The Evening critic., 1884-08-07
A VERY LAME DEFENSE.

Grover Cleveland Has Not Lived n
Chaste Life" Says Buffalo Mer.
chant who Attempts TO Defend
WIm-Tho HaIpin LIaisOu Admit.
tea.
The Boston Hcrdid says that Buffalo penny
newspaper of a sensational character, having
published q story about Governor Cleveland,
charging him with drunkonness, seduction
and 80 on, and the story having been copied
In whole or in part by various Blaine organs,
including one In that city, o Boston merchant
wrote TO friend In Bufrdlo, merchant Of the
highest reputation thorc asking for q true state.
ment Of the facts of the case. The reply Is
given In full below, except that tho
names OF tho writer and his correspondent
are suppressed.
BUFFALO, N. Y, July %, 1881.
DEAR Mr.. -. Your letter Of the 2ist was
received at noon yesterday. 1 am not personal
acquaintance OF Grover Cleveland, and at tho
time your letter was received knew but little
OF the scandals In circulation. l have to-day
talked with two gentlemen, men OF family aud
nigh character, who are Intimate personal
friends o. Grover Cleveland, and who know all
OF tho facts OF the Maria Halpin case, and who
are also warranted, through close personal
acquaintance, TO epoak OF his habits.
The following story, the result OF tho. inter-
We've, ie, feel certain, to be depended upon
ns being true statement. incloso with this
the story as printed I'm one OF our sensational
evening papers p last Monday. Upon the ap;
the Governors friends advised with him,
asking what action should be taken. Tho re-
ply came by telegraph; "rcll the truth"
Grover Cleveland has not lived q chaste llfo;
but his connection with impure women has
not beon Haunted In tho face of the public,
and, except for his present prominent posi-.
tion, his life In this respect would doubtless
have been unknown by tho general public.
Now, as to his connection with Maria Halpin.
She was widow, with children. at tho time
rIaNnlQnd bpCQDlN M n w hnr m nj al a
herself was, and he d been for somo time, init.
mato with two or three other men, although at
the time Cleveland did not know this fact.
Whom che became with child she charged
Cleveland with Its paternity, and he mado
provision for mother and child. While nurs-
ing tho child the woman began drinking
heavily, and the child was neglected. About
this time Cleveland decided TO put tho mattor
OF the care OF the mother and child Into tho
hands OF some one on whom he could depend,
man advanced In years and OF high standing
In the community. one day the report was
brought TO Judge Burrows that the woman
was in high state OF excitement through
drink. He, without Cleveland's knowledge,
sent detectives to the house, who, on their own
responsibility, took the woman to the Provi.
dence Asylum, where sho was kept but short
time, and the child was taken to the Protest
ant orphan Asylum. Cleveland then gave tho
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 then consulted Milo A. whitney,
well known lawyer OF our city, with refer.
ence 10 bringing suit against Cleveland. Soon
after brother.ln.law came on from the East,
and the matter, 80 far as the woman was con-
cerned, was eottled by payment of $500, she
agreeing 10 surrender the boy. The boy Is
now adopted Into family In this city, where
he is well cared for, and knows nothing OF his
parentage.
Mr.. Whitney, the woman's lawyer, statos
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 10 be disproved, In that 1t was
BOT case OF seduction, and that the woman's
being taken 10 tho Providence Asylum was
without the knowledge OF Cleveland. The
stories OF his drunkenness are pronounced to
TO be absolutely false; In his use OF liquor he
10 rot an abstainer, but IL temperate. I am
informed that other stories in circulation con-
corning immoral actions said 10 have been
committed during late years are without
foundation In fact. The Ietter In the Telegram
headed "a Citizens Statement" was written
by man who is convicted OF offering to soil
vote and influence in our last city election. In
short, oieveland's character In this city stands
as one In which our citizens take pride, be.
cause of his good Judgment and sterling integ
rity In all public matters, and he has and Will
continue to receive, the support In his noml.
nation for the Presidency OF tho best class OF
all the opponents OF Mr.. Blaine.
Very truly,