The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-15
MRS. HARIA HALPIN,

What Is Said of Her by People Who Knew
Her-Her Conduct and Social Position.
Lakewood Letter in ittsburg comm rcial Gazette.
have read in the New York Evening Post an
article also printed editorially in the Nations
paper which is said to be edited in heaven--in
defense of Cleveland. The article declares that
they have investigated the charges fully and
then it proceeds to make a most marvellous sue
cession of statements which certainly could not
have beer madeaTith any regard to truth by any
person who had investigated the matter at all.
My authority for saying this is. frst
The firm Of Flint & Kent, for over forty years
doing business in Buffalo in whose employ Mrs.
Maria Hapin was for over four years, at the head
Of the cloak and millinery department. When
they had her employed it was upon the best of
recommendations for character and ability,
Mr.. Kent says Maria Halpin's character
was above reproach; that she stood higher
in the social scale of Buffalo than ever Grover
Cleveland did; that when he first heard that she
was engaged to a lawyer named Cleveland he
thought she was going to throw herself away in
marrying him, for his reputation was bad.
Mr. and Mrs. William Bakes with whom Mrs.
Halpin lived, declared that no woman could have
been more clrcumspect, outside of her relations
with Cleveland and that she never drank until
after her baby was born, and then was led te it
by associating with Cleveland and by her sense
of shame
no sense an inebriate asylum, as charged by the
Post), says the woman was suffering more from
grief than drink; that she presented no symp-
toms Of deliriunl tremens; that she was brought
to the asylum by two detectives, without sem
blance Of legal commitment. and that he told her
sheswas at liberty to go as soon as he saw her,
and advised her to seek legal redress.
DR. James E. King, the physician who at
tended her when her baby was born and has had
the care Of the child ever SINCE admits substan-
years old, has lived in DR.. Kings family, on
Niagara street, until within few months, and
is now at the Catholic school in Maryland. whore
the detectives claim they once traced Charley
Ross. DIR. King was raised in Warren, Pa, has
a brother now living there, and Maria Halpin is
connected with some of the best families in
western Pennsylvania She spent two years at
Meadville after this affair occurred, and her
secret was guarded by her friends because she
bore her misfortune like true and honorable
woman.
Milo A. Whitney, leading lawyer of Buffalo,
says he took the case of Mrs. Halpin after she
was dragged to the asylum, and that no person
ever had iuster case. After preparing it for
trial, she was, by her brother-in-law and other
friends, induced to settle it to save public scan
dial and disgrace Appealed to in this manner
by her friends and relatives she signed an agree
ment which he believes was in Clevelands hand
writing, and Cleveland paid her $780,
The detectives, one of whom is now running
an agency in Buffalo, say they were hired and
paid by Cleveland to kidnap the woman and put
her in an asylum The asylum records bear
her name, ana Gne QdI0 Is NOT GllrBe0u years
ago. as brother Beecher alleges, nor half that
number Of years ago. Cleveland is now forty
seven years old and was consequently over forty
years Of age when this affair occurred. There is
much more evidence of the truth of the charges
without appealing to any minister Of the gospel,
and / am afraid it will be cold day
when the Democratic party impeach in
Buffalo Rev. John Gordon, d. d.. Rev.
DIR, MITCHELL Rev. Brs. Greene Ball, Hubbell
Chivers Lord, or the Buffalo Evening Telegraph
under its present management.
Hon James d. Warren told me that he had
no doubt of the truth Of the charges; that any
one could find good men all over Buffalo who
had seen Cleveland in a beastly condition; that
he notl long ago helped part Cleveland and an
other man who were in rough and tumble
fight in saloon; and the cause Of the fight was
a notorious woman. But said Mr. Warren
"Cleveland is every bit as good as his party, and
there is no use stirring this matter. People who
can stomach Democracy in this country need
not be sdueamish over Cleveland Cleveland is
no hypocrite however. Whatever his friends
and dudes may indiscrectly claim for him. Cleve-
land never set himself up for any pink Of per-
lection
OF Grover Cleveland's reckless character there
can be no shadow of doubt Those who know
him best make no defense. The proverbial zeal
of the young convert is noticeable in all efforts to
defend him. fear they will be obliged to stand
in still wider gap before this campaign is over"