The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-09
ANNOYED BY A STRANGER.
A Woman Who Visits Mrs. Hendricks and 9th
ers with a Very Questionable Claim.

Mrs. Hendricks, the widow of the late Vice
president. was subjected to no little annoyance
yesterday by the visit of a strange woman from
Shelbyville. Ind, who presented an alleged claim
against her. The stranger was . small woman.
apparently about sixty years of age, and was
dressed in black. She called two or three times
ut the Hendricks mansion, on Tennessee street,
before she saw that lady. When she was finally
admitted, becoming impatient because Mrs.
Hendricks did not Immediately come down
stairs, she went up to the latter's room. There
she proceeded, in rather an incoherent manner.
TO maze her claim known. Her name. she said,
was Fitzpaddsn, and she declared that Mr.. Hen
bricks was indebted to her husband In the sum
of $3.50.
'what proof have you of it- Mrs. Hendricks
demanded rather hastily.
"My husband told me Of 1t on his death. bed
was the reply. He said that he loaned the
money to Mr.. Hendricks one day when the lat
ter was passing through Shelbyville, on his way
to st. Louis. Mr.. Hendricks told my husband
he had lost his purse"
AZ know that If my husband had contracted
such a debt he would have settled for it as soon
as he arrived home, or would have given his
note for IL" replied Mrs. Hendricks, almost an
grily. Moreover, II he had wanted money be
would have applied to a friend and not to a
stranger"
Mrs. Hendricks was inclined to think that the
woman was crazy, and after thinking the mat
ter over a moment she inquired: "What 10 1t you
want of mef'
81 want money" was the reply.
well, IL / give il to you il will be considered
as an indication that !, in a measure, recognize
your claim, and i propose to do nothing of the
kind. l know that Mr.. Hendricks left no
detts.r
The woman then asked for money enough to
buy q ticket to Washington. She said she
wanted to see President Cleveland or Commis-
sioner Black about a pencion due her husband
FOR service In the Mexican war. Mrs. Hendricks
was still determined not TO conform to the
womans demand for money, but in order to
pacify her invited her down to take some dinner.
This, however, the woman refused with dis
dain' and she finally left, saying that she
was going TO see Governor Gray about
IL. She went to the Governors apartments in
the State-house and fingered about some time.
waiting for that official. She reiterated her
story about Mr.. Hendricks and abused him
roundly. Those who listened to her inclined to
the belief that she was not sound in her mind,
although she appeared to talk intelligently on
some subjects. She wanted to see the Gov
ernor. she said, in order to get q letter to Cleve-
land or Black. She displayed q ticket that she
had bought 1t was over the Panhandle road,
When asked If she had enough
money to buy q return ticket she
said no. but that she could beg. One Of the
strange phases of her story was that she had a
son In q county Office at Shelbyville aud a
brother, yet she had not appealed to them to help
her. Shortly before 4 o'clock she gave up seeing
tIovernor Gray and started for the depot.