The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-06-19
The R.oan sOanaal at AndaIunia.

Squire Ross, of Andalusia was in the
city yesterday, and placed phe; following
statement and afidavits In our possess
sion, which seem to so effectually put
at rest the unpleasant stories concerning
him that we publish them in full. From
his statement it will be seen that in his
connection with the young woman he was
acting only in the most proper manner, as
his duty required:
Editor OF The Argus.
Dear iStr:-AlIow me to contradict the
malicious falsehood concerning myself and
one Mrs. Minerva Valandingham, which has
been given publicity through the columns
of the Union and ARGUS, and l also trust
that the Union will have the fairness to
publish the same. The first time | ever
saw this woman, or ever heard of her, was
iu 1875, the last of March. when her hus-
band came to me for assistance in moving
his household goods from Davenport to
Andalusia. | sent my son with fat boat
to assist him. On the way down, the boat
with all the goods, was sunk and Mr.
Valandingham was drowned. The cir
cumstances attending this accident anG
the very unsatisfactory account given o.
the affair, together with certain rumor'
attending the same and the absence of any
trace of the body, made me very anxious t.
find out all about it. And for this pur
pose ] called upon Mrs. Valandinghan
once or twice previous to June to learn
she had heard anything of her husband
as rumor said he had not been drowned
| t. moo baor;OU nft baSa vicifc on1 TniSup
Outstanding their purpose, together wit
. learning a few days ago that Mrs. V.
had been sick, 10 a way that malIciou
3 people sometimes tell two facts, that mad
the difficulty between myself and my wife
About the middle of June the body Q
Valaudingham was found in the river, auG
as the proper officer, l notified Mrs. V
who came to Andalusia, with her mother
at the time l held the inquest. | theI
3 publicly, in my own shop, gave her th
t effects found on the body and had shor
e talk with her in the presence {
{ residents of the place. | again ga
{ her on Christmas, and other than as aboy
i stated have never seen or heard of b.
e until this scandal was started, when In
mediately went to Davenport to investiga
the matter. The following documents w
= prove that the whole story is false al
o started for malicious purposes, and on
+ existed in the Imagination of persol
|, seeking to iDjure me or my business. wit
!, my only connection in the matter was. as
IS considered, one of an official character.
Y ROBERT Ross
The following are the documents, Of
d of them signed by well known physici
in Davenport and the other also a re
dent of that city:
y STATE OF Iowa,
- Scott County.
" /, II. l. Bawden, of Davenport, Iowa, being
~ duly sworn, do say, that am physician and g
h geon; that was called to see Minerva Valandi
- ham in the beginning of May, 1877; that did
IL deliver her of a child, there any Indicate
that she had miscarried or that an abortion /
been performed. 81. L. BAwDEN
Sworn TO before me, and subscribed in my pr
ence, by said II. L. Bawden, this 18th day of Ju
1877. S L. GLAsPELI4, Notary Public
ne STATE OF ILLINOIS, lss
nc Rock Island County 90
n 1, Henry F. Bryan, of Davenport, Iowa, be
duly sworn say, that Minerva Valandingham
nd been sick at my house for the past two rs mont
and that che has not given birth to child or ha
u miscarriage, anything OF the kind. to the bes
No my knowledge. HENRY +. BRYAf
'io Subscribed and sworn to before me this 10th
10 of July, 1877, WIN. SMITH, ). l
Whatever tends TO keep the blood pr
surely tends to prolong life. DR.. Blu
ho Blood Mixture by its specific action VI