The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-06-30
s.T'hrockmorton's Ghost, :,

Major John R. Throckmorton was bur.
led IN the family vault at Louisville the
other day. He died some time ago in a
lonely hut on Mississippi plantation.
His last moments were haunted by the
thought that Ellen Goodwin was still
shadowing him. For twenty-five wears
the woman followed him, and was known
as Throckmorton's ghost. The reason
for this wasnever known. It is the pop
ular belief that Throckmorton wronged
her in her youth. -.
Ten years ago the papers OF louisville
contained daily accounts ofvtke trial, or
rather the investigation, of woman by
the name of Ellen Goodwin. The Cour-
ier Journal, the leading paper of the
southwest, took sufficient interest in the
matter to espouse the cause of the pros
ecuting witness, Major John r. Throck-
morton. In the South, until recently,
there was very clearly defined aristoc-
racy, clannish and proud, between
whom and the people there also
was drawn a very distinct
line. Ellen Goodwin belonged to the
people; Major rThrockmorton was scion
of one of the oldest and most aristocratic
families in all the Southern States. At
his instigation, and in his interest,a writ
of ode lunatico inquirendo" was issued,
Ellen Goodwin was arrested, and put on
her trial to establish her sanity and ex-
plain her strange conduct.
The odds against her were heavy. Her
conduct had been most unprecedented
and remarkable. Her opponent was
backed by powerful journal, by an in
fuential society, by able counsel. Her
only support was her alleged wrongs, her
pluck, and a young, comparatively mex
perienced lawyer, whom the court had
appointed to defend her. This is the
story as told at the trial.
twenty-five years before that date, and
when Ellen Goodwin was young, beau
tiful and talented girl, but of compare.
lively humble origin, John r. Throck-
morton met her. She fell in love with
him, and he apparently loved her.
Marriage was out of the question with
him, but not the qualification of his
baser passions. She trusted him too
much-she fell. He soon tired of her
and her love. What to him was ''thing
apart" had become to this girl her whole
existence. She could not live away
from him, and entreated and supplicated
him to see her, if only now and then.
For while he visited her once week,
then only once month, then at long in
tervals, and then quit altogether. Her
conduct now changed. She determined
to follow him through life, TO be his
shadow, his other self
Whether from spirit OF hate or from
some insane delusion, she followed and
tracked him for twenty-five years. She
k0I Ro L IL
him come out from his door She fol-
lowed him to his place of business, to
his meals, to his club, wherever he went,
and patiently watched the building that
held him until he left it. He could not
surprise her by beginning the day earlier
than usual; he could not tire her by end
ing it later than was his wont. If he
travelled he failed to elude her watchful
eye. He.could not escape her. go where
and when he might. For period of
| twenty y-fiye years he was conscious of the
presence of this too faithful follower.
| When he dined or danced, drove or
walked, gambled or gossiped. he knew
that she waited and watched without.
| Neither the sweltering heat of summer
nor the biting cold of winter, neither
rain, snow, hail nor sleet, neither hunger
nor thirst, could drive or detain her from
her vigils. Standing in doorway on
some prominent thoroughfare, her
clothes and face weather-beaten and
worn, her eye seemingly listless, un.
noticing and apparently unnoticed, 8
hermit ia the midst of thousands, she
lived her lonely, miserable life, tc
thousands who saw her daily known
only by the name of 'Throckmorton'
Ghost"
| What ever her thoughts as she stood
night after night, alone with her hate OF
her love, and saw others hurrying out O.
the darkness and storm to comfortable
homes and bright fresides? Have they
been revealed on the other side of thu
grave? At the investigation she appeared
changed in dress and manner On thu
witness stand she told the story of hel
love, her fall, her revenge. He denied
ever having wronged her, and denounced
her as insane. The jury believed he
and returned verdict in favor of he
sanity.
The writer was in the crowd that hac
gathered to hear che verdict. There wa
quiet, deep sentiment of sympathy fo
the woman, which pervaded the court
and which found vent in hearty cheer
when the verdict was announced. Thi
sympathy, this kindly notice, this lon,
deferred vindication was too much fo
Ellen Goodwin. After twenty-five year
of waiting, she wept.
The judge, in dismissing her, said: 81
jury of your countrymen have declare,
you of sane mind. See that you do not
by continuing your strange conduct, dis
appoint them"
For about two years she obeyed tn
injunction of the court. Her insane de
lusion seemed to have disappeared, o
her spirit of revenge had been complete
ly satisfied by her complete vindication
She paid more attention to her dress, at
tended church regularly, and withdre,
herself from the public gaze. Ever
one thought the verdict of the jury JUS
one, and admired her pluck and persist
ence, and sympathized with her grea
wrong.
But this did not last After two wear
of resting, she returned to her forme
habit Throckmorton had become a bar
, of her life. This second crusade resulte
In an assault by Throckmorton, mutue
arrest and fine, and in second trial fo
, insanity, and second Judicial confirma
! ton for sanity. Her physical strengt
began now to fail. Her frail woman
, body, though long sustained against th
, most wearing strain by an almost supel
human will power, broke down. an
, death ended her sentry.
3 Four years afterward, far from b
, hotel and clu broom, from his surrount
D ings of luxuriant ease, in lonely hut @
q Miasissinni ,,lantatian Mo;or Tb,oal