Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-05-20
A WIFE,S STORY.


Last Saturdays GAZETTE contained q
graphic description, taken from the New
York Herald, of cutting and shooting
scrape between two men named respective
ly O'Brien aud Truman, the former ''curb-
stone broker" aud the latter professional
gambler Both men were seriously wound
ed, and though their cases are said to be
progressing fuvorably, the certainty OF tho
recovery of either is by no means sure.
| Truman's wife. it appears, is suing her
husband for divorce, and the story she le-
| lated to Herald reporter of her brlet mar
ricd life is remarkable. Iu appearance Mrs
Truman is petite and slight, with pale
interesting face, dark, pleading eyes, pc
| cularly low aud sweet voice and marked
air of good breeding aud refinement. That
she is unusually we'll educated and has al
some time moved in good society is plainly
evident.
She was born in San Francisco, Cal, she
relates, her father being one of the old po-
while she was very young, leaving her some
property, of which Mr.. Hall McAllister, q
resident of San Francisco, was trustee.
Toward the close of 1879 she was staying
with her married sister in New York. She
was at that time eighteen years old. Dur
ing this visit George It. Truman was in
troduced to her. At the time, she says,
he was moving in good society in New
York, and passed for man possessed
of good deal of property. Truman
seemed to be deeply impressed with her,
and when soon afterward she returned to
San Francisco Truman was not long IN fol-
lowing her, and pressed his suit ardently.
1t was not long before she loved him with
all the romantic love of "a girl of eighteen.
When the question of their engagement was
proposed, however, her guardian, Mr.. Nc
Afister, objected on the ground that her
friends did not know enough about the
suitor. Truman's plausibility was at once
brought to work with good effect upon the
guardian. He proved that he was the owner
ofa drug business in Chicago, and claimed
that he had large sum invested in United
States bonds. Mr.. McAHister, although not
fully satisfied, was finally brought to with.
draw his opposition to the match, and the
marriage was consummated in San Fran
cisco ON April 90, 1880.
The bridal pair at once started East on
their wedding tour.h Denver, Col, was to
be the first objective point. They were
still in the cars on their way to Denver
when, suddenly turning to bis newly made
wife, Truman madesa startling announce
ment. With cutting abruptness and cold
smile upon his face he informed her that he
| was not, as she had supposed d man OF
| property; that, as matter OF fact, he was
gambler, and that all he possessed in the
| world outside of an interest in avery mod
| erately paying drug store in Chicago Was
three hundred dollars. rs
Arrived at Denver, at the close ofthe fifst
| week of the honeymoon, the young wife
got the first glimpse of her husbands true
character Something went wrong one day,
and the erstwhile dehonair husband went
home u raging fend He instantly picked
she lay crouched on the floor, painting and
sobbing, with her body beaten black and
blue from the effects of the beating this hus-
band of week had given her.
They went to Chicago and there joined
her married sister. In Chicago his treat
| ment of her was so brutal that the proprie
tor of the hotel in which they were stop.
ping peremptorily elected Truman from the
| house.
From Chicago she went on with her sis
ter to New York, arriving there on July l
| 1880. She was there visited by Truman who
| induced her to return to him.
Shortly afterward she sailed with Truman
for Europe. She then learned that he was
in the habit of making frequent voyages on
tansatlantic steamers for the purpose OF
gambling on the ship He had o system Of
marking the cards, he explained to her, ny
! means of which he was sure to win. On
these voyages Truman passed for o man of
means travelling for pleasure, and it was
thus that he made acquaintances which Sc.
cured him introductions into good society
when he reached land.
They did not stay long in England on this
occasion, but returned to New York and en-
gagged apartments. On July 10, 1881, they
again went to England, returning by the
next steamer. Truman was accompanied
by a'confederate named Ike Thompson, ana
on the voyage to England and back they
made large winnings.
In September, 1881, they again crossed the
Atlantic. in the CITY of Berlin. This time
Truman established himself in London, at
No. 19 Dover street, Piccadilly. He was
accompanied by confederate and they
/ nightly carried on their operations in varl-
Gus London clubs. They feeced a Regent
street ieweler out of Ell, 900. Another pros
pectiye victim was warned in time by her.
| Her husband discovered that she had given
this warning and he beat her cruelty. Inc
operations Of Truman and his confederate
were brought to close by his being discov.
cred one night in January, 1882, at the
Grafton Club, dealing from pack in which
there were the modest number of sighty.two
cards. He fed to Paris.
In Paris they stayed at the Hotel Cont.
!, mental, and there Truman deserted her,
leaving her penniless. She applied to the
American Minister, Mr.. Levi P. Morton, and
he telegraphed to her guardian iu SanFgan
cisco for funds. Truman reappeared at the
/ end of ten days, smoothed matters over by
a plausible explanation at the embassy and
I ~ -, oorr;od bar off to q suita of rooms on the