Omaha daily bee., 1888-12-14
BY WOMAN HE HAD WRONCED
How a Faithless Chevalier Was
Haunted to His Grave.
JOHN THRocKMoRToN's GHOST
A Romantic Story of the Old South
Recalled by the Death OF
Man During the BiS
mingham Riot.
fllen Godwin,s Revenge.

the jail, says u writer in the New Ork
World, recalls a story as strange rs anything
in fction-a story as full of dramatic scenes
and incidents as anything that was ever pro-
duced upon the stage, aud which has been
four times brought by tragedy to the mem
ory of those who disliked most to hear IT,
II was nearly forty years ago that Major
John Throckmorton, son of Ars Throckmor-
ton and uncle of the young man killed at
Birmingham, was one of the leaders in the
brilliant society of the old south. He was
rich, witty, handsome. He was the finest
type of the southern gentleman, impulsivc,
generous; kind of heart and open of hand.
He was connected by blood and marriage
with every prominent southern family from
New Orleans TO Louisville, and when he
came back from college TO live among his
people the faircst prospect was spread out
before him. He went in TO enjoy life, and as
he had ample means and was welcome
guest wherever ne chose to go, time slipped
by pleasantly enough.
just when pretty Ellen Goodwin came into
his life no one ever knew. In all the fierce
light that afterward beat upon them, their
earlier intimacy remained forever buried in
mystery, and both carried the secret to their
graves Ellen Goodwin lived near Louisville,
anu was ECludIhuD!t lUl ltI DtuuIN anu bllI
gentlcncss of her disposition. She was well
connected and had small fortune in her
own name Friends of Throckmorton saw
them together for time, and then their in
timacy was discontinued. Throckmorton
left Louisville on a pleasure trip and did not
return for several months.
One stormy clustering night in January
when the snow was beating against the win
dow panes and the people were hurrying i'll
to blazing fires, Throckmorton returned to
4 n,,tgN 10 f,t lsI1tlt
q hotel owned by his father. When he en-
tered his room he happened to glance across
the street He saw woman standing mo-
tionless beside gas lamp directly opposite
She was dressed in black, and although he
could not see the face he recognized the out
lines of her figure. She stood there so 81
lent and spectre-ike that he became fasci-
mated and watched her for hours. That was
the first night that "Throckmorton's ghost"
was seen.
1t was the beginning of what was to last
without interruption tor twenty years. The
dark SHADOW that he saw from his hotel win
dow that night was to follow him all over
the world it was to be with him in the blaze
of noon and in tho darkest hours of the
night; he was TO see it in every capital of
Europe; it was to be close behind him in his
most secret moments; it was to mingle with
his own shadow SO that in delirium of
terror he would wonderif his mind were not
deserting him, and if both shadows were not
one and the same. 1t was in vain that he
tried to put oceans between him and his
awful phantom-hke pursuer; in vain that
every resource of money was tried; from
that first stormy January night John Throck-
morton was never for one moment alone.
1t was wonderful how she appeared to
know of his movements. IL he would sud
denly decide to go to party, she would be
standing on the opposite side of the street
when he got out of his carriage. If he re
mained in his hotel for days, and if then, in
the dead of the night, he slipped out by
side entrance, she would be close behind him.
Her appearance on the street became so COM
mon in Louisville that people merely glanced
at her careessly as she lifted by. AS the years
passed her very name was forgotten, and she
was only known as "Throckmorton's ghost.n
Sometimes, when she was waiting for him,
children would gather about her, and often
boys would hoot and taunt her, but she never
complained, and no man ever heard the
sound of her voice.
The weather never appeared to incon-
venience her. She often would stand for
hours in the midst of driving rain or hail,
without shelter of any kind, apparently
oblwious of everything save the man she was
following. She always wore the same heavy,
black dress, with a black hat, and a thick,
black veil, which concealed her face.
AT first ThrockmOrton attempted to laugh
the matter off. The woman was a crack
Drained creature, who would grow tired
after time, he said. He could keep it up if
she could. If it amused her he didn't object
Thus he reasoned at first but soon became
restive and then it grew to be deadly
offense to mention the subject in his pre-
sence. At last he determined to go abroad.
He made all his arrangements with the ut
most secrecy, not even telling his most in
innate friends and did not rest until he had
put the Atlantic between him and what had
grown 10 be a horrible nightmare, He went
Straight to London, and the first person he
saw when he got off the train was Ellen
Goodwin. He fled to Paris and he thought he
would lose her in the Whirl OF winter in
Partisan society. In month he gave up in
despair. She followed him to clubs and re-
Ceptlons and opera parties. Wherever he
was, day or night, he could never look be-
hind without seeing her. He tried all the
large cities OF the continent without avail
and at last returned to Louisville and again
took up the old life.
He used to complain that he was chained
TO corpse; that his life was blasted and
that no man ever before endured such per-
secution. No woman would suffer his alton
tions, and he soon gave up all ideas of mar
rage. He grew more and more moody. and
at last he determined to rid himself of his
tormentor by violence. The scene resulting
from this determination, as it was after
wards told In court, was most dramatic. One
night about IL o'clock as Throckmorton was
walking home through a lonely street. he
glanced over his shoulder and saw his
''ghost" n few yards behind silently follow
ing him. He waited in dark alley until she
came up and then he suddenly
her veil from her face and dragged
her by the throat to the nearest lamp
post.
"Why do you follow mel he asked, his
voice trembling with passion. She made no
reply, and clutchng her more firmly by tie
throat he drew IA dagger. She made no at
tempt to resist him, and just as the dagger
was about TO be plunged into her breast she
cried out, half choked and every instant eX-
pecting death 'kill me, John, but kiss me
tirst.n Throckmorton threw the dagger
away, pushed the woman aside, and lied be-
fore he would be tempted again.
AT length ThrockmortOn could stand IL no
longer. and Ellen Goodwin was arrested at
his instance and tried for larceny The old
court house in Louisville, where Henry Clay
and the Crittendens had many hard-foughJ
battle i'll day long gone by was packed as it
noyor was before or since. The most emf
nent legal talent was employed, and the evil
dence was of the most sensational character.
Ellen Goodwin was put on the stand and was
given most severe cross examination. Her
answers We're clear and intelligent and, after
hours of closest questioning, the opposing
lawyers We're forced TO admit that they could
make nothing of her. Poems written by her.
essays and articles on various subjects, were
read 10 the jury, and at last her lawyer,
young Ely Parsons, arose to defend her He
was man OF commanding presence, atrained
elocutionist and rarely gifted orator. For
fDuP hours he kent tho alllipnpp