The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-23
MRS. RAWS0N'S CAREER.
ONE SENSATION AFTER ANOTHER
CHECKERS HER LIFE.
After the Thrilling Incidents That AL
ready Mark Her Biography, Still An
other is Revealed Which Appears
More villainous Than All Others.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, Jan. 22.-Another SenSa-
ton developed in tho sensationally fruitful
experience of Mrs. Meckie Rayson today.
Mrs. Rawson was the wife OF Banker
Stephen G.. Rawson, who began an action
for divorce from her. During its pen
dency Mrs. Rawson's son by former
husband, Ralph Lee, shot and danger
ously wounded the banker while sitting
in his pew in church, and Mrs. Rawson
shot and wounded Lawyer Whitney, at
torney for Mr., Rawson, in open court,
from the effects OF which Mr. Whitney is
now In an insane asylum, and for which
act Mrs. Rawson is now on trial in the
Criminal Court Today's sensation was
produced by the reading Of the evidence
before the Grand Jury, on The strength OF
which Mrs. Rawson was indicted, and,
snguarly enough, this damaging tcsti-
mony was presented by the defense. The
testimony was read from the stenographer's
report OF the proceedings before the jury,
and included the evidence given by l..
II. Bisbcc, n prominent lawyer. at the
time attorney for Mr.. Rawson. Mr.. Bis
bee told the Grand Jury that he had been
doing business for man named Bush,
from New Orleans Bush told him he
knew man who told him all about Mrs.
Rawson and her affairs, and introduced
him TO Matt Hogan, detective on State
street. Hogan, said Bisbeo in his testi-
mony, told me he had been in Mrs Raw
sons employ Tor several months lie said
she wanted some one 10 put Rawson out
ol the way IN some manner. She tried 10
hire him 10 put poison in his gin bottle,
which lac Kept in his bedroom, and from
which he occasionally drank during the
night There was some poison In the
house, which had been there ever since
the first Mrs. Rawson died in 1881, and
little OF II mixed with gin, she said, would
do the business for him
Mr.. Bisbcc said Bush told him that Mrs.
RawsOn's record was bad from way back;
that she WIS terribly prolane, and used 10
drink great deal. lie then told Of nego-
tiallons which he Olisbccl had with NJ A.
Dnscull, friend Of Mr.. RawsOn's, who
WIS manager Of Lchmann's Hotel at Lake
Villa.
"Driscoll approached me-" said Mr..
Bsbec. ION the subject Of settlement.
lie first said lac wanted SlGO, 900 Tor what
Mrs. Rawson valued her dover in her
husbands estate aL | went 10 Lake Villa
20 see Driscoll on Friday, and offered him
$4,000. Driscoll said lac had come from
Mn. l,awson and represented her. lie
WIS sorry, he said, that the settlement
could not be contaminated before Mon
day. because there would likely be blood
shed Ia the meantime. became alarmed
NJ this aud sent word at once 10 Mr.. Raw.
son 10 be careful Driscoll said Rawson
was guarded all day at the bank, aud ut
home, and the only place lac was not pro-
tccted was ut church. The next Sunday
lac WIS shot at church. Lee. Mrs. Raw
sons former husband, was descrtcr from
the regular army, aud a gambler. Hogan
told mo he was in Washington Territory,
but that Mrs, Rawson had sont Tor him 10
kill Rawson after he Ulloganl had refused
10 take the job. lie found out that lee
got a. lar ~ Milwaukee on his way to
Chicago, aud that thrrc he received post
Office money order nom Chicago Tor so
and gotit cashcd.
The s,enogmphrr next rrud tho tc.ii-
mony OF Mrs. Hattie Hamilton, a woman
who said she lived with Mrs. KaNson be-
lore she married the banker. Mrs Ham.
illon said thu defendant was proinnc and
violent. aud sNorc terribly because Raw
snn lid not pay her son Ralph. who WIS
employed IN his bank, a larger salary. She
said, the Hamilton woman testified, THAT
she would got even with the old Spoopen-
dyke. She would marry him. make his
money fly, aud then get rid OF him."
liofan'r testimony was p,ad, and Il gaye
In morc detail Mrs. Rawsons alleged nj.
tempt 10 gvt him 10 murder the banker.
Hogan told the story Of the gin bottle and
the poison. The proposition to commit
murder lac said. was made IN him by her
At the LELAND Hotel willie be was acting
~ detective for her. lie left her nj once
and vent over 10 Mr. llisb,c's employ.
mcnt Hogan said Mrs. lalwson told him
that II be- would not Nil Rawson. she
would send Tor Ire aud hc would 10 Il.