Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-27
THE M'CLOSKEY LUNACY CASE.
Its Revival Under a New FOrm-EX-
traOrdinary Family History of
the Parties InvOlved-The Sc
gael OF a Romantic South
ern Marriage.

New York NeicS, 18th: The celebrated
M 'Closkey lunacy case, which recently came
up before Judge Van Brunt, in the supreme
court, and by him submitted to the general
county court of Genessee, New York, Is to be
again revived, from proceedings having been
instituted by Mrs. Vlctorine Marie Nj Clos
key, the alleged inmate. It will be remem-
bered that Mrs. M 'Closkey alleges that she
was decoyed from her home in this city to
the residence of her daughters and son, In
Genessee county, and while there, was I'M
prisoned in one of the rooms for nearly a
month, without having an opportunity OF
communicating with any person outside, and
that while SO detained, her children by
former husband endeavored to force her to
deed certain valuable property in the south.
This she refused to do, and proceedings IN
lunacy were subsequently taken, under which
she was declared to be insane. The proceed
ings now commenced for a second time, by
direction of Judge Van Brunt-one against
Herman jackson, Vicky jackson, children of
M 'Closkey by her first husband, and Jasper
b. Lewis, who were appointed committee
of the person and estate OF Mrs. NJ Closkey.
They are intended to set aside the lunacy
proceedings, they having, it Is alleged, been
obtained by fraud, and to recover property
which had been forced from her while In her
daughters house, consisting of money and
jewelry.
The history of this NJ 'Closkey family-and
of which the venerable Cardinal M'Closkey is
a member-is both remarkable and romantic,
and at the same time most painful to record
Mrs Victorne Marie M'CIoskey now re-
sides with her husband, DIR. A. +. M
Closkey, at ThIrty-ffth street and Eighth
avenue, and, with her husband, gave the
writer the remarkable history of her family,
which IN brief is as follsws:
Philip III 'Closkey the father of the pres
ent Mrs. Nj 'Closkey, when boy of twenty
one years old, came to this country from
Feeney, in the county of Derry, Ireland. His
uncle and aunt In this country were none
other than the father and mother of Cardinal
M'Closkey, with whom he resided for some
time after his arrival. M'Closkey had re-
ceived good education at the hands of
Archdeacon O'Reagan when at home, and
was not without funds. Being tired of New
York, he left for Portland, Maine, where,
after unsuccessfully engaging in a CONNER
cial business, he became mayor of that city.
He next became the head of a large cotton
house in Mobile, and there amassed large
fortune, and was afterward known as the
''cotton king" of the south. Though I'M
married, he kept up beautiful residence at
Springhill, short distance from Mobile.
One afternoon, while driving home, he en-
countered the carriage OF the famous Mad
anne Duval, a young and wealthy widow OF
cotton planter from Maryland, and the ac-
She was worth many millions OF dollars and
owned some three thousand slaves. By this
marriage there were four children, two sons
and two daughters, the first being the pres
ent Mrs. M 'Closkey, who gives this history
of her family.
Mrs. M'CIoskey, the wife of the cotton
king" died while giving birth to the fourth
child. The children, when their age per-
mitted, were sent to Baltimore to be cared
for by the mother of Rev. Father Parsons.
When the boys were old enough, they en-
tered the Catholic college of Baltimore, and
the girls were sent to the Convent OF the VS.
ltation In the same city.
Not wishing to break up his home, the
cotton king" sent for an unmarried niece
from Ireland to take charge of his house, and
she willingly came out to her wealthy uncle.
While living with him she became attached
to his valet, George Westphelt, Swede,
whom the cotton king" had picked up IN
the streets of Mobile, and subsequently mar
ried him.
Philip NJ 'Closkey, within a few years of his
wife's death, also died, leaving four orphan
children behind him. They were looked af
ter by his brother Patrick, and the West
phelts were kept at school for sometime af-
terward. Patrick M 'CIoskey was of roman
tic turn, and in place of protecting the inter
ests OF his brothers orphan children, he dis
posed of large portion of their property and
started for Europe, where he INDUCED In the
most reckless dissipation, and IN few short
years ended his career by a violent death.
He passed himself off In London and Paris as
the original cotton king" and while visit
ing Russia succeeded in getting an intro
duction to the czar. The Westphelts knew
of his disposlng of the orphan children's
property, and they In turn robbed them and
afterward departed for Europe. When the
sons of the cotton king came Of age they
found the property of their father almost
wreck, and but for the aid OF Bishop Smith,
of Dubuque, Iowa, and Father TImon, of Bal
timore, they would, with their sisters, have
been comparatively poor,
Westphelt and his wife returned to this
country subsequently, thinking they could
amcabIy arrange a settlement with the Or
phan children, but they were arrested on four
different charges of fraudulently disposing OF
property belonging to the cotton kings
children. The lawyer, named George +.
Lee, who was supposed to protect the inter-
ests of the children, was engaged by the
Westphelts to secure their liberty, and by
means of heavy bribe they did get their
liberty, and made their escape to North Car
DINA.
Victorine Marie M'Closkey, the eldest
daughter, after leaving the convent in Balti-
more, was induced to marry one Levi b.
Jackson, Vermont widower, but their mar
rage proved most unhappy one, and to
add to their misfortune her husband proved
to be the oetayer OF her younger sister Isa-
belle, at whose birth her mother lost her life,
as before stated. Jackson subsequently ran
away, taking with him some four hundred
thousand dollars belonging to his wife and
her sister Isabelle, and Is now roaming about
poor and miserable wretch. Through the
efforts of DR.. A. F. M'Closkey, full cousin
of Mrs. Jackson, the elder daughter OF the