The New York herald., 1879-08-09
COOL BURGESS ESCAPADE.
CHE MINsTRELs ACCOUNT OF THE CAUSES
WHICH PROMPTED ATTEMPT ON wID-'

eHE MISsTREL's ACCOUNT OF THE CAUSES
WHICH PROMPTED HIS ATTEMPT ON wIp-'
GERY's LIFE-HIs wIFE's STORY.
Cool Burgess the minstrel arrived here Thurs
day morning from the of his late shooting
escapade in Toronto. Ontario. To HERALD
porter evening he said he had since elegraphed
to the Chief of Police of Toronto that he
wanted for the shooting of widgery he could be
,ound in New York Speaking of his domestic
troubles he said:-Widgery came to my house four
years ago. and then began the intimacy be-
tween him and my wife. About year
ago noticed that my wife going to his
fruit store on Yonge street. Toronto. very fire.
quently. and also learned that she had been
out riding with him and that they had been
seen drinking together then drove her out of the
house. She put my property into a Court of Chan
Gerry and my lawyer said had hopeless case. l
had 20 evidence of guilt against her and was COM
pelled to deed her houses in Toronto, with the
understanding that they could not be sold without
my consent. We went to Europe to let the scandal
die out. but before six weeks passed she wished to
return We stayed ten weeks and arrived in
New York the last day of December.
1878 We went to Toronto and while there
her mother. Mrs. w. Taylor told she found a
letter in my wifes trunk criminating her. Shortly
afterward my wife went down her knees and con-
do es liked with her if would only allow her to
keep the children aid let her have them The letter
which my wifes mother says she found in her
trunk from Widgery styled her my darling wife,"
Ifound that Widgery was again writing to my wife
and saw two letters that he sent her in May. then
sent him the following letter.
NEW YORK July 8 1879.
sR.Before two Of yonr letters OF the 2sth and
further with my family. Yon have ruined my family,
TSis I M boast the feeling q injured bus
Am injured husband COOL BURGESS.
To this widgery sent the following reply
TORONTO July o. 1879
sRT received yours of the sh and hasten to let
little for your threats as do for your
You tried--as wish the right before the
occasion write threatening letter If you
% and naa although Thy e 'Ias aw sf ans sn ue
practices. win come to New York. with or without
i pisol. ! p.ess GaSsrs.and. after
you do move in this matte brand you damned
.e mot only Sl paper but 'se's sSnt
'..I did not move in the matter them continued
Mr.. Burgess after reading these letters. ''but on
Monday last received a telegram from Toronto that
my mother dying and determined to go see her.
Thought revolver and told my wife that ii l met
widgery would shoot him. aid meet him in the
Rising Sun Hotel, and, as is well known. fired two
MRS. BURGESS STORY.
furnished apartments at No. 129 East Twenty-sev-
enth yesterday afternoon While narrating her
troubles she repeatedly wiped the tears from her
eyes. On occasion her little daughter came
and begged hard for a kiss from her mother.
..rhere now. little tease. there it is, said the
mother. Hardly had she gone before her little boy
came in forsone Also because Edna had got one.
THE of all this trouble is my husbands
jealousy" said Mrs. Burgess. After the first six
months of our married lite he began to beat me.
had taken interest in his show and went the
road with him to save the expense of an extra lady
Itook the cash, sold the tickets, paid the bills aud
went behind the scenes in the last farce. But
that up after my first child died. This trouble that
way. There was nothing criminal in my action
toward Mr.. Widgery, but have hrted with
him. told Ely husband of that. when he showed
me the anonymous pote He beat me then and he
took to drinking. and what life had after that.
So hard had my path in life become that sought
separation from him. Before getting it he came
around and begged me to get it, he would treat
me kindly. he said and it was then arranged that
we should go to Europe We went on the Nevada
Of the Guion line, and had hardly got
to before he became drunk that he could not
stand was taken to DINNER by Captain Bigby. and
passage over he repeatedly abused me. We had poor
luck the other side and that made him more ILL
at time and never has paid one cent to the
support of this house or of the children. On the
contrary. have had to give him money to pay his
hotel bills When he came back here on Thursday
and informed that he had shot Widgery he
knocked me about, pulled my hair out by the hand
ful and put the revolver my nead saying he would
shoot me. DO as You please, said; + am sure
my life is OF the pleasantest; but he afterward
went out. satisfied with giving me parting kick.
burgess ARRESTED
Detectives Won Gerrchten and Cunning. OF the
Central Office squad last night arrested Cool Bur-
shooting william widgery. Since his flight
from Toronto. where the shooting occurred on
Tuesday. Burgess has been insths city. playing at
the Tivoli Theatre. He appeared there last night
and was not molestcd until he had finished his part
In the entertainment. He was taken to Headquarters
and will leave for Canada to-day