The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-03
FRANK Il. WALWORTH,
THE MAN WHO MURDERED HIS
FATHER,
Dies In His Thirty. first Year-History
OF the Crime for Which He Was
Sent 10 the Penitentiary.

NEW YoRK, November 2.-You have
already heard the announcement oil
the death at Saratoga OF Frank ii.
Wslworth. who thirteen years ago
filled his father. He died Of pneu-
monia after q short illness, and much
regretted by sill TO whom he was
known. He was 81 years old. About
two wears since he msrried Miss Co
rinne Bramlette, daughter Of the late
Gov. Bramlette, of Kentucky, who,
with one child, survives him. He was
n grandson of the late Chancellor Reu-
hen III. Walworth, his maternal grand
father having been Col. John ID. Hsr-
din, Of Illinois, who was killed at Bu'
ena Vista. Frank II. Walworth, as
the Young man who killed his father
in June, 1873, created quite o sensa'
tion in The city OF New York. The
tragedy occurred at the sturtevant
House. 1t arose from a quarrel with
his father because OF the manner in
which the latter treated his mother.
His grandfather, Chancellor Wal
worth, having married tho widow
OF Col. John j. Hardin, who
was killsd at the battle OF
Buena Vista, her daughter, most
beautiful girl, thus came East to live,
and the chancellor thought 1t happy
idea 10 unite his son 10 her, and they
were married, and continued to reside
in Saratoga. Mutual friends who
knew the character OF the bridegroom
shook their heads when the marriage
was announced, and although they
hoped for the best they feared the
worst Their fears were, unhappily,
too well founded. In less than year
after the marriage all the evil quail
ties OF Walworth's character mani
fes'ed themselves. He i'll trested his
unhappy wife in every way. He was
idle and dissolute, and while intoxi-
Gated would act in such manner that
his conduct became a byword at
Saratoga. He and bis wife shortly
after Joined the Catholic Church, aud
this for time made such change
in him that his wife fondly hoped
that happiness WAS about to dawn
upon her. Her hope was short lived.
The old leaven was too rong to be 80
easily overcome, and Walworth speed
lily fell into his old course. About
three years after the marriage an at
tempt by him to force an entrance
into young ladies' boarding school
was discovered, and he was
forced 10 fee to avoid prose-
cution. Mrs. Walworth then went
TO her old Kentucky home and
remained there for tome years. AT
the outbreak Of the civil war Wal
worth obtained, through the Chan
cellor's il fusnce, a clerkship in the
State Department, but as he was de-
tecied iurni hing the information be
obtained by means OF this position to
the Confederate authori les, he was
made prisoner OF State, sent back TO
his own town and forbidden to leave
its precincts. He resumed his former
exec sses as soon as domiciled in Sara.
togs. When the war ended he was
released, and soon after affairs be-
tween his wife and himself culmi-
mated. The old Chancellor died and
left neither Mansfield nor his wife
anything, and MRS. Wslworth pro-
cured q divorce from him. She went
first TO Kentucky, then obtained a
Gle, kship in the Treasury Department
and after two years returned to Sara
toga and established girls schooling
the old Walworth homestead. Mean
while her divorced husband was ae.
quiring some reputation as q novelist,
and his literary occupations kept him
from annoying his wife. As soon as
she reached Saratoga, however, he
commenced TO prosecute her by adj
dressing her letters containing insin-
uations OF the most insulting charsc.
ter. The boy Frank WIS aware OF
the unhappy lot Of his mother,
but the letters were concealed from
him. His young life had been cloud
ed by the dissensions which had pre-
vailed between his parents. He had
never known fathers affection; he
owed him his life and no more. AL
his love Was conferred in the mother
The father, not content with insulting
Mrs. Walworth, threatened to kill her
and these threats reached the ears o.
her son. By some unfortunate cir
cumstance the letters which impugn
ed his mothers virtue and the legi'i
macy OF bis own birth, fell into tn,
hands OF Frank. He was youth o
high spirit, and he was determined
not to stand by and tamely submit /,
the defamation of the mother whom
he so dearly loved and his own dis
grace. He met his father in the street
OF Saratoga, and, at the request of tn
boy, the father promised to abstain
from his threats and insults. II woul
have been well for him had he al
hered to his promise, but he did MOI
and in short time he became wors
than ever, sending the unhappy VIC
man epistles Of still more outrageou
character. These again fell into III
hands Of FIBnk, aud when his fathe
left home on that fatal Monday ever
ing he followed him, the last meetin
took place, snd the fearful parricide WI
perpetrated which cut off stror
man in the prime OF his life, blighte
the future OF bright and pTomisir
young man, and added the bittere
PAng TO the cup of a noble woman
lifelong sorrow. Frank N. Walwori
reached this city on Monday ate
noon, June 2, 1873, and, registering
the Sturtevant House, was assigned
room. He then left note at the boar,
ing house OF his father, ON FourI
avenue, asking him to call at Il
hotel, as he wished to try and sstt
some family matters. He then I
turned to the hotel, and at quart
past 9 o'clock card was brought
his room, and when he saw his father
name, he said: "Show the gentleml
up." The boy returned with the a
swer, and Mr.. Walworth walk,
quickly up to his sons room, hun
ming as lac did 70. When he was q
mitted to the rom, the young nj
placed his back against the door an
drawing his pistol, presented it at /
fathers breast,
"For heavens rake, what do y
meant" the father cried. "Do y
mean tn murder me2 Think Of VII
you are doing"
The son shuddered. 81 know y
are my father, but new you must die
"Diel" shrieked the father. "Ha
YOU called me here to murder me
your own isther2"