Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-22
THE LEBANON SCANDAL.
Inside and Bottom Facts Anterior to
the Caruthers-D arnall Trial.

Correspondence Louisville Post and News.l
LEBANON, Tenn, May 10, 1874
\ X X y x
For the past fifteen years, and at
various times, parties in Lebanon have
been receiving anonymous letters OF
the vilest possible character. The
Rev. Mr.. Suddath, a minister in the
Cumberland Presbyterian church, says
that at various times for fifteen years
he has received these letters, from
whom he knewnot and cared not. The
letters were disgusting and scandalous
in the extreme. During the first part
of II these letters became more nu-
merous. Many received them. They
were put in the postofice clandestine-
ly, or thrown into the front yards at
night, They contained the foulest
accusations against different parties,
and were written in the most obscene
and filthy language possible. So many
of these letters were received that
public interest was aroused and every
effort made to discover the author.
1t may be necessary here to give a
short sketch of the parties involved.
Those against whom most Of the sean
dial was directed are the Hon. r.. l..
Caruthers, a man of national reputa-
tiOn, and who is now seventy-seyen
years old. He has been a circuit
judge many years of his life was
afterwards supreme judge Of the
State then a member of congress,
and just at the breaking out of the
war was governor of the State. Since
the war he has been in charge of the
Lebanon Law School, and has ever
been admired for the purity Of his
character. He is a prominent mem
Der of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church. His sister-in-law, Mrs.
Hockett, a very wealthy lady, and
three nieces by marriage, the Misses
Cahal, lived at Judge Caruthers' resi-
dence. One of the nieces is resDecta-
bly, married to a Mr.. jackson here
another was betrayed and seduced BY
a Federal colonel during the war, and
is now an inmate Of a bawdy-house in
New York city. Miss Mary Cahal.
the oldest niece, concerning whom
there has been so much scandal fox
the past two years, is about thirty-two
years old, of a sad and melancholy
disposition, who, with Mrs. Hockett,
has been keeping house" for Judge
Caruthers since the death Of his wife.
six years ago.
To return to the narrative. In Octo-
Der, 1877, Rev. Mr.. Darnall announced
that he had discovered the writer of
the anonymous letters which he had
been receiving, and said that it was no
less a parsonage than Miss Mary
Cahal. He had received dozens Of
them entirely too vile for publication.
They accused him of improper rela
tions with varioIs ladies of the city.
among whom was Mrs. Hockett. They
charged Judge Caruthers with living
in open adultery with Mrs. Hockett :
|tbey charged Hon. Ed L. Golladay
with having improper relations with a
certain handsome grass-widow. Hon.
Andrew b. Martin, a distinguished
lawyer, came in for his share, and his
name was also connected with that of
Mrs. Hockett in the scandal. A
strange feature in it, and one that is
urged to prove that Miss Cahal is
not the author of the letters, is
the fact that some Of the let
ters accused her of criminal init.
macy with her uncle, Judge Caruthers.
An outline Of the sensation was pub
lished in the Nashville Banner of Oc-
tober Is, 1877, but the bottom facts
have never been given to the public.
On the publication in the Banner
that suspicion had fallen upon Miss
Oahal as the author Of the outrageous
and indecent anonymous letters, Leb-
anon was profoundly shocked. DR..
Darnall openly asserted that he had
become convinced that Miss CahaI
was the author of the letters. She
denied it, and Judge Caruthers af.
drmed that he had evidence in his
possession hat would establish hel
innocence. She withdrew from the
church, which was divided into fac
tons, about half siding with the pas.
tor and half sympathizing with the
accused woman. Society stood aghas.
At the revelations, and the Who'll,
country has masticated this tough
piece of wickedness for nearly TIVE
years.
last Sabbath the whole thing wa.
reopened. DIR. Darnall, from the pull
pit, preferred charges against Judg
Oaruthers. There were ten speciGca
tons in all, but the substance of then
is that Judge Caruthers protested {,
have the evidence of his niece's limo
cence, and has failed to produce it, a
the same time claiming to be her pro
tector, aud that he had failed to accep
the pastors offer of reconciliation, an,
was therefore guilty of unehristianlik
conduct. Judge Caruthers has filed
powerful reply to these charges. TIL
trial is in progress now, and DR.. Oar
nall will bring in a rejoinder tonight
The affair is the proioundest sensation
that has agitated these hills in a lon
time, and the result is eagerl.
watched. STAR.
The Russian Situation.
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