The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-17
THE HILL-SHAR0N SCANDAL.
Increasing Bitterness Which May at
Any Time eliminate In BloOdshed.
bliss Hill Appeals to the Masons--Her Best
Friend Is Negro-The Perjurers ALI
FlOcking to Sharon's Side.
San francisco Letter in New York Sun

q great deal OF attention So bitter has the feel
ing become, and so variegated are all the parties
TO the controversy, that news Of bloodshed at
any time would surprise no one
While Sharon seems to be buoyed up by the
excitement and rage which he feels or Stimulates,
Miss Hill is beginning to show the effects of her
long contest In the first place, she is older
than most people imagine, being about thirty
two or thirty-three, whereas it was thought at
the beginning of the suit that she was not more
than twenty-five. During the trial of the main
suit before Judge Sullivan her freshness. endur-
ance, yivacity and courage were freely COM
mented upon. She was very particular as to
her toilet, and was always as bright and cheer
ful at the end Of long session as she was at the
beginning. Though often the only woman in
the courtroom. she seemed never to
tire and never to become impatient or
vexed. Since the decision in her favor,
however, she has changed perceptibly. It
Ia evident that she understands now as
never before the magnitude Of the task to which
she has addressed herself, and that as she sees
e final settlement more and more remote
sire is losing both her equanimity and her good
looks
Sharon, on the other hand, is more cheerful
and ia better health than ever. During the trial
IL was he who was worried and petulant Now
that he has gone to operating in broader fields,
with greater chances of success than were be
had on % trial before one incorruptible Judge, he
naturally regards the outlook more promis-
ing Though in improved spirits, the old man is
not in 8 less savage mood. He is like wild beast
which has Just had taste of flesh and is eager
for more. He has declared repe atedly within
the last fortnight that he will never be bled Of a
dollar In settlement, whether by judicial decree
or otherwise. and that when his turn comes to do
some prosecuting he will spend half his fortune,
ii necessary, to land the leading spirits in the
conspiracy in the renitentiary. No one who
has seen Sharon since he fairly got inter
ested in this case can doubt his eagerness for
vengeance.
AS soon as the trial before Judge Sullivan
ended in decision establishing Miss Hills
claims as Sharon's wife, Sharon and his retinue
of lawyers and detectives began campaign
against that youg woman, which probably never
had an equal Her every footstep, almost from
the day she landed California soil, then a
beautiful girl Of twenty. has been traced, and by
the arts and Establishments so easily applied by
persons of wealth more than forty affidavits
derogatory to Miss Hills character have been
obtained. For the purpose of sustaining his ap-
peal to the Sureme Court for o reversal of Judge
Sullvans decision, these affidavitS were all filed
with that tribunal i'm one day; and, though none
are exceedingly damaging When Miss Hill
heard of this proceeding on the part OF her adj
versary. she went to work with zeal born of
desperation. and in various ways, by threats and
by eajolery, by tears and by entreaty, she has
made truly heroic effort to overcome in docu-
mentary form this tremendous indictment.
While the main case was trial it was a fire.
nuent subject of remark that Sharon failed to
bring TO light the relations said to have existed
between an attorney named r.. FL. Lloyd and
Miss Hill. Some allusion was made to the mat
ter once or twice, but as Lloyd was still friendly
to the girl and as she candldly admitted that she
had once been engaged to marry him, Sharon's
attorneys dwelling on the matter no further, it
was generally thought that there was nothing in
the rumors. These affidavits, however are said
to have revived the old story in very offensive
form, and following her custom of going direct
to headquarters, Miss Hill presented herself at
Lloyd's Office the other day and put him through
an extempOraneous catechism. Those who saw
the girl state that she was laboring under prodi
gious excitement, and that there were some indi-
cations that her mental poise had at last been
distur bed by her accommodating troubles.
Lloyd was exasperatngly cool, and when his
visitor asked him If he would make an affidavit
to her chastity SO far as her relations with him
were concerned he replied in the negative
With some fervor she then demanded his
reason for refusing, and when he declined
to give any, she asked him if he meant to
intimate that anything had ever occurred be-
tween them which if sworn to would cast any
reflections her character. To this Lloyd
fastened to make a verbal denial, and then,
noticing that she was beside herself with passion
and sorrow, and fearing that she meant mischief,
he told her that he would make the affidavit at
some future time, but that he had personal
reasons for not wishing to be brought into the
case at present The woman had got as far as
the door by this time on her way out and stou-
ping there to>pead with Lloyd for a moment,
she again lost control of herself and drawing a
small nickel-piated revolver attempted to shoot
the lawyer. Lloyd had the door in his hand and
in an instant he slammed and bolted it III her face
Other inmates in the building hearing Miss Hills
cries, went to her relief and succeeded IN quiet
ing her, after which she took her departure
The claimant banks very heavily getting
the promised affidavit from Lloyd. and fearing
that improper influences are at work upon him.
she has written an appeal to the Masous and
ODD fellows of San Francisco, which she has had
printed in circular form and sent to each mem
Der of those orders in this city. The document
Is in effect as follows:
81 am woman, the daughter of Mason.
For more than year past have been engaged
In litigation with ex Senator William Sharon
who was my husband, but denied the fact and
tried TO brand me as an unchaste and immoral
woman After long, tedious and bitter strug
gle 10 the courts, during which no witness test
fed to any act rejecting on my character for
chastity. l was pronounced by the court to be the
wife of William Sharon. After a judgment was
given IN my favor Mr.. Sharon moved for a new
trial. anu has nled aindavlfS or DELL boys, porterS
and chambermaids of the Baldwin Hotel reflect
ing on my virtue. These afidavits We're pro-
cured by the unscrupulous use of money, and are
false. Not one Of the persons who have been
hired to make them dared take the stand as
witness ON the trial. Some eff these affidavits
connect my name with that of Reuben H. Lloyd,
. member of your order, in such manner as.
without pointedly charging. would lead to the
inference that improper relations existed be
tween him and me- Mr.. Lloyd knows how ut
terly false such charges are. Any right think
ing nan would at once conclude that he would
be prompt to contradict them but though he has
been applied to by my attorney, Judge Tyler, to
make an affidavit to the truth as to those charges,
he haze through cowardice or a worse motive, re-
fused 10 do 50. Under these circumstances ap
peal TO you 60 use your influence to induce Mr..
Lloyd to testify to the truth, which is all de-
sire. ask no favor Of him. All that ask is an
act q simple justice which no honorable man
would hesitate TO perform