The daily gazette., 1880-01-01
POcOmOke City's Scandal.

THE LATEST DEvELoPMENTs-AL LET
TER FROM COL. AYDELoTT.
In relation to the Aydelott- Polk scap-
dal, at Pocomoke City, Md, which has
already been mentioned in the GAZETTE,
correspondent at Snow Hill writes:
"The interest in the case is intense,
The testimony of the complainant was,
perhaps, as grossly indelicate as any
thing ever stated by a woman before a
court of justice. The accused also swore
to some things too offensive for ears
polite. Among the least indelicate
statements repeated by Mrs. Polk was
that OF Col. Aydelott, when rebuked by
her for his misconduct. lie is said TO
have replied that David fell in love with
Uriah's wife and couldn't help it, Col.
Aydelott swore that Mrs. Polk invited
h m to an upper room, and that, like
Joseph, he fed from her. The perusal
Of the following letters will indicate the
trouble ofmlnd experienced by Colonel
Aydelott. lie suspected that the design
OF Mrs. Polk was blackmailirg. 1t is
hard to give credence to this theory as
yet, but the Colonel swore positively that
the charges were due TO resentment,
which was caused by his refusal TO take
up mortgage for Mrs. Polk.
A remarkable fact is that this scandal
occurred at the very house, in the very
hall where Eliza Hearn was shot by
Lilly Duer.
Many people here who know both
parties think tina: Colonel Aydelott
would never have taken possession Of
any opportunity for infamous action or
that Mrs. Polk would ever have been
guilty of actual debauche.y, but that it
is evident that both were imprudent.
The following is one of several letters
that Col. Aydelott offered in defense at
the hearing before Justice Quinn.
PocoMoKE CITY, Dec. o, 1870.
WILLIAM S. G. POLK, ESQ -
DEAR SIR-Yours OF the 7th inst.
"as received last night. Your remark.
are oi less conservative tone than
mad right to expect in view of my past
declaration. You say, 81 will show
yon the letter | named to you, and if
you are innocent you shall have the
benefit of it; if guilty | hold you ac-
countable.' This language don't un-
derstand, as no tribunal is mentioned.
Who is to judge of innocence or guilt
You inform me IN a former letter of
certain charges, one of which, an illu-
sion TO David, my religious impulses
impelled me to say, in reply, did make
in playful way. Another, as to clothes
i vowed to you as | never vowed to
man before IL was a mistake-that did
not do 1t. OF the charges, as whole,
| pledged to you my honor as a gentle
man | was innocent of both in act or
criminal intent. My self respect for
bids my doing or saying more. There is
more than one reputation at stake, and
! beg you as friend, as husband and
father TO let the matter stop. There is
nothing 10 1t that ought to give you or
me further trouble, yet there is enough
to give gossipng world fuel that may
greatly injure innocent parties and
cause unpleasant relations both in your
iireside and mine, which time cannot
heal in haste, and all for nothing. Again
and final y, | entreat you to dismiss The
little trouble from your mind. II is
nothing. Cannot You write me more
conservative reply than your last ? Very
truly yours, with due respect,
WILLIAM j. AYDELoTT.
There will be some startling develop
ments in the trial in May. Mrs. Polk is
not a particularly pretty woman and
Colonel Aydelott is not handsome.