Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-17
BESSIE TURNER.
How the Dear Girl Came to 60 Upon the
Dramatic Stage.

nun INC DodT ulTi Odm6 " % upOh uno
Dramatic Stage.
Cincinnati Enquirer.l
A representative of the Enquirer
met Miss Bessie Turner yesterday at
the Walnut Street House, and had a
very pleasant chat with her. He
found the lady very bright, intelligent
and vivacious, and, withal, with many
claims to cOmeliness and to beauty.
She is rather below the medium size
of women, with large, l%ustrous eyes
and prominent features generally. In
conversation she is modest and unaf-
fected, yet as sharp as chain lightning,
and after a few moments talk with
her one can readily understand how
it was that she was able to battle the
cunningest attempts of Theodore Til
toms lawyers to make her stultify her
self. After the usual greetings of the
day had been passed, our reporter ex-
planned that the object of his call was
to learn from her lips the reasons that
induced her to adopt the stage as a
profession. Miss Turner smilingly
announced her willingness to be in
t~eryiewed on the subject, though ii
was half evident that she felt inclined
to wish her prosecutor in Kamschatka.
"Well, to begin" said she, most
people, in consequence of my being
mixed up with the greatest scandal
case of modern times, seem to regard
me as a sort of curiosity, and this fact
annoys me beyond measure. What ]
did in that case l did out Of gratitude
to Mrs. Tilton, who was almost a
mother to me, and the testimony !
gave was true in every particular to
the best of my knowledge and belief
It was through my desire to serve my
friend that | got mixed up in the case,
though the strong points of my testi-
mOny were elected from me through
information given her lawyers by Mrs
TiltOn. | have been blamed by many
for portions Of my testimony, which.
God knows, had no desire to 20 upon
the witness-stand and detail, no mat
ter how true they were, but l testified
under the instructions of the lawyers.
who told me that the life of the case
depended upon my telling all | knew
They were old. respected citizens, as
well as lawyers, fathers Of families
and | was but a girl of sixteen. Mind
| am not apologizing for what l did
All that | told was true, and | would
testify to the same facts tomorrow i
necessity required, but what | wish t
say is, that if any feel inclined t,
blame me they may know hal | wa
not a swift witness, and only yielded
my judgment to that Of wise and hon
orable men. After the trial | founC
myself notorious, and | was sough.
after eagerly by managers who desired
me to enter the lecture field and turr
my notoriety into money. | wa.
offered $1,000 by one gentleman mere
ly to accompany Olive Logan and SHOW
myself on the stage for tw%enty-siy
evenings. | would not have had t,
lecture, but merely to read a littl,
poem, give a recitation or something
of that kind. Not wishing to thrus
myself on the public, | refused to ac
cept this and many other equally ad
yantageous offers, though l do moi
know that my course was tn,
wisest for me to pursue, a
both Mr.. Beecher and Mr.. TiltoI
have made the most out of their con
nection with the case by lecturinl
ever since. After the trial was over
found myself thrown on my own re
sources for my maintenance. | haC
been teaching music in a certain
school, but after giving my testimon,
| was dismissed from that position
and then | began to look around t,
see what | could do. l had been tolc
by many that the manner in which
gave my testimony evinced that / DOS
sessed dramatic talent, and | though
best to devote myself to the stage. Ii
doing so | determined to begin at tn,
foot Of the ladder and to learn my ar
thoroughly, knowing that if | DOS
sessed talent and adaptability for tn,
profession, that | should soon rise il
it, while if | began by starring, afte
the novelty of seeing me had worn OF
| would sink out Of sight. | procure,
a position in A Celebrated Case Com
pany, and made my debut in Annette
in Newark, under the name of Bet
Avery, that being my mother s maidel
name and also my middle name. NJ,
full lame is Elizabeth Avery Turner
Mr.. Tilton called me 8 Bessie to dis
tinguish me from his wife, whose nam
is Elizabeth. / believe | was fairl
successful in my debut, and | inten,
to work myself up in the dramati
profession if hard work, study and tn
desire to improve will enable me to d
so" That closed the interview. Las
night at the Grand Opera House
great number Of ladies attended, es
pecially to have a look at Miss Tur
ner. The role requires her to be in a
the rise of the curtain, but as tn
name of the character she represent
is not prominently mentioned, a grea
many were unable to decide which Q
the many ladies Of the company O
the stage at the time was she. For tn
benefit of those who attend tonight
We will state that at the beginning {
the prologue she occupies a chair a
the extreme right of the stage facin
the audience.
The Longest Drunk ON RecOrC