Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-19
Blind Toms Manager Killed.
he MEETS SUDDEN DEATH AT THE RAILROAD 81
TON IN WILMINGTON. DEL.

HUN IN MILLENNIUM, DEL
Mr.. John G.. Bethune, manager OF the Blind Tom
concert company. was killed at the station OF the
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore railroad,
at Wilmington, few minutes before I2 O'Clock
saturday night, though the body was not fully
Identified until the arrival OF a friend from New
York at a late hour sunday night. Mr. Bethune
was on his way to this city, and on the arrival OF
the train at Wilmington. where short stop is
made, he went over to the Grand Union hotel
restaurant to lunch. When he returned the train
was in motion. He attempted To get on. but
missed his footing and Was dragged the whole
length OF the station. ard finally thrown beneath
the car. He was dead before q Stretcher could be
secured. Mr. Bethune is the son OF Gen Bethune,
of Warrenton. Va, who owned Blind Tom. MIR.
BethUne has always accompanied the musical
prodigy size. beginning his public career. A Pc
eul4f dispute has ARISEN over Ihe disposition OF
and her lawyer have arrived at Wilmington and
desire 10 take charge OF the body. while the lawyer
OF the deceased desired to hold 1t until the arrival
OF the father Of the deceased.
DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS AND OTHER LEGAL CoNPLI-
CATIONS
The Philadelphia Press OF to-day saws: This sud-
den death brings into prominence the litigation be-
tween himself and his wife, or the woman who
claims 10 be- his Wife IL is also likely to bring be-
fore the public the relations between the Befhune
FAMILY and the musical prodigy. Blind Tom. who
mas iOr SO many years drawn large audiences and,
presumably, netted several fortunes for his mas
tiers. He was born in slavery. and was bought,
While yet boy. by Gen BethUne who then lived
VI pIdHIdliOI, Columbus, tsa- 1leTe MS
musical talents early asserted themselves, and his
master SAW IN him capacities which could be made
more profitable than hocing cotton Accordingly,
The slave boy was trained pianist and eXhib-
TIED Oh the stage. When the war was over how
ever, and Blind Tom free man. some method
had TO be invented by which this black mine of
une, who had moved to Warrent0n, Va. applied to
The court OF Fauquier county for an inquiry into
Blind Toms mental condition. The prodigy was
adJndged lunatic. and Gen. Bethune's son, Col.
BethuIe, was appointed "committee" TO oare for
HIN Gen. Bethune gave a bond for $4,000 for the
security OF Blind Toms estate, the negro wonders
motner and brothers, the natural sharerS In the
profits OF his exhibitions, being still alive.
The conclusion TO this singular proceeding has
In New York Colonel Bethune. the dead man, was
Tor nearly fifty years Of his life unmarried. His
headquarters were In New York, and In the inter
walls between his concert hours. he and Blind Tom
lodged at the house OF Mrs Elsie Stutzbach, at No.
81. Marks Place. She had been married to a man
VINO already had one wife, but had not lived with
him after his wrong-doing had been discovered.
This marriage was already void, but when Colonel
Bethune wished TO marry her. 1t is claimed that
formally annuling 1t. Mrs. Stutzbach and Colonel
BethlIne were married by justice OF the peace on
November IS, 1882. He soon after started on a
southern tour, extending as far as Mexico. His
counsel claims that he left her enough money for
her support until June. Her counsel denies this,
and claims that at the request Of General Bethune
she moved tn 135th street, in her husbands absence
When he returned he lived with her for week,
and then moved down town. She would not con-
ment and support.
Last December an order was granted requiring
Col. Bethune TO pay SOS week alimOny, unless he
could prove that his income not such as to
warrant it. Ii was while returning from an adj
Journed hearing OF this part OF the case before a
referee In New York. that Col. Bethune killed
In that hearing he testified that he had no property
The counsel for his wife made the most determined
Efforts To ascertain from him what his prOtS were
FROM Blind Toms exhibitions; what he had done
with them, and how much or the money had been
credited TO Blind Toms estate paid TO his family
They met with little success. however. but Col
Bethune did testify that he had made no arrange
ment with Blind Toms family.
This sudden death brought to Wilmington nearly
all the forces OF the two sides in this legal contest
Mrs. Bethune arrived there yesterday, and made
application to Coroner Smith for The possession OF
the body and the personal effects upon 1t. Her
counsel, A. j. Larche came with her, and the party
put up AT . hotel near the depot, where they were
Joined last night by Mrs BethuneS brother n-law,
Benedict ESs, Of New York. At nearly the same
time Col BethuneS counsel, j. Homer Hildreth. Of
New York; L. F. Harrison, the manager OF Stein
way hall, and Mr.. and Mrs Robinson. the dead
mans sister and her husband, arrived and put up
at another hotel across the street. They opposed
the application Of Mrs. Bethune for the body, and
at their request the bewildered coroner adjourned
the inquest until to-day, In order to give Gen.
Bethune father Of the clay, over which legal bat
fila will prphabIv he fup tn