Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-28
THE BARTON BRIDGES CASE.
A Statement OF Facts Given to the
Public.
WHY THE COUPLE SEPARATED.
The Father OF the Groom Tells the
Inside History of the Trou-
ble-A Mercenary
Girl Fooled.
The True Story.

Two weeks ago IHE DEE prln'eu n sJate-
ment OF facts with reference TO the separa-
tion OF Mr.. X. c. Barton, son Of Hon. Guy
c. Barton, Of Omaha, and BRIDE, formerly
Miss Fannie Bridges, who resided in this
city for number OF years.
The announcement set the gossips all agog,
and curiosity to know the entire history OF
the affair became intense. In fact it was the
most startling society scnsation which has
ever concerned prominent Omaha people.
AT the time OF the first publca-
tion the entire story was given orally
to The BEE by Mr.. Guy Barton, father of
the groom, who expressed himself, with
some feeling, that he would not like any
publication made that would injuro the
young lady in question, or wound her friends
and relatives in this city. He made Il strong
personal appeal TO THE BEE, and other pa
peis, to have her name protected.
So many conflicting rumors have been
afloat concerning the matter however, that
Mr.. Barton has concluded TO give truthful
account of his sons trouble, aud when seen
by reporter for THE BEE talked freely
about IL. He said he had hoped nothing
more would be demanded Of him than the
statement first printed, and censured In
severe terms the newspaper that gave pub
lcty to the wild and incorrect stories that
had become current
He said that in June he and his family, to-
gether with Misses Dewey and Hoagland
and Mr.. Will Wyman, left for Ogdcnsburg
and arrived there the day before the we'd
ding. Elaborate preparations were being
made for the marriage ceremony, and for
two days before the appointed hour the
young society friends of the bride
were engaged nearly all the time in
decorating the church. The bride herself
was occupied in caring for and arranging the
many costly wedding presents which had
been received.
Mr.. Barton interposed the remark here
that the story Of Miss Bridges boat ride up
TO within an hour Of the wedding was q
myth.
Everything passed off smoothly and the
wedding was most successful Que. The
bride and groom left that evening for
Toronto, and Mr.. Barton, ST., returned to
Omaha with his party.
A few days after the wedding the father
Of the groom received, from a source which
he declined to give, letter which had
been written by the bride at Toronto to q
young man IN Ogdensburg named Fred
Hamel. The tenor Of this letter was such
as to excite "a suspicion that all was rot right
between the young people. Mr.. Barton
called a friend 70 his aid, and a plan was de-
vised to intercept other letters that were ex-
pected to follow A thorough investigation
was at once instituted, and il was found tuat
clandestine correspondence Immediately
before on the morning of the wedding, and
every day thereafter had been carried on
between the bride and young Hamci. A
number of these notes and letters are now
in the hands of MIR. Barton, and upon them
was based his demand for an immediate
separat. on of the couple and the annulment
of the marriage contract.
Fred Hamel has for long time resided in
Ogdensburg, and was still there at last &C
counts. He is said to be young man OF
good address, fairly intelligent, and of poor
but respectable parentage. 1t appears that
he had won the affections of Miss Bridges,
and had such control over her that ne was
enabled to bring about her ruin.
The stories which are current Of the plot
Miss Bridges and himself are said to have
concocted against young Barton, had their
origin doubtless in the notes and letters.
Expressions are capable of very seri-
Gus construction but there is not
enough evidence IN existence probably to
fasten any intent to commit crime on the
part of the young couple. The story that
Hamel had attempted to extort blacRmail
from Mar. Guy Barton Is purely a fabrica-
tion, but whether it was his intention to ul-
timately exact tribute is a matter of spccu-
laton. No attempt, however, has been
made upon anyone in the case to extort
money. The information that came to Mr..
Barton that something wrong existed was
prompted by the friendship one gentleman
bears to another, and had it not been for
these kindly offices MIR. Barton would to-day
be ignorant of the true state OF affairs.
1.-The mhe o%Nd,a wedding ,otSnf tour .. of ro.oni the
New York, Boston, Saratoga, and the return
to Ogdensburg From the day of the mar
riage 1t is said, the demeanor of the bride
towards her husband had changed in IL
marked degree. She seemed stolid and IN
different, grew sulky and morose, until the
young groom became not only uneasy, but
alarmed. Upon their return to Ogdensburg
an excursion to Toronto was proposed by the
bride, to include number of young society
friends, and among them Fred Hamel. The
leDArtlrc
regret of the party the bride feigncd illness
ana did not accompany them.
In Iororto one or two Incidents
happened which cum be interpreted
plot, but for the very best of rea-
sons, and that the ends of Justice may be
protected, nothing can be definitely said at
present concerning them. The party re-
turned home shortly and the young couple
departed for the south, arriving at st. Louis
some days later.
Meantime Mr.. Guy Barton had in his
possession enough evidence upon which to
couple. He therefore left for st. Louis
accompanied by his attorney, having pre-
viously notified the BRIDES aunt to meet all
parties there. The meeting came about
was confronted with the indsputable
evidence in Mr.. Barton's hands. In the
presence OF her aunt. the groom and his
father, and one or two others, she made a
full confession Of her dupicity. She was
provided with funds by interested parties
with which TO return to Ogdensburg, and the
groom departed for the north.
Among other things, Mr. Guy Barton said
to the reporter "When this young lady
came to Omaha she was as pure girl as ever
lived. She became engaged to my son, and
about a year after she returned to Ogdens-
turg she met Hamel, who caused her down
fall',S
AT tho meeting in ST. Louis the girl ex-
pressed herself as perfectly willing TO have
the marriage anruled.
THE EDITORIAL. EXCURSIONlSTs.
Arrival in the City OF the First De-