Morris tribune., 1890-05-14
Where Is Ananias?

HRS. Victoria Woodruff Biddulph Mar
tin and Lady Tennessee Clafin Cook, of
London, have come to this country with
weapons loaded for bear. The first per-
ssh they went cunning for was Police
Inspector Byrnes, of New York, who had
published i'll some newspaper reminis-
cences statements about the two sisters
that they did not like.
Victoria and her husband and brother
in-law visited Inspector Byrnes with the
intention of making him retract these
statements. Next day a long account of
the interview was published, accompa-
MED by the assertion that the inspector
had completely backed down and re-
tracted his offensive remarks, and not
only that, but he declared he had never
said anything of the kind, that it was all
the fault of the naughty newspaper man.
According to Brother-in-law o O'Halloran,
what happened was this:
We were very politely received, and when the
Inspector shook hands with Victoria he at once
said he had never laid eyes on her before and
knew nothing prejudicial to her character or that
of Lady Cook Mrs Martin told him that il he
did know anything now was the time to say it, for
her husband was present and she wanted him to
hear the truth. The inspector repeated his state
ment and then explained how the defamatory
article came to be published.
writer for syndicate had repeatedly asked
for his recolect:ons concerning famous criminals
or notorious persons, and he had finally said to
the writer that if he would come to his house on
the following Saturday night he could have ma
terial for an article. The inspector assured us
that he gave some facts concerning some French
women who had become notorious in France and
this country and then threw himself on sofa
while subordinate gave some details about other
people.
In short, Inspector Byrnes made an abject
apology, though very manly one. We are en-
tirely satisfied with his explanation
Mrs. Martin herself said:
Inspector Byrnes assured us in the most SOL
emn manner that he never gave this syndicate
man the facts he coupled with the names OF the
Woodruff Clat1in sisters. He had never seen the
manuscript and did not afiX his signature thereto.
He added that he was very sorry that the thing
had happened, for it was very unfortunate, and
said he had no evidence in his possession.
Then reporters visited Inspector
Byrnes, and here is what he said:
Mrs Martins statement that shook hands with
her and received her with great kindness IS false.
She began by making speech about being perse-
cuted, and stopped her and asked her what her
business was with me. She wanted me to read
lot of letters that she had in vaise but re-
fused. told her that was the author of the
article in question; that was responsible for 1t,
and that was ready to meet her in court. said
was a public officer and any statement l had
made was prepared to prove. Mrs Martin then
wanted me to read some papers and she laid them
on my desk, but l swept them into the waste
basket. Mrs. Martin became agitated because ]
would not make a retraction, and she left the
Office in tears. The Martins said they had no in
tention of bringing suit against me.
But what was Mr.. John Biddulph
Martin doing while Inspector Byrnes
was treating his wife in this way?