The daily gazette., 1879-12-27
A Mnruzn,ad Scandal.

BALTIMORE, Dec. 20. - POcomoke
City, Worcester county, Md, recently
the scene of the famous Duer-Hearn
tragedy, is shaken from centre to clrcum-
ference by another social sensation, which
has aroused the most intense interest In
that section of the State. Colonel Will
liam j. Aydelott, prominent citizen,
has been arrested on warrant issued
upon the oath of Mrs. s. G. Polk, ,charg-
ing him with outrageous assault upon her.
Colonel Aydelott is not only wealthy
and influential citizen, but a politician
of prominence, and until his arrest upon
this grave charge stood with an unspot-
ted record, socially and politically. He
has served several terms in the House OF
Delegates ard was elected State Senator
in 1878. He also held position as
member of the State Board of Educa
tion, and was appointed by Governor
Whyte one of the commissioners TO ad-
just the boundary line between Virginia
and Maryland, and filed other positions
of trust and honor. Colonel Adelott's
estate is one of the finest in Maryland,
covering about one hundred acres. He
married Mis- Marshall, of Vlrginia,an
has family of grown up sons and daugh-
ters, one OF the former, DIR. Aydelott, be-
ing prominent physician.
He has been ruling elder in the
Presby yterian Church for twenty years.
Colonel Aydelott makes the most en-
phatic denial Of the charge, alleging it to
be an attempt to blackmail him, and as
serts his ability to fully establish his in
nocence and vindicate his character
The charge was preferred by Mrs. Polk
on Wednesday lat, and at thel prelimi'
nary examination commenced at two p
m. on that day before Justice Mock there
was a large crowd in attendance, ant
almost as formidable an array of coun
sci as in the Duer trial. A despatch
states that Mrs. Polk, upon being sworn
testified that Colonel Aydelott has made
attempts at outrageous assaults upon hel
al four different times at her home IL
Pocoinoke City. The details of her tes-
timony were unfit for publication. Tht
case was adjourned from Wednesday Il
Christmas Day, when it was resumed
In the meantime reports OF the affai
spread, and the crowd and the excite
ment greatly increased. At the hearing
yesterday Mrs. Polk was four hours ii
giving her testimony, and was searching
ly cross-examined by Mr.. Forman, q
counsel for the defence.
During the cross examination she wa
much confused, and went into minut
particulars of the four alleged assauIt
She said Colonel Aydelott visited he
house during the absence of her husban
at Philadelphia, and made insulting pre-
positions and conducted himself indell
cately toward her. Colonel Aydelot
she swore, came to her house unlnvitet
and that she resisted him and Ordere
him to leave. Yesterday, the examins
: ton not being concluded, IL was az
journed Until day. Mrs. Polk is th
wife of William 8. G. Polk, q shoemakt
at Pooomoke City. She is forty.tw
years of age, and handsome for her year
. Her husband ls temporarily absent
Philadelphia. She as Miss Adam
of Rehoboth, Somerset county, and I
respectable family. She has been twit
married, Her first husband was D
; Taylor, who died a few months aft
their marriage, and she was, therefore,
, young widow when Mr.. Polk marie
her.