Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-08-16
A MIEsTREL's REVENGE.
Cool Burgess Regrets He Didn't XIII
Widgrey, as He Fully Intended.
New York snn.l

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ing after his performance at the Tivoli
on a charge of shooting the paramour
of his wife at Toronto. The arrest
was made on complaint of William NJ.
Widgrey, of Toronto, Canada. Bur
CESS and his family live in that city,
where his brother keeps hotel under
the name of Rising Sun. Cool went
to Toronto on Monday last to see his
mother, who was reported dying. His
wife had been estranged from him
through the alleged wiles of William
NJ. Widgrey. Wednesday evening
last Cool met Widgrey in the Rising
Sun" Widgrey was in company Of
Alexander Blakely, cigarmaker, and
when he entered he stepped up to
Burgess and asked him to join him in
a social drink, but the offer was re-
jected with an insult. This culmi-
mated in a quarrel, during which
Burgess fired four times at Widgrey.
one shot taking effect in Widgrey's
arm, and the other in his left hand
Burgess escaped, and Widgrey fired a
gunshot after him, but missed his
aim. The residence of Burgess
mother was searched, but Burgess had
fled to New York. The authorities
telegraphed to New York last night.
Burgess was arrested at the Tivoli
Theater, as already stated.
In the early part of the evening he
made his appearance at the theater as
usual. As he sang comic song he
seemed full of fun and good humor.
But as he sat in Manager Aberle' S
private Office fifteen minutes later and
narrated the story Of his domestic
troubles, he appeared a very different
man. With fearful eyes and broken
voice, he said About four years
ago, while | was living in Toronto, my
wife became acquainted with William
M. Widgrey. lie kept a fruit store,
and my cousin, Barbara Martin, was
in his employ. He was married and
had a very bad reputation. | had
warned my wife to beware of him.
Unknown to me she used to frequent
bis store, on the pretense that she
wished to see her cousin. at last
discovered this fact, and forbade her
going there. Even then / began to
have my suspicious that there was
more than appeared on the surface,
for | could see that her love for me
had cooled. | went to fulfill an en-
gagement at Winnipeg. While there
| received an anonymous letter signed
A Friend, telling me that at party
my wife's name had been coupled with
that of a prominent fruit dealer in
Toronto in an undesirable manner
and that it would be well for me tc
put a stop to public talk. | showed
the letter to my wife on my return
she said there was nothing in it.
followed the matter up, and she fnally
acknowledged that she had a Irritation
with Mr.. Widgrey, and that it wa,
hard to accuse her of wrong-doing be.
cause she had played two or three
games Of cards with him. For while
| was Quieted. Other parties, how.
ever, reported to me that they had
seen my wife and Widgrey out riding
and drinking wine together. Still there
was no positive proof Of her wrong
but | drove her out Of my house. She
went to Q hotel, and next day threw
the case into the Court of Chancery
went to see my lawyer, and he asked
me if had positive proof of my wife's S
misconduct. | told him | had not.
He advised me to make up with
her and wait until | had further
proof or she would get the best part
of my property. | went to see my
wife. She refused to compromise
unless l gave her two houses that
owned. For the sake Of my children
| did sign over to her two houses.
with furniture worth twelve thou
sand dollars. then went to Eng
land, taking her with me. | made
seven attempts before she consented
to leave Toronto. Before she was
away three weeks SO thoroughly infat.
uated was she that she wished to "a
home. hurried through my engage
ments, refusing several tempting Of
fers, and returned to New York within
ten weeks. | arrived in this city on
December 81, 1878. | told my wife tc
get all the furniture she wanted and |
would bring the four children from
Toronto. She concluded to do as |
wished, but finally decided to 60 to
Toronto. | went with her, and heard
such startling proofs of her infdelity
that ] concluded to separate from her
She went to her brothers house, VIM
Taylor. Her own mother came on to
New York with my children and my
self. My wife came back to New Yorl,
and rented No. 129 East Twenty
seventh street, a brown stone front.
She came over to me in Brooklyn, and
on her knees begged me to let her
have her children. She made full
confession Of all her errors, and begged
to be taken back. | refused, but
her mother and my son and daughter
begged me to let her have the chill
dren, if she behaved herself. l took
her back and let her have the children
eight weeks ago. | then filed an en-
gagement at Pittsburg. During my
absence Widgrey commenced to cor
respond with her. Her own mother
took the letters from her trunk, say
ing, "Cool, you have been more than a
son to me Edna is guilty See, here
he calls her his own darling wife. "
wrote to him when | found he was
corresponding with my wife, begging
him not to break up my family and
my home, and telling him if he con
tinued ] would shoot him on sight.
Here is my letter.
NEW YORK. July s, 1879.NMR.
NJ. WIDGREY, Eso.-Dear Sir: Be
fore me are two of your letters, dated
May 26th and 9th, addressed to my
wife, | beg Of you not to interfere
o,,, G,,tI o- ,.-,tl 49,. I'll W.