Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-06-19
CRAZED BY CUPID.
PL0RIDAS INSANE SENATOR WRITES A
LETTER TO THB WORLD
Jones Explains his Woes in Dshl-Ths Victim Of
Vile Conspiracy, Which Killed BIS Wife
and Son and Drove Him
10 Insanity.

NEW YORK, June 1S.-Ex-Senator
Jones, of Florida, has a remarksble-not
to say crszy-letter IN Mondays World
explaining the cause of his misfortune
Cupid appears to have bsen the principal
trouble, but he is also convinced that
'Trish extremists" are at the bottom Of the
whole trouble. After a short description
of his life, and his election to the U. S.
Senate, he says: As early as 1876 the 20.
cial conspiracy against me and my family
began. Occupying the position that did,
felt it to be my duty to take the best
position could in social life. met peO-
pie from all parts of the country, and /
thought it perfectly harmless TO listen to
the little fiattery of society women, many
OF whom were very bright and charming.
Among the number OF ladies met was a
young woman who lived between Wash-
lngton and New York, of good family, high
attainments and we'll mp in society life. l
met her often in society, as / did hundreds
of others, and introduced her TO my wife.
She wanted me to visit her family, which I
did, and thought no more OF it than of
the little innocent relations Of home life.
She came to Washington frequently, and
would call to see her in a social way,
as her friends there / imagined
were my friends. / little imagined
that this innocent relationship would be
made the basis for a villainOus intrigue
against my pure and unsuspecting wife,
| f-o,, ..hor, No oovyar m, aarth oouId hovo
alienated my affections. Letters were
written and addressed me at my home
which we're never intended TO reach my
hands, but to furnish evidence to my wife
that this young woman had alienated my
affections. My wife was too proud and
Jealous of her position ever TO let me zee
the letters, bat she bTOOded over them in
secret and they destroyed the happiness Of
my home, drove my dear wife to insanity
and finally to the grave. For a year or
more before this event my own mind be
ean to give way under the pressure Of do
mestic sfllictiOn, for can truly say that
after this vile correspondence had reached
my wife's hands, followed up by the base
ISLANDERS of bad society women, neither
myself nor my children had any home.
SEEKING sURCEAsR OF SORROW.
Finally gladly availed myself Of every
social opportunity that promised relief
from the wretchedness and despair that
took possession of me after my wife's
death. In the spring of 1881 the high
social circles Of Washington were excited
over the arrival Of great beauty from
Massachusetts,, reputed 10 he very rich and
highly accomplished. She stopped at the
Ebbitt House and was under the wing OF
an old veteran politician, who introduced
me to her one evening as we came over
from tea. She pinned white flower IN
my coat and asked me to call and see her.
l did so one Sunday evening and she took
me stTaightway to a Unitarian Church,
where there was fine singing. This WAS
the Arrt protest0nt Church that wa aver
in, in Washington, and it was soon in CIR
culation at the capital that the Catholic
Senator had changed his religion in order
to win the hand of this great beau
ty. The truth is, at this time, and for a
a long time after, was of my mental bal
ance and the fair one knew it. She re-
mained around Washington for nearly
month, and every now and then / would
get OH "a hpttCu III biic OthhNo w pitnnN hNAs
When she left for home / went with her ~
far as New York, got Of the train at mid
night at Harlem, lost my way and strayed
about until nearly daylight before / could
reach my hotel.
Then he goes on to say his 17-year-old
son was murdered by the same enemies.
Then Massachusetts, belle TO whom he
was engaged is introduced and she figures
in the story until he II introduced in
Detroit 10 the Rev. Father Charles
O'ReilIy, Treasurer Of the National Land
League. The Senator says point blank
that Father O'Reilly invited proposal Of
marriage through him for the hand OF the
Detroit lady whose name has been men
toned in connection with the ex-senator
for several years The letter il a very
rambling document, and this sentence
near the end may explain the trouble:
81 imagined myself as strong as ever, Just
like John Mccullough when he played his
last Othello in Chicago. broke down
and was taken TO my bed"