Mexico weekly ledger., 1885-09-24
Joe Vic Barth.

to make the following explanation.
| would never have written q word or
added anything to publicity of the
case had not other parties done so
before Inc, and in a certain sense they
have given II false impression against
me.
The first time / ever saw Mr.. j. G..
Bruton Vas at my home in Macon,
Ill. He was introduced to me by
Capt. Dan X. Shields. During that
visit he said he had come at the So
licitation of Mr.. Shields to seek me
as his wife, and he was sure he would
regret it as he was highly
pleased with my appearance. On his
return home he wrote me and contin-
ued to do so; often two letters a day
and sometimes three letters came.
His letters breathed nothing but the
purest affection and the deep love of
the human soul. If he were not sim
cere when he penned them no fiend
could have played the part better.
When l read them yet | cannot be-
lieve it possible for a man to be base
enough to write such letters without
sincerity; if he Il he has sunk to
the lowest depths of falsehood. l
will say this, although I've been told
at the time he IA writing those let
tiers he was paying marked attention
to Miss p. Hughes, l believe he wrote
in sincerity. though we cannot read
human hearts. l would do him nc
injustice. He wrote me often, Il
shall love you more and nor IS
learn the hidden beauties of your
mind. Oh, how happy and buoyan,
1 would be if I only thought I had
grown half as much in your estima.
ton as you have in mine. Nothing
can ever divide my love from you,
but will love you mor as time wears
away He gave me the best of ref
erence in regard to his past life,
Such men as ex-Gov. G. H. Hardin,
J. NJ. Marmaduke, R. r. Arnold, H
A. Ricketts,, B. r. Cauthorn, John J
Steele, B. L. Locke, Hon. D. H. Nc.
Intyre, j. P. Clark, j. f. Hutton, S
NJ. Edwards he wanted me to refer
to. His letters were we'll written
and is it any wonder that 1 believed
him to be an honorable gentleman
and worthy of my love and esteem
1 felt that I was willing to cast m,
lot with him. | married him ant
came to his home. Just before W.
reached Laddonia he told me that h,
had a very dear friend that he ex
pected would meet us at the depot
He did not say whether it was a gen
tleman or lady and l never took
thought about the matter. When W,
arrived there l remember seeing n
one there but Mr.. BIS own famil,
to meet US. The next day he sail
his friend was Miss Pearl Hughes
that she had been to the office AM
told him that she felt so bad the ola,
before she could not come up an
speak to us that she had went to tn
depot for that purpose but she fel
like she could not meet us and wen
back to the hotel. I thought
strange she was so affected and aske
why it was. No definite answer wa
given and I thought nothing of tn
matter. The next Mr.. B. said b
had seen his friend Miss H. and tbs
she was going to call on me. l pre-
pared to meet her but she failed t
come, but two days after came.
treated her with courtesy. 500
after he began telling me l shoul
call on Miss III. and seemed very an:
ious about it. l promised to do SO
the future. Through his talk
often spoke of Miss H. and of seein
her at the postofice and what 81
said. Some weeks after he said Mis
H. told him that l had refused
speak to her at church, which l hs
never done. Many things occurrin
like this | could not help but thir
Miss H. was meddlesome and tryir
in some way to interfere with m
: In a short time Mr.. B. told me
. would never live with me; that
wanted to take me back home al
leave me there; and every time !
found fault with me it was somethir
}, in regard 10 Miss II. And she W
we'll posted about our affairs, tellil
y the neighbors how badly we g
e along. She seemed to have a stranE
power over him. Finally he told
publicly that under no circumstanc
S would he live with me and gave as h
only reason that l had a bad tempe
: l would not consent to q separate
r until he said he would sell the hou
b l was in if I did not go. A divor
D was procured and the court kno'
It how it was done. Now l have I'll
to say: l believe I would have be
= living to-day with j. G. Bruton
II my husband had it not been for t
- willy influence thrown around him
If Miss H. He seemed to lose his We
senses in her presence and to
2 ruled by her in word and deed, a
I've thought what strange power S
o seemed to have over him. l W
only add that in years to come l
heve he will be sorry he ever kn'
her. This is my true story IN rega
1t to the matter.
le Miss S. CARRIE WILKINS.
l. Tho fsmouc Reedles & Prin,