The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-08-08
Gov. Cleveland's immortality.
A Defence which COnvicts.

The following is the defence, or apology, in
Governor Cleveland's behalf that appeared in
the Boston Herald to which James P. Baxter,
ESQ.,, alluded in his speech last evening.
(From the Boston Herald. July 81
Buffalo penny newspaper of sensational
character having published a story about Gov
Cleveland, charging him with drunkenness, Sc
duction and so on, and the story having been
copied in whole, or in part, by various Blaine
organs, including one in this city, Boston mer-
chant wrote to friend in Buffalo, a merchant of
the highest reputation there, asking for true
statement of the facts of tie case. The reply is
given in full below except that the names of the
writer and his correspondent are suppressed
BUFFALO, N. Y, July %, 1S84.-Dear Mr.. -:
Your letter of the 2lst received at yester
day. ! am not personal acquaintance of Grover
Cleveland, and at the time your letter was received
knew but little of the scandals in circulation.
have today talked with two gentlemen, men of
family and high character, VINO are intimate per-
sonal friends of Grover Cleveland and who know
all the facts of the Maria Halpin case, and who
also warranted, through close personal aequain-
tance to speak as to his habits. The following
story. the result of the interviews is feel certain
to be depended upon as being true statement. L
inclose with this the story printed in one of our
sensational evening papers last Monday. Upon the
appearance of the paper Monday evening, one of
the Governors friends advised with him, asking
what action should be taken. The reply came by
telegraph: "Tell tie TRUTH Grover Cleveland
has not lived chaste life; but his connection with
impure women has not been Haunted in the face of
the public, and, except for his present prominent
position, his life in this respect would doubtless
have been unknown by the general public.
Now, as to the story Of his connection with Maria
Halpin. She was a widow, with children, at the
time Cleveland became intimate with her, and she
herself was, and had been for some time, intimate
with two or three other men, although at the time
Cleveland did not know this fact. When she be-
came with child, she charged Cleveland with its
paternity, and he made provision for mother and
a oh
drinking heavily, and the child was neglected.
About this time Cleveland decided to put the mat
ter of the care of the mother and child into the
hands of some one on whom he could depend, and
chose Judge Burrows of our city, a gentleman ad
vanced in years and of high standing in the COM
munity. One day report was brought to Judge
Burrows that the woman was in a high state of ex-
element through drink. He, without Cleveland's
knowledge, sent detectives to the house, who, on
Providence asylum, where she was kept but short
time, and the child was taken to the Protestant
Orphan Asylum. Cleveland then gave the woman
means to start in business at Niagara. She did not
stay there long, however, returning to Buffalo,
where she frequently visited and finally abducted
the child from the orphan asylum. The woman
lawyer Of our city, with reference to
bringing suit against Cleveland. Soon
after a brother-in-law came on from the
East, and the matter, so far as the
woman was concerned, was settled by payment of
$500, she agreeing to surrender the boy. The boy
is now adopted into family in this city, where he
is well cared for, and knows nothing of his parent
age. Mr.. Whitney, the woman's lawyer, states
that, in all her Conversations with him, she never
told him there was any promise by Cleveland of
marriage The worst features of the story seem to
be disproved in that it not case of seduction,
an / that the oman being taken to the Providence
Asylum was without the knowledge of Cleveland.
The stories of his drunkenness are pronounced to
be absolutely false; in his of liquor he is not
abstainer, but is temperate.
1 am informed that other stories in circulation
concerning immoral actions said to have been COM
mitted during late years are without foundation in
fact. The letter in the Telegram, headed "a Citi-
zen's Statement was written by man who is con-
victed of offering to sell votes and influence in our
last city election. In short, Clevelands character
in this city stands in which citizens take
pride, because of bis good judgment and sterling
integrity in all public matters; and he has, and viii
continue to receive the support, in his nomination
for the presidency of the best class Of all the oppo
nents of Mr.. Blaine.
Very truly,