The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-19
M'CULLoUGH's DOUBLE LIFE.

VI bhOlk pAhiAS.
MCULLOUGH'S DOUBLE LIFE.
Unhappy Married Relations and the Unhap-
pier Results to Which They Led.
Chicago Herald.
There are at present several of the former
members of the late John McCullougn's COM
pany in this city, and to this fact it is undoubt.
eddy due that some new stories of the great ira
gedian's career and private life have gained
currency. One of the rumors which startled
the many friends of the great actor was to the
effect that among some of his personal property
stored in Norton's Theater, st. Louis, was a
paid up life insurance policy for sos. 600 in favor
of his little daughter, known to many members
of the dramatic profession as Birdie Mccullough.
1t was not generally known during the great
tragedian's life that his marriage in early life
was a very unhappy one, and that he had been
estranged for years from his wife and his two
sons, to whose home he was finally brought to
die. Neither was it known to the public at large
that Mccullough in later years contracted
a marital relation with a prominent actress
whom he was unable to make his lawful wife by
reason of his inability to procure a divorce from
his first wife. Only a few intimate friends knew
the truth. All others, seeing the interest the
actor took in the child, its resemblance to him,
and the love he bore the mother. drew their own
conclusions. and sometimes drew them much
broader than either he or she deserved. The
child, Birdie, was the fruit of this latter union,
and is now in care of her mothers friends
and relatives IN this city, attending
school. and giving every evidence of developing
into a beautiful and accomplished woman. She
is going ON twelve years of age, and, besides her
striking resemblance to her father, gives evidence
of having inherited to a marked degree his his
trionie ability. But she does not yet bear her
fathers name; that has been withheld from her.
and her friends sincerely hope it will be until she
arrives at years Of maturity, when all viii be
made known.
AS is we'll known, Mccullough left no will, and
his property. worth $50. 900. went to the family
from whom he had been estranged. He often
said he would provide for his little pet daughter,
and frequently named the amount as $50, 600
But John was shiftless in business matters, and
the most he ever did was to take a paid mp life
insurance policy for S.. 900 for the little ones
benefit, and this, together with the accrued in
terest, has amounted to $10, 1000. The money
will be invested in city property, the income
from which will give her a competency for life.
This is vouched FOR by one conversant with all
the facts as being all there is to the rumor aioat.
There was no policy for $65. 900 or any other
amount found among the actors effects. and the
existence of one for So, 900 was always known to
McCullough's most Intimate friends.
New York Sun.
The foregoing was shown to one of the dead
tragedian's most intimate New York friends yes
terday, who said: II am very sorry. indeed, that
this publication has been made. / suppose,
though, 1t had to come sooner or later. for there
rs hardly a member Of the theatrical profession
who did not know of it, and my experience is
that, while they are well-meaning people. they
are all given to gossip. Birdie is but a pet name
of the child. Her real name is Virginia. Think
of the many times poor Johns mind reverted to
his Virginia when he played the Roman father.
His intinacy with her mother began when he
was in California, aud she was the leading
actress of his company. She was a beautiful
girl then. Not long since / saw a
picture of her taken as Ogarita, in
the Sea of Ice" and it shows a
of dark brown hair, that hangs on her rounded
shoulders in masses of curls. Her face is as
classic, too, as that of a Grecian goddess.
Twelve years ago Birdie was born, and to the
day that memory lost its hold on his distracted
brain poor John never failed to care for and pro
tect her. A couple of years ago he saw that he
ought to provide fer her future, and he took out
a hfe-insurance policy of So. 15c in her favor.
The payments on it are all right, and the money
will be invested for her sole benefit. AT present
she is living with her mothers brother in-law,
near Chicago. She looks very much like her
father, and is an extremely bright child. Last
year she carried off the junior honors of her
school. 1t is not improbable that she may adopt
the stage as a profession when of proper age.
II don't think that Mrs. MCCULLOUGH knew Of
her existence. In fact, / am of the opinion that
this unfortunate publication will give her her
first news of it. BRIDES mother is at present in
Cal1i0rnla. POOR woman, her lot Is a hard one.
She has a kind heart, and feels keenly the
anomaly of her position. This letter, which I
received from ner shortly after Johns death,
shows this; ! would not permit it to be published
had not the other appeared; but as it has, it may
awaken sympathy for her, and God knows she
needs it,
KANSAS CRY, No.. Nov. 10.
my Dear Dir. II have just received, for
warded to me from Chicago, your kind token
from Johns coffin. How can / ever thank you?
Not IN words. You must try and imagine how
you would feel under the circumstances; though
even you can hardly realize my unhappy po-
sitlon.
''Of course, the world at large does not recog-
nize my right to mourn for John, but there are
some friends who know all the circumstances of
our lives-what he was to me, what was to
him, since was but fifteen years old, and that
we have passed lmoste eighteen years of our lives
extended to me one ray of sympathy. Il know
it is the way of the world, but just now it does
seem very, very hard. Birdie seems to feel the
loss OF her papa very deeply. She does not say
much. She is a very silent child at all times,
but sometimes l see tears in the little eyes, and
ask. Whats the matter" All she replies is,
My papa" You were good enough to say that
you would like to know from time to time about
her affairs. / have been made her guardian, and
nave sent notice to the company that the money
must be ready when called for; but l thiBk /
viii have it remain where it is until l find q safe
investment. Yours most sincerely,
'--.n
THE best life-saving apparatus-St. JACOBS
MI The 1890 &