Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-06-10
POOR jim RUSSELL.
Tho Marriage, Divorce and Death
oftke WeII-Knswn Baritone.
ALeaf From the History Of Stormy and
Misspent Lifs-The Killing Of Pol
lard and III ResuIts-His Resi-
-. dence in This City.

peaks dence IN rms Iity. a.
The summer sun glistened on the
coffin of James Russell Grant last FRI
day week in Hollywood Cemetery,
Richmond, Va, and the rattle OF ciods
upon the lid closed forever misspent
life. Although several stories OF his
early life have been published N the
newspapers, the tale of his marriage ana
recent divorce in this city has never
Teen printed. James Russell Grant
or, as he was better known in theatrica
circles, ]. G. Russell, was the son o
one of the wealthiest merchants in Viz
ginia, and was born fifteen years before
the breaking out of the civil war.
Money was lavished upon young
Grants education, but he grew up
reckless young man in reckless com.
munity. The story of his killing oil
Pollard, the fire-eating editor OF the
Richmond Examiner, has been told
and will be merely mentioned here to
show what drove Grant from his native
place. An article was published In the
Examiner rejecting upon the character
of his sister, Miss Emily Grant. James
concealed himself in a room IN the
third story of building opposite Pol,
lard's Office, with a double-barreled
gun, and as the editor came up the street
he was riddled with buckshot, and died
instantly. Grant was tried, and it was
testified by eye witnesses that Pollard
had two revolvers and knife cOnceale1
upon his person when he was found
upon the street. The trial was long
and tedious, but Grant was finally ac-
quilted. Public feeling, however, was
divided upon the subject, and he was
never able to resume his social position.
He Comes 20 This City.
He soon emigrated to Baltimore, aud
as ne was possessed of a superb baritone
voice he soon secured position i'll a
church choir where his singing attracted
much attention. 1t is alleged that upon
one occasion he was jjostled by the SEX
ton while descending flight OF steps in
the church. Words ensued, and the
result was fierce fight, i'll the course
of which the sexton received injuries
from which, it is said, he afterward
died. Grant next turned up in San
Francisco, where he joined negro
minstrel troupe, at Maguire's Opera
House. He remained there for some
time and then came to this city, where
he secured the position of leading bari
tone at CarncrOss Il DiXey's Ministries
under the name of J. &. Russell. Here
he became a great favorite and his sing
ing of Longfellow's "Bridge," "Nancy
Lee" and Crooked in the Cradle of the
Deep will never he forgotten by those
who heard him. In appearance Russell
was about the medium height, well.
built and with frank, open manner.
His society was much sought, and FIRE.
quently after the performance he would
delight party of friends in MegonegaPs
saloon, next to the Opera House on
Chestnut street, or at Morris, Eleventh
and Chestnut, by singing these songs as
he 50 well knew how.
Marriage and Divorce,
His engagement with Carncross ter
minated about three years age, and he
| then went to New York and joined the
San Francisco MINISTRIES. He had pre-.
viously met young girl in this city
named Catharine Jackson, who resided
with her parents, on Tenth street above
| Vine. She was danseuse and is well
known on the stage by the name of
Kitty Wilson. She is Il very pretty girl
with gentle disposition and bears an
excellent reputation. Soon after they be.
came acquainted she also went to New
York and Joined Kiralfy' Black CROOK
! combination. She met Russell in New
York and on September II, 1881,
| they were married in that city. The
marriage, however, proved short and
very unhappy. Russell had become
addicted to drink and failed to con-
| tribute to his wife's support. His
| manner toward her became brutal, and
| her condition was soon rendered in
tOlerable. She therefore applied to the
Court of Common Pleas of this city for
! divorce, and it was granted only
few weeks since by Judge Allison.
| Russell made no opposition to the APP
plication, although he had returned to
| Philadelphia and was living here at
the time. He remained about his old
| hauntS until two weeks ago, when he
became i'll, and went to the house of
his sister Emily, in Virginia. He died
last Tuesday Of debility in the home Of
the sister he had defended.
Poor Jim's Epitaph.
A visit was paid yesterday to the old
home of Russel's former wife on Tenth
street, but it was found that the family
had removed. After considerable
search the residence Of Mrs Jackson,
| her mother, was found on Suffolk
| street. a small thoreughfare above
| Washington avenue, below Ninth. A
rap Of the old-fashioned knocker
brought pleasant-faced woman to the
| door, who said that she was Mrs. Jack
son.
"Did you know that Jim Russell was
dead and buried"' asked the visitor.
Mrs. Jackson lifted her hands in
establishment at will be terrible
blow to Kitty" she said; although
they were divorced, she loved the very
ground he walked on. She is III WASH
ington now with Snelbaker's CONSOLE
dation, and she wrote to friend this
week that she heard Jim was home
sick and if she could go to Richmond
to see him she would do So"
At this point Mrs. JaCkson's feelings
overcame her and she sat down. In a
few moments she remarked, "Well,
Kitty was good wife to him, and if he
had only acted right they might have
been very happy. How she used to
love to hear him sing. don't believe
that any one could ever sing the
Bridge ~ he did. And so he has
gone"
This was the epitaph of poor Jim
Russell.
|