St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-04
The STORY NOW OUT.
Mrs. Vincent and Secretary"
Kirk Were Both From
st. Paul.
Kirk Sues for Service, But
Mrs. Vincent Intimates
Blackmail.
A Little Fact Sadly Spells a
Local Poisoning Sem
Sation.
Sample Of the Danger Of the
Overhead Unprotected
TrolIy Wire.

1t develops that the sensational suit
i'll New York in which Fred q. Inger-
soil, of this city, is q witness, is against
former St. Paul lady, Mrs. Rosa Vim
cent, daughter of Franklin Steele, the
late millionaire of Minneapolis. Mrs.
estate. drew the st. Paul property, of
which she was heavy holder, the most
valuable being along Robert street. be-
tween Fourth and Seventh. Miss Steele
was dashing, handsome girl and with
suitors by the score, had most ro-
mantle career. When d. popular and
feted debutante in Washington, her adj
nirers made long and brilliant train.
She chose from the devoted throng as
her accepted one Count Paul Turrene,
the secretary of the French legation.
Turrene being ordered to another STA
ton, left Washington. A short time
after his departure, Miss Steele met, in
Georgetown, Charles Vincent. The &C
Quaintance was kept up, and before
twelve months had passed Washington
society was surprised to learn that she
had broken by cable her engagement to
the French count and eloped with the
handsome Southerner. The marriage
was not happy one, and Mrs. Vincent
applied to the divorce court. The court
gave her divorce and the custody of
her three children. She then left
Washington and took up her abode in
Baltimore, but her former husband and
this man kirk, the plaintiff in this suit,
followed her to that city. Then she
abandoned her home there and went to
New York Wbara "a hac Sin0p rpSider
Kinks Claim.
William P. Kirk, who now lives as a
gentleman of leisure in Baltimore. has
told his version of the story leading to
the suit. Five years ago, he says, while
living in st. Paul, he clerked with p. II.
Kelly d Co. Mrs. Vincent was then I'M
known to him. She had married man
whose habits did not suit her, and an
action for divorce was entered.
1t was about this time that Kirk met
Mrs. Vincent. who became interested in
him and engaged him to look after her
property. Subsequently she made him
her private secretary, and in this ca
pacity he acted in her behalf, looking
after her interests and accompanying
her in her travels.
When matters were finally settled in
Minnesota he was at Mrs. Vincent'S re-
quest appointed trustee of her property
10y the court. At this time there had
been nothing said of a stated salary.
Some time afterward Kirk suggested
that $4,000 per annum would be a fair
price for his services. and to this, Kirk
says, Mrs. Vincent did not protest at
that time. Mr.. Kirk then accompanied
Mrs. Vincent to Cincinnati and thence
10 Washington.
From the capitol they went to Balti-
more, and then Kirk demanded a settle
ment and entered a friendly sort of suit
in The United States court three years
ago to secure himself. Mrs. Vincent, he
says, demurred on the ground that the
amount claimed was excessive.
At her request compromise was eff
fected, Kirk agreeing to take SIS, 600 on
condition that she sign an agreement to
that effect. He had been paid $1,000,
and this left the amount due at S10,S0
The paper was drawn and signed by
Mrs. Vincent in the presence of wit
neSses.
About a year ago when the money
was demanded payment was again re-
fused. whereupon suit was begun in
New York city. The suit was not
pressed, because it was hoped that all
amicable settlement might be reached.
b1dChttfdh
Mrs. Vincent, when Kirk made his
statement public, had no hesitation in
giving her version. She admits that she
signed the paper and that she paid him
81 200. Her defense to the suit is that
she signed the contract under dureSs
and under threats to make scandalOus
accusations against her. At her rooms
in the Grenoble, on West Fifty-seventh
street, New York, she said: 81 most
emphatically deny the stories that this
man mas seen nit to give to the news
papers concerning his business rela-
tions with me. He was introduced to
me by my husband. who asked me to
give him an opportunity to make a liv-
ing. As L own good deal of real eS-
tate in the West, L gave him some en-
ploYment in its management, and paid
him for what he did for me. When l
had no further need for him L dis
charged him. He then came to my
house and cried and begged me not to
cast him adrift. AS he had been my
husbands friend, | helped him even
after that, and this is the return / get
for it."
A friend of the Steele family, in
speaking of this incident, said: Mrs.
Vincent was alone in her house in Bal
timore, and her husband and Kirk came
there and frightened her into signing
the paper. She did not know what she
was doing at the time. She was crazy
with fear" The runaway marriage of
his favorite daughter almost broke old
Mr.. Steele's heart. A few months after
the marriage he fell from his carriage
while driving in Minneapolis, and died
Immediately. 1t is more than likely
that Mrs. Vincent will soon sail for
Europe to take up her residence in
Paris.