The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-01-08

MApy1.ANns BIG SCANDAL.-Mrs. Polk,

PyL BIG SCANDAL.-Mrs. Polk,
of Pocomoke, Md, has caused the arrest OF
Col. VIM. Aydelott, charging him with four
| attempts upon her person. she is the WIe
| Of a shoemaker he the leading lawyer OF the
| town.. 4 telegram says:
s.The interest in the case is intense. The
testimony or the complainant was, perhaps,
as grossly indicate as anything ever stated
by a woman before a court of justice. The
accused also swOre to some things too Often-
sive for ears polite. Among the least indeli-
cate statements repeated by Mrs. Polk was
that of Colonel Aydelott, when rebuked by
her for his misconduct. He is said to have
replied that David fell in love with Uriah's
wife and couldn't help it." Colonel Ayde-
lott swore that Mr.. Polk invited him to an
upper room, and that, like Joseph, he fled
from her. The perusal Of the following
letters will indicate the trouble ofmlnd ex-
perienced by Colonel Aydelott. He suspec-
ted that the design Of Mrs. Polk was black
mailing. 1t is hard to give credence to this
theory as yet, but the Colonel sWore posi-
lively that the charges were to resentment,
which was caused BY his refusal to take up
a mortgage for Mrs. Polk. In his testimony
he fatty and impressiyely contradicted near
" everything to which Mrs. Polk made oath,
thus rendering the whole thing an amazing
mess of contradictions. 1t is sufficient to
simply state that public sentiment is much
divided upon the whole matter.
A remarkable fact is that this scandal oc-
cured at the very house and IN the very
hall where Ella Hearn was shot by Lilly Duer.
is alleged, Familiarity tipped in admiration
the earrings of Mrs. Polk, which was the
commencement of the four subsequent and
more offensive alleged assaults. Many peo-
pie here who know both the parties think
that Colonel Aydelott would never have
taken possession of any opportunity for infa-
NOUS action or that Mrs. Polk would ever
have been guilty of actual debauchery, but
that it is evident that both were impru-
dent.
SIGNIFICANT CORRESPONDENCE.
The injured husband wrote to Colonel
Aydelott of his wlfe's complaints, and the
following letter were sent IN answer to Mr..
Folks rebukes and were read before Justice
Quinn:
PoCoMoKE CITY. Dee. 5, 1879.
". S. C. PoM, Esq:-
DEAR SIR:-Upon the receipt Of your
exciting letter last night | wrote a reply,
as [ felt that the unfortunate report to you
as an offence to any; but failed to get my
letter to the office in time this morning, and
hence [ suppose you will receive it at the
same time you will get this. In regard to the
clothes mentioned, | most solemnly vow be-
fore Almighty God, as have hope of heav-
en-, there is a mistake. Ibid not. If any play
full manner Of mine with a chaste and high
ly esteemed friend of mine was misunder-
| stood it's my misfortune, which | regret
with all my heart and for which | beg the
| pardon of two of my best friends with all
the sincerity of my soul. My first impulse
was to hand your letter to my wife for her
| perusal, but further reflection leads me to
hope the matter may be never heard of ex-
cept between you and myself, as a gossiping
world would morbidly magnify a harmless
mote into a mountain. My friends l am now
sixty-three years of age and with all my
faults in life such a crime as you intimate
shocks me; but / trust I have said enough,
[ know that you are a reasonable man, and
have known me these many years, and can
not think that [ would thus act. Then in
conclusion, let me pledge to you my sacred
honor to what | have written and beg you
to restore me to your confidence. For about
twelve months have represented you and
Mrs. Polk in business matters to the best of
my ability, and would at any and all times
love to do any service in M pCwec. | am
sincerely yours.
WILLIAM j. AYDELOTT.
There will be some startling develop
ments in the trial in May. Mrs. Polk is
not a particularly pretty woman and Colo
mel Aydelott is not handsome.
WILSON ADVANCE ITEMs.-Miss Sophie
Moore, Of New Berne, Miss Mamie Tbig-