The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-13
A DEFAULTER's WIFE.
One of the Many Who Suffer by Their Hus-
bands Misdoings.

bands Misdoings.
New York Graphic.
Heartless mention is often made In the papers
of the wife of this that and the other forger or
defauter, either in prison or in exile exactly as
if the woman were the primal power of all her
own misery and disgrace, and as if she, desti-
tute abandoned and slandered, were living the
life of JOYOUS gayety. About the only exception
that has been at all marked has been that of
Mrs. Hathaway, wife of Massachusetts embez
zler. The fact that within six months from the
discovery of her husbands crime she had cried
herself totally blind seemed to force respect
from the most heartless, and she was left unde
rided. This was quite as it always ought to be.
Disgrace, like death, should make a mourner
sacred. Still, sometimes, when l think of this
poor woman's misery, think of another more
miserable than she. A month ago a home letter
brought to me the news of the death
of the wife of Ezra D. Winslow,
a noted Boston forger. Mrs. Winslow
was woman of the sort that always brings
about her hosts of friends. She made them con-
tinually, and she kept them. Still do not be-
lieve that there was one who knew that she
dead that would have wished it otherwise. Mrs.
Winslow. formerly Miss Ayers, was married to
Mr.. Winslow while he was nineteen and she was
seventeen, the result of pure and simple love
match This was shortly before the beginning
of the late war; through which Mr.. Winslow
served with honor and respect as an active chap
lain. Very soon after their marriage a boy was
born, and as years went on the sweet mother
and handsome child and the honored father be-
came known and loved everywhere. Later on
Mr.. Winslow became interested in many things:
journalism, real estate, his ministry, politics and
speculation of a number of kinds. He was
mao without the slightest ostentation, genial.
generous, practical affable-in fact, as
correct and as interesting man as ever
made his way in the world. He moved to Au
burndale, one of the villages of Newton. near
Boston, and fairly made it socially and prac-
tically. He made money honestly and rapidly,
and spent 1t like q shrewd business man. He
built many houses, among them the house now
occupied by E. B. Haskell. one of the proprietors
of the Boston Herald, and afterward. if mistake
not that now occupied by another proprietor, Il.
NJ. Pulsfer. Never was man more universally
beloved than he. No man could have been more
respected. His word and his smile were valued
as only those Of one man in a village of that sort
can be in a century. The best men were his
friends and intimates. There was in no way
faw a fault to be found with the man or his po-
sition Hew unique
One night about Christmas tide, ten years ago,
his house was burned to the ground. A few
nights later he carried his weeping, fanting wife
into waiting train, the pale, questioning lad Of
fifteen years following with sister of Mrs.
Winslow. In q days time the news spread that
Mr.. Winslow on his way to Amsterdam a
self-exiled criminal The tragic feeling of the
next few days will never be equaed, | believe.
For days and days, until it was proved. beyond
doubt, business men absolutely refused to be-
the papers Women cried in horror and SYM
patty. 1t was time of universal suffering sur
passing belief, and the whole people mourned
openly.
On arriving at Amsterdam the fugitives were
detained, and again in London Mrs. Winslow
was robbed of money that was probably her own,
but was certainly never returned to them whom
her husband had wronged. Then Mr.. Winslow
went to Brazil and his wife came back to her
home, bringing her boy to be educated She
DArteQ husband whom.
to know as criminal but loved as dearly as
ever, only temporarily, she thought me ex-
pected from him speedy summons to return
and the means to do So This summons failed
to come. Instead. there came one day from the
man whose wife she was, and whom she loved
so we'll, a copy of a newspaper he had established
in Rio. Her first thought was pride and hope
commngled. He was clever: he would retrieve
his fortunes; he would wipe out the disgraceful
debt! Then mere met her eye faint pencil
mark. 1t encircled notice of her death at her
home in Newton.
Can you imagine the intensity of that blow2
No one can. Nor OF the one that waited but four
short weeks to follow. Arather paper came 1t
contained the notice of his marriage to another
woman. Hideous as this woman's sufferings
must have been. she gave no sign. For "a long
time even her boy, her own sisters, did not
know of this. All they saw or knew that
she no longer planned to go to her husband;
that the sad face grew thinner; that the blue
eyes grew larger, but faded; that there was
neither word of hope nor word of reproach
on her lips; that she lived only TO see her boy
grow up an honest loving man. and to do good
and to be good to ALL For nine years this
woman condemned TO live this horrible ex-
istence. A sadder. sweeter, purer, better woman
| than in all her pure life she had been before
imagine her sufferings if vou can. and be glad
with those that loved her that month ago she
died. May the God she trusted have pity on
| her.
A Tired Newspaper Reader.