The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-12
ALICE OATES.
HKAT SHE SAYS ABOCT IHE
LAURENT STORIES.
"CrueI II True; Being False, they are
killing Her"-The Little Lady
Findicates Herself Before
the Curtain and Receives
an Ovation.
Y Yesterday's g Enquirer.

festefoays enquirer.
A reporter of the Enquirer called
upon Mrs. Alice Oates yesterday, and
found that little woman, usually the
very embodiment OF "grlt," for the once
perfectly broken spirited. She was IL
disposed TO tell all she knew about the
cowsrdly plot to bresk down her hard
earued reputation, and spoke with bitter
tears Of the way ia which certain pa.
pers were bounding her. II would be
cruel aud cowardly TO tell these stories ii
they were true, she said. "As it Is, see,
they are killing me" and the plucky .ht-
tie grl broke dowB in hystericsl so5bi7g
The article of the Dramatic Net0s being
read to ner; she pronounced nearly overy
story emphsticsly tslse-some OF them
sbsurdly SO. Even i. WAS bad, said
she, nobody every accused me of being
fool enough TO give married man 3
watch, and inscrioe 1t 'FrCm your own
Alice did give MIR. Laurent q watch
III token OF my gratitude 70 him Tor Po.
lteness during time when Mr.
C1lvi.le, angry because | would not
permit Miss Rossesu TO share my hard
earned reputation, end he starred
with me on the programmes, and
preiudiced many Of the members Of the
company against me. When others
would not speak TO me, ne used to carry
nv satchel home for me, and We we're un
friendly terms. have frequer tIy given
presents to members OF my companies,
und handed the Wstch 10 Mr. Laurent
before at least two with esses, saying,
Keep il 0s souvenir OF me- 90 rot
remember MT. laurent being IN my
room without witnesses, Mrs. Oates
ssid certainly not at IN unseemy hour
| never was up il my room later
than one o'clock unless studying long
part. l have hsd no love scrspe
since dismissed Van Austin, to whom
/ Was engaged but whose real character
| found in time / could not like. As
God ia my witness | have never done q
wrong act in my lie; have no desire to
do one; and yet since poor MIR. Oates
died, whom | wished God bad spared TO
protect me, l am always being persecut-
I'd. With MIR. Lsurents family troubles
], of course, have nothing to do. He IS &
gentleman and ] respect him as one. BE
wants TO leave the company to disarm
the enemies who are working against
me. He is also in consultation with law.
Yers and will probably sue the Times.
The above is the substance {! Mrs.
Oates disjointed, sob-broken statement,
and it carried the impression that she
has been cruelty wrcnged by the senss-
i3-si coloTing given 20 gossip which sne
| can rrove grOuudiess and malicious by
witnesses IL every case where there has
| bcen a deti mite statement Of tact instead
| ol mean, !ow insIuu.tlOus. That those
who have knuwn the little woman ali her
brave lilo believe her innocent ID clear
from their comments wherever the ques-
ton il raised. That the general public
! believe IN ner stii WAS shown by the
hearty reception given her at ths Grsnd
| Opers House last lght by one of the
finest audiences of the season. She WAS
called out alter the first act, and with
much emotion made the following
speech:
"MY DEAR FgIEEDs:-My besrt is too
full for me TO go on until have said
| lew words 10 you about the cruel Sian
ders published in this city against me
and sgsiust a man who never spoke d
word TO me he mIght not have addressed
to his sister. l came to this city as Mr.
Osles' bride when | was only girl o
fifteen. Since then, though have beer
before the public IN II struggle for the
support of mysef and family, have hell
NV name both as wife and q woman
without stain, IS God is my witness. Th'
slsnders would be cruel il partially true
as they are foully false, they sre killing
me. ask justice as woman. sp'
peal to you to suspend your judgmen
until Mr.. Laurent proves his own and
nv Innocence in the Courts OF law
There we can d: least have justice
Newspapers do not seem to know 1t oil
even mercy. thank you"
When she concluded there was an oya
ton gwen her such as should have driec
her tears. 1t was q good, old fashioned
triple recall, "three times three ths
spoke it eio4uently tina. she had made
her case with that best OF jurles, the pub
lie.
Arrangements were ia progress las
night whereby knight Ashton Is TO sue
ceed Mr.. Laurent IS tenor OF the com
psny. Mrs. Oates, also, has the question
1.k-t -EtH,raEfrn