The New York herald., 1879-09-12
A PATERSON MYSTERY.
A Girl Charges Her Betrayal on an
Uncle and Disappears.
THE UNCLE'S STATEMENT.
Strange Stories Concerning Very
Mixed Family

There came to Paterson, N. j., last December o
young girl who gave her name as Adelaide Black
hurst and who after living domestic il several
families finally took board at house kept by Mrs
Mary Ann Gunsolas. ut No "a Essex street. Miss
Backhurst was young. rather attractive had brown
hair and large brown eyes and was well educated
She became acquainted with the other boarders
in the house and generally liked ON account OF
ladylke appearance and actions. For some time
things went smoothly, until some ono discovered
that gentleman who was frequent visitor to
Addie, as she was generally called. was her
uncle. Elijah Blackhurst. a prominent member OF
the Willis Street Baptist Church aud weaver in the
silk mill Of John Ryle L Co. As Addie and her
uncle it is alleged. appeared more intimate than
could be expected with propriety between niece and
uncle, Mrs. Gunsolas protested and requested
Adde to leave the house. The latter declared that
nothing improper had occurred between her
and UNCLE and that the attentions of the latter
wero due intimacy which had always existed
between them. and which was made tho stronger by
the fact that the rest OF the family had repudiaed
her. About this time Aidie also went to work in
Ryles MILL whore her uncle taught her the trade OF
silk weaving As this did net allo her to spend
great deal time in the house. and as she
less in company of her uncle than before. affairs
were at u rest until Mrs. Gunsolas and some of the
boarders in the house began to notice that Addie
was becoming very melancholy and seemed to be
greatly troubled about something. As the landlady
had in the meantime become very intimate with
Addie she importuned her to tell her the
of the secret grief. and finally Addie yielded.
confessing that she had strayed from the
path of virtue and that she was about
to suffer the penalty Of her transgression Subse-
qrently the afAir became more generally known
a.
formed that she must leave. AS one had
any other company with her besides her uncle
he was thought to be the author Of her trou-
bles. Addie allowed this impression to remain on
the minds of all who acquainted with her trou
ble and by her tacit behavior implied that such
was the In FACT she ntimated to several that
her uncle was father Of her unborn babe. aud
one thought otherwise. She then declared it her in
tention remove from Paterson. and, she seemed
inclined to leave peaceaby. steps tending to her
ejectment taken. She first ceased to eat at the
table with the rest Of the boarders and soon hired
small room in the rear part of the building. where
she did her own cooking on a small Oh stove. and
slept on the uncsrpeted floor . couch
made up Of her clothing. 1t was apparent
that her funds had become very low, and soon sho
sold her sewing machine and her accordeop. ON
which latter instrument she good player. She
did not sell any OF her many and good clothes. but
on dry bread ana such victuals as the lHndlady's
charity advanced
In April she lett Paterson, saying that she was
going to New York to live with her aunt. She took
auantity of her clothing aud all her jewelry along
her trunk ana the larger Of her Effects
shortly after Elijah Blackhurst also disappeared.
and was soon followed by his wife. Gossip ut
once busy, aud stories told OF Mrs. Blackhurst
having discovered that an undue intimacy existed
between her husband and his niece. In the latter
part of June Adelaide returned to Paterson. bring
elry. She ut once went to No. "a Essex
that Sss That nsh
she slept in room adjoining that of the landlady
who heard her sobbins and tossing about all night.
the latter remarked. ''You did not seem to sleep
well last night" "No; have not slept at all for
testing the truth Of her words Before leaving she
again called the landsdy and. handing her her
maps forever have packed up my trunk and here
Is my jewelry. Take it. and should you not hear
you will find papers which will give you the address
OF my sister In the West. Send her all my things
do not think that can pass through the ordeal
am about to go with my lite and you will probably
never me alive again" She thereupon lett for
the depot and took q train for New York. She was
dressed in u common black dress. having locked up
her best clothes in her trunk. since tEen nothing
has been heard OF her III Paterson until yesterday,
when u runor reached No. "a Essex street that Addie
was dead and that her aunt, Mrs. Rackhurst, had
brought the sad news to Paterson. Though this
rumur could not be traced to any authoritative
source Mrs Guusslas concluded that she had waited
long enough. and consequently allowed Adde'S
trunk to be opened. THIS wus . very large one of
the Saratoga pattern and contained, besides suf
fcient wardrobe dresses. hats and shawls several
hundred letters and small library. the latter n
Guiding Gibbon and other choice works. The larger
part of her letters were from sister Louisa dated
from Pennington, H.. then from Waco, Texas. and
the last from Hearn. Texas. Others were from her
Uncle Elijah and another uncle, w. Ii. Williams.
Tie correspondence did not disclose any reference
to her trouufes nor did it shed any light upon her
could, however. be plainly traced. As u small child
she and her sister Louisa had been placed
ia the New York juvenile Asylum, 10th street and
Tenth avenue. from where both had been sent West
to Illinois. Louisa subsequently marrying and going
10 Texas. and Adelaide coming back East. When in
the Juvenile Asylum she was called Adelaide Jane
Williams; ia the West she assumed the name of Ad-
die Marshall. which she subsequently changed to
Adelaide Baekhurst. The cause OF these changes OF
name Goes not appear. The whole matter seems In
volved in a mystery.
A HERALD representative yesterday made diligent
inquiry among her relatives In this CITY, without.
however. discovering any trace OF her whereabouts,
or obtaining any light upon her mysterious disap-
pearance. AT No. 45i West Thirty-third street re-
side her mother aud grandfather. The building is
q rather dilapidated tenement house. ana the old
couple. both very advanced In
years. occupy the third floor. Upon inquiry made
concerning the whereabouts OF Adelaide her mother
seemed somewhat surprised. She thought Addie
was in Paterson doing wcll and had not hoard OF
her dlsappcarunce. For some time she was some
what guarded In her statements. but when tho
truth-that the inquirer knew more about the facts
III the than she did---lawned upon her mind
sho became com iunicative, and added what
she knew this mysterious affair.
My maiden name WIS ackhurst," said sho to
the HERALD representative. ''and married Mr..
Williams, by whom had two children, Louisa ard
Adelaide Jane. adelaide the younger. Her
father died time after her birth, aud married
again. As my second husband did not like Louisa
and Adelaide about the house, to promote peace and
harmony in the family sent them to the Juvonilo
Asylum. and subsequently, gave my consent to have
them sent West Both went to place near Farming
ton ILL.,, and Adelaide there brought up by afamy
named Marshall and subsequently assumed their
name. When she came back East she did not like
the names OF Williams Marshall and changed
her name to Blackhurst, my maiden name. My
ond husband died several ago, and since then
have becn keeping house tor my father. During tho
last few years have not heard great deal from
Addie though she visited me about year ago. Re-
Gently heard that she had been in trouble aud that
my brother Elijah In way mixed up with
the matter. but mono OF them would tell me
acty what II was aud now IL ended. have not tho
slig htest idea OF where Addie can be-" The tears
stood In her eyes she finished the last sentence.