The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-24
THE QUEEN OF THE STREET.
She Refuses to Assume Debt of Her Hus-
bands, and Makes fearful Scene.

NEW YORK. JAN 23-Yesterday a pitiable
scene occurred in the private parlors of John J.
Cisco & Son. the bankers, who were ingulfed in
the W2ll-street maelstrom week ago. When
the firm failed it was said to be duo to the severe
depreciation in Louisville e. Nashville and
Houston e. Texas securities. This report was af
terward officially denied, and the onus of the dis
aster was placed upon Mrs. Edward H. Green,
wife of the ex-president of the Louisville &
Nashville Railroad Company, and woman
whose enormous wealth of $50, 000 900 has given
her the just title of 1.-The Queen of the Street.
Mrs. Green, when the firm went down. had on
deposit $500 000 and in the vaults awaiting her
orders were $26,0O00O0 in government bonds,
mortgages and giltedged securities. These were
held in trust for her, and few days ago she was
informed that she could have them at any time.
1t transpired in the meantime that Mr. Green,
the queens" husband owed the firm $500, 900,
due for loans made by them on Louisville q
Nashville securities. The inability of Mr..
Green to meet this loan and the refusal Of Mrs.
Green In any way to assist her husband precipl
tated the failure and compelled the Ciscos to
make general assignment for the benefit of all
their creditors Mrs. Green included.
The "Queen Of the Street called at the offices
of the firm. examined her 500, 000, 600 of securi
ties, found them intact, and intimated that she
desired to have them transferred to the safe de-
post vaults. She was then informed that Mr..
Lewis May, the assignee, acting on the soundest
authority, had decided that she was in part or
wholly responsible for the $500, 900 advanced her
husband on the Louisville & Nashville securi
ties. Assignee May said that Mrs. Green could
have all but enough OF her securities TO guarantee
the firm against loss on that account There
upon ensued almost a terrible scene.
Mrs. Green first insisted that she could not be
held husbands
guaranteed it, and demanded the return of al!
her securities. Assignee May was obdurate, and
stated that he had the best of advice that Mrs.
Green had guaranteed her husbands loan. He
again refused to permit her to transfer all her
securities out of his possession. Then the
"Queen of the street" broke down and wept bit
terly. Mrs. Green cried and cried for nearly
three hours. She shrleked 80 that she might
have been heard several blocks. She shouted
her demands for her securities and frantically
waved her arms and said she would not take one
of them if she could not get all. She threw her
self on the floor, and would listen to no argu-
ment. Reason was out Of the question with
her.
She was finally persuaded to rise from the
floor and was assisted to a chair, where she wept
and moaned for her securities all day. Mr.. May
tried to comfort her; told her the courts would
decide whether she was responsible for her hush
ands loan, and that his action was based upon
the best legal authority and was positive in his
belief that ali creditors should share alike. Mr..
May believed that the firm were forced to sus
pend because Mrs Green, with $26, 0O0, 900 in
their vaults, refused to honor the loan which
he has positive evidence was guaranteed by her.
Mrs Green would not agree with Mr. May,
and said she was not responsible for the $500, 900
advanced to her husband, and resumed her wall
ing until late In the afternoon, when she left for
her temporary residence uptown.
At the Windsor Hotel it was stated that Mrs
Green's husband had become seriously involved
with Mr.. James r. Keene few months ago in
gigantic opium speculation.