Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-15
KNOWN A AS MORMON ELDER.
New York Freight Agents Experience
In Minnesota.

in Minnesota, says that Mrs. Nj. j.
Blaisdell, resident OF that place, has
brought suits for libel against Henry c..
Tucker, freight agent OF this city, and
A. q. Kinney Of Pelican Rapids. She
eomplais that they circulated picture
in which Tucker Is represented as en-
bracing Mrs. Blaisdell. The suit is the
outcome of some extensive practical jOk-
ing practiced by MIR. Tucker and Eben
Corliss, the County Attorney OF Otter
Tail county, Minnesota. Tucker is tall
and handsome man. He lives in New
Jersey, but does business in this city 1.
Corliss has been County Attorney for
many years, and has an extensive reputa-
ton as practical joker. He lives at
Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He came from
the wild West two years ago, and visited
Tucker. He was anxious to see the New
York elephant in all its magnitude, so the
animal was trotted around for his inspec-
ton.
He returned unframed to his home, and
then it occurred to him to have little fun
at fuckers expense. He wrote letter
TO Mrs. Tucker on cahgraph, thus dis
gulsing handwriting, and pretended that
it came from Mrs. Oorliss. In it Mrs.
COrliss complained of the wicked things
which had been shown her husband in
New York, and said that since his return
he had not been the same man. This let
ter rather alarmed Mrs. Tucker, who was
prepared to 20 West and visit Mrs. Cor
liss, but Tucker sOothed her fears and
started her off. He then prepared to get
even with COTliss. He labOred Tor several
days In preparing dummy colored girl,
placed it in cheap pine coffin, and ship
ped it to Eben COrliss, care OF Elmer E.
Adams editor of the Fergus Falls Duly
Telegram.
Editor Adams acknowledged the receipt
OF the Enclosure in long article headed
"A Sad Fate" printed in his issue of Aug.
%. 1t said:
zone OF the saddest tales which have
been given to the public in some time is
depicted in the "memOriam" given below
which was received from the Atlantic
coast yesterday. As IS stated in the arti-
Gle, the box containing all that is mortal
OF the once beautiful maiden arrived and
during the day lay in state at the Telegram
Office, where it was viewed by large
number of our leading citizens, with
but one feeling that Of universal sad
ness"
Among other things the article said:
Yet, despite the woe with whicn this
yearning soul was fraught, there is look
of forgiveness in her placid cOuntenance,
and even her last words. 81 die for
you" are indelibty engraven on her
shroud."
'sThe Coroner has been summoned and
viewed the remains. Before the last sad
requiem is sung, the County Attorney
will be summoned to take passing look,
that his soul may be imDued with ex-
traordinary zeal in ferreting out her de-
stroyer."
Accompanying the coffin was letter
beaded I'm MeMoriam," addressed to the
editor. 1t said;
"You Will receive with this letter a box
containing the remains of once beauti-
full and highly accomplished young lady.
The tale is a sad one, being a strange COM
binati0n of infatuation, unrequited love,
and fond ambition.''
Then followed close description Of Mr..
Corliss, as the cause Of all this woe, and
added:
in the cleaning, at even tide, she used
to sit and drink in his words, and the ma
ture of his elOquence was such that maid
ems wept for JOY and little dogs went howl
ing to their kennels. What wonder, then,
that she loved and gazed with fearful
eyes at the departing train that bore her
idol back to his far Western home. Her
parting words were, as her heart broke to
pieces: "Send my body to Fergus Falls,
That he may take a last long look of ling
ering affection"
This is the kind of broad humor that the
average MinnesOtian can appreciate, and
howl of laughter rolled through Fergus
Falls. Corliss was guyed ON every side.
He attempted to defend himself by pub
fishing an article the next day in the OPP
position paper, the Fergus Falls Daily
| journal. He charged that the article was
an invention OF Editor Adams. and pub
lished with view of injuring him pOliti-
callY. He said:
''Such base insinuations against the
character of an honorable man, and such
cOwardly iBnuendoes as are contained In
that article viii fail utterly of their pur-
pose if they were designed to drag down
the character of Mr.. COrliss in a cOmmun-
ity where he has been intimately known
for fourteen years. 1t will not dupe OF
ter Tail voters"
The Otter Tail voters took sides in the
dispute, and 1t was long before the last
was heard OF it.
COTliss soon found out the author of the
Joke and yearned to get even. He invited
Tucker and his wife to pay him a visit
and they arrived in Fergus Falls in July,
1885.
/ Corliss and Tucker shook hands and
agreed to call il square. Tucker register
ed at the Grand hotel, and the papers
next day said that lizard Case Tucker of
BlackwelPs Island" had arrived. A few
days later there was an excursion TO
Pelican Rapids, 20 miles away. While
there Corliss took Tucker to the parlOr of
the hotel, and, leading him up to a lady,
said
Mrs. Blaisdell, let me introduce you to
Mr.. Tucker"
Mrs. Blaisdell looked at him euriously
and then said:
"Are you Mormon %
Tucker was surprised, but at once re-
allied that there was a joke on hand. lie
replied, eyes, m"
''Are you 4 Mormon priestW
eyes, m"
In answer TO her questions Tucker told
her lot Of nOnsencs about the Mormon
church. He learned later that Mrs.
BlaisdeH was a widow lady, about 40
years of age, who had been cOrrespOn-
dent at Washington. She mad been in
yestlgating M0rmOnism for some time, as
her two sons were engaged 10 Mormon
girls.
Mr. Tucker says that while at dinner at
the house of A. q. Kinney, a brother-in-
law Of Corliss, Mrs. Blaisdell called and
said she wanted TO see that Mormon priest
Immediately. She began questioning him
again, when COrliss whispered 10 her that
Tucker had five wives.
''Is that trueT she asked.
HYes."
"'rhen l don't want anything more
to do with him. Mrs. Kinney, how
darn VIM alloW auph a man IN aufar vour