Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-27
THE ST GLOBE SATURDAY MORNING. APRIL o. 1878
FANNIE RICHARDS.

FANNIE RICHARDS.
SHE MAKES A VERY STRONG AND
PLAUsIBLE DENIAL.
Reply to tho Charges A0ainse Bishop
McCoskry by Hts Alleged Partne,. In
Crt"'e--Shs Csnin.s tho Letters Ars For
Oestes and That Improper Relofio,as
Never Kststed--The Pertls of a Detroit
Girl.
Detroit Correspondence Chicago Tribune.l
believe that if the bishop were to re-
turn, as it is stated he will, and demand an
investigation, it would be found that of the
letters alleged to exist, and in his own hand
writing, testifying to his dishonor, it would
be shown that those which are vile and GRIM
inal in their language are Iforgeries, cleverly
executed by young man whom Fan ny
Richards refused to marry.
MRS. BANN1sTER INTERVIEWED.
I visited Mrs. Bannister (,,ee- Fanny
Richards) to-day, and had a long converse
ton with her on this scandal. I found her
at her residence, 122 Vinewood avenue, near
the Grand Trunk junction, about five miles
from the City-hall. She lives in prettily-
furnished brick cottage, which affords plen-
teous evidence of taste and refinement, while
q well-stocked library shows that she and
hQr f%u
ance with literature. She is anything but
an attractive young woman. She has
neither face, form, nor figure. She stands
about four feet ten inches in height, is
slight, straight up and down." without a
vestige of bust; freckled; eyes of no par
ticular hue that can be described other than
between ashes and green; irregular
yellow teeth, those on the right
side of the lower jaw slanting inward;
angular; and in dress a veritable dowdy. I
should judge her weight at about eighty
pounds, while her feet are modelled upon the
basis of woman of four times her size.
Her age is little over 18, she says, and I
believe her. When she talks she twists her
lower jaw like scold slangwhanging a
neighbor over fence. She may have had
all the elaborate education that it is claimed
the bishop gave her, but if so she carefully
conceals it. Her grammar is worse than
that of an Ann Arbor graduate, which is
saying good deal, while her confusion of
metaphors would, if she would take to the
photographic field, knock all the imitators of
Shillaber endways.
was never more astounded in my life
than when saw in this plain, ordinary,
homely, commonplace little married girl
she is nothing more nor less-the party of
the second part to the greatest scandal of
the age, especially when I considered that
Bishop McCoskry is man over six feet in
height, as round about as tobacco hogs
head, weighing about $50 pounds, and re-
fined gentleman in manner and bearing.
MD1sPosED TO CONVERSE.
Introducing myself as newspaper per-
son, found Mrs. Banister indisposed to
talk on the subject, unless in the presence
of her husband, who had enjoined her to
silence, especially toward members of the
press. / told her that came in the charac-
ter of friend, who did not believe that she
was the vile creature that she had been
painted. Ny object, I said, was to learn
whether she had received Telegram from
the bishop in response to the one she had
sent him calling upon hum to return and de-
fend her character. She declared that she
had heard from the bishop, who was very
i'll at DR.. Mason's in New York, bnt who
would return and face the charges. Then
she took little cry to herself.
'Mrs. Banister," said, II understand you
deny all of these charges2''
eyes, I do,' she replied, emphatically;
"they are vile ISLANDERS. If you are, as you
DAY, friend, and wish could believe it,
you are the first have met since this awful
slander against me came out. never knew
until Thursday last that any one in the world
could accuse me of the slightest improperly
in my life. Imagine my feelings when, on
going to the grocery store on the corner,
this vile thing''-showing copy of Roses
Nose, sort of street gazette, which first
published the story-'was placed in my
hands, and I saw myself branded as foul
woman. My husband was sick at home, and
! could not show it to him till the next day.
What a task was that; to me But thank
God, he is man who will not believe in
stories about his wife's disgrace; he stands
by me in my hour of trial, and he will see
me through my trouble.
HER RELATIONS WITH THE BISHOP.
"Have you any objections to stating your
relations with the bishop?"
81 would rather my husband were here, as
uo KNOWS I'LL ADCUG lie mACC6r.
hadn't time to wait for Banister, SO
pressed her, and elected the following infor-
nation from her:
Mrs. Banister claims to have been born in
England. Her father was large boot and
shoe manufacturer, at No. 8 Old Woolwich
Road, and near the Star and Gartar, Trafal-
gar Square, London. For short time he
represented Greenwich in the House of
Commons. Shortly before his death,
which was caused by consump-
ton, he encountered heavy| losses, and
his estate went into the admin
after his decease, a very small sum, barely
was left. Mrs. Richards determined upon
friends, and where the present chief justice
Richards, a relative of her husband, then
Judge of the court of common pleas of
Toronto, was liFely to render her assistance.
She took with her letters of introduction to
Bishop McCoskny, whom her husband had
met and formed friendship with while the
latter was attending commemoration at Ok
ford, and when she determined, finally to
settle in Detroit, she made application
to the Bishop for guidance and assist
ance. She was received with kindness, and
at her request the bishop assumed the re-
lation Of guardian to her daughter, the
present Mrs. Banister, then child of less
than II years of age. Remittances were
regularly sent from England for the sup
port of the Richards family, and these the
bishop received and applied to the purpose
Of maintaining Fanny and her mother. Up
to the present time, Mrs. Banister claims,
money is regularly received by her and her
mother from England, and the whole charge
of her education and support was defrayed