the Pittsburg, Cincinnati
and ST. Louis railway for damages In the
sum OF 5000, hotel proprietor was tele-
grs pied to at Columbus To know If she had
taken her baggage flOm his place, he tee
graphed back To the baggage master: "She
removed her baggage Don't pay her one
cent. She is a professional dead beat and
black mailer, aud we have evidence enough
to send her To-"
MR.. TILDEN AND MRS. wALLINGFORD.
A Philadelphia correspondent of the Ny
Times says: probably one OF Mrs. Walling
foids most amusing escapades was with the
late democratic candidate for the presidency,
Hon. Samuel j. Tilden, at Cape May, in
1875. Mrs WallingfOrd was there, and was
spoken OF as dashing And handsome young
widow. She wore an attractive bathing suit,
with knee breeches and striped stockings.
Her form was well displayed, and excited
considerable admiration among the gentle
men, among whom was the bachelor candi-
date for President. The woman lost no OPP
portunity to ingratiate herself with Governor
Tilden, and. IL Is believed, was the recipient
of numerous favors at his hands, causing
considerable talk. She also has a claim of
$500 600 against the government, now pend
ing In the court of claims, for property said
to have been destroyed at Dalton, Ga, during
the war, which she says belonged TO her. To
back up this are letters from General Stead
man and others, which are genuine, but as
to how she obtained possession of them is
another matter. After hearing all the testi
mony in the matter Justice Cassidy dis
missed The case. The evidence, which had
been obtained for the purpose of the expose,
was furnished by Pin ker GUS agency here,
Mr.. Der jamln Franklin managing the affair.
Mrs Wallisgford- Collier-T ifany is about
81 or 80 years OF age, a demi blonde, with
blue eyes, fire figure, and glib tongue, with
a truly southern accent. While agreeable in
her anners, she apes refinement, and being
ini'erat e, exposes her true character"
HtR LITTLE CLAIM AGAINST THE GOV
ERNMENT.
With reference TO the claim Mrs. WalliDg-
ford endeavOred To push through Congress,
the following from The EVENING STAR OF
April 1ith throws some light: 'SOme curious
claims come before Congress. A short time
since the committee on claims OF the Senate
reported adversely on the claim OF Mrs.
Annie WailingfOrd. OF Georgia, praying
the Union army vi in the COUNTY Of Murray IN
that state, during the war. Her hrst petit
ton, introduced December l3, 1875, gave
list OF the property which she claimed was
taken, consisting OF household furniture and
live stock, aggregatiug sA0,Si5 In value
Subsequently she presented another petition
in the House. accompanied by a list of prop
erty ageregating in value sSi0, 1875. 1t does
not appear for what reason the second petit
ton was presented, nor is the sudden and
mysterious growth Of the claim explained.
To prove her loyalty she submits affidavits
from Lieut.. MOritZ Won EntYess Fuersteneck,
of the 6sth New York volunteers, and from
another Union officer, Lieut.. Busing, and
is no evidence. To support her statement
that her property was taken, affiJavits from
SIX or seven persons are submitted. the
committee take the view that there Is no evil
dence of the claimants ownership OF the
property except her own statement; that the
evidence as to the amount Of property taken
proof of the claimants Toys atty Is insufficient.
Mrs. WallingfoTd is again in Washington,
with additional evidence as to the validity
of her claim. 1t is singular coincidence
that person of the same name. and hailing
fro m the same state, should have been ga
zelted in the west few months ago as con-
which a young lieutenant in The army for
merly "a resident OF this city was concerned,
as well as large number of others"
MRS. wALLINGFoRD CROSS EXAMINED.
"Where were you born" was the first
question OF the crOss-eXamining counsel In
Philadelphia.
Near Italy, on the high seas, on q vessel
bound for America"
Further questioning showed that her maid
en- name was Whittemore, her father being q
IN
married to W. H. Tiffany, son OF Rev. DIR.
Tiffany, of Washington; she was acquainted
with Tiffany, and was with him in Pnila1el-
phia last summer, shortly prior to his being
killed on the Pennsylvania Railroad.
On ACCOUNT OF THE STRIKEs-The
Department of the Interior will readvertise
for bids for coal for the fiscal year beginning
July LIST last, Mr.. George Bogus, of this city,
who was the lowest bidder, having given
notice that he cannot fulfill his contract on
account of the strikes in the Pennsylvania
coal regions.
THEY ARE DISSATISFIED, BUT WILL
Go WEsr.-A private letter from an active
republican in Ohio, received here, says there
is much discomfort in the republican ranks
Much Of II comes from disappointed ONCE
seekers, but q good deal of 1t comes from re-
publicans who think the Presidents southern
policy mistake. The writer thinks, how
ever, that West will be elected and q republic
can legislature secured.
THE PARIS EXPO sITIoN.-A dispatch has
been received At the State department, from
the United States Charge d'Afaires at
Paris, dated August 10th, announcing that
the immense exhibition buildings on the
Champ de Mars and the Trocadero are ap-
md hat