The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-23
Is THIS HYPNOTISM.
A DAUGHTER OF COLONEL III. @. PR
SONS THE ALLEGED YICTTM.
She Deserts Her Virginia Home for Di-
vorced Woman In New York and
Refuses to Return.

-"oAhAAo tciig uDUtE tUt HSdQinks
"Beauty Held in Hypnotic Fetters."
The article says: About eighteen
months ago Mrs. Appleton. the divorced
wife Of Nathan Appleton, OF Boston.
Mass. made the acquaintance OF the
family Of Colonel II. C. Parsons. Of
Natural Bridge. Va. Colonel Parsons IL
the owner Of the Natural Bridge. which
| spans Cedar creek at a height Of 200 feet.
ana Is one OF the wonders OF America.
| Colonel Parsons not only belongs to one
OF the eldest Virginia families. but his
| wealth Is said TO be very large. He has
beautiful home I'm the vicinity OF the
bridge and is particularly proud In the
| possession OF three lovely daughters.
Ferhaps the fairest of these girls is
| katharine. who is now living at No. 10
| east Twenty-eighth street with Mrs.
Jeannette Appleton. She Is a magnificent
| blonde, tall, stately with many accom-
! plishments, not the least OF which is more
than decided talent for drawing
Mrs. Appleton is said from the very
| hrst to have had an influence over Kath-
| arine who was then In her twenty-third
| year This, however, did not appear at
| the first. for Mrs. Appleton and Colonel
Parsons became interested In scheme
to circulate elaborate photographs Of the
Natural Bridge. Mrs Appleton Is noted
as one Of the most expert amateur photo
graphers In the country. She agreed TO
make the photographs OF the bridge the
profits derived from the sale Of which
were to be equally shared by herself and
| Colonel Parsons.
The partnership did not prosper as wps
expected There was also dlsagreements
| about the money which was realized.
| The enterprise finally eliminated in a
| Iow In the course of which Mrs. Apple
| ton made charges against Colonel Par
sons. Whatever the merits OF the affair
were. 1t Is certain that a breach OF wide
| proportions was wrought N the friendly
relations Of Mrs. Applston and Colonel
| Parsons and his family-with the single
| exception of Miss Katharine, VINO, 20 the
astonishment Of her father, left his house
and took up her residence with Mrs. APP
| pleton.
Mrs. Appleton and Miss Parsons spent
| last summer at oyster Bay. l.. l. Their
| doings there have not yet been recorded
| but as soon as Colonel Parsons learned OF
| his daughters whereabouts he endeavored
| 10 communicate with her. but failed. His
| letters remained unanswered. He EN-
ployed a lawyer 10 go down to oyster
| Bay, and expostulate with Miss Katha-
| rine but she appeared 10 be perfectly
satisfied with her condition. said she was
| happier than she had ever been In her
| life before. and declared that she never
desired to see her father, mother or sis
| ters again.
The lawyer reported the facts just as
| he had found them, but laid stress on
| the circumstance that all Miss Katha-
| rines defiant utterances were pronounced
| In the presence OF Mrs. Appleton. He
| freely admitted that he was never able
| TO secure a private interview with the
| young lady.
When the two women returned TO this
| city they took up their abode at board
| lng-house above Thirty-fourth street. In
| the neighborhood Of Fifth avenue, kept
| by a Mrs. Briggs. where they established
| n reputation for singularity OF behavior
| which eventually resulted in their being
requested to leave. Since their removal,
which occurred some weeks ago, they
have been living at No. Is east Twenty
| eighth street.
| In their first living place after their
return to this city Mrs. Appleton en-
| gagged the most expensive quarters Mrs.
| Appleton and Miss Parsons Immediately
| attracted the attention OF tho Other
| boarders by their magnificent clothes and
| perfect manners. Mrs. Appleton proved
! herself a wonderful conyersationalist, and
was soon established in high favor with
everybody In the house.
| Mrs Briggs, who keeps the boarding
| house told me yesterday that she was
! convinced that Miss Parsons was under
| some influence which the young lady
herself could scarcely account for. she
became very much interested In Miss
| Parsons, and frequently endeavored 10
| engage her in conversation, but Aer et-
| forts in this direction were baked by
| Mrs Appleton, who fatty objected 10
| Katharine's leaving her even for mo-
ment under any pretext,
| LAWYER George X. French, who is
| member Of General Buffers law firm In
| Washington, was at the Astor House
Yesterday, and II was said that his mis-
| sion was TO assist Colonel Parsons In re-
| covering his daughter Mr.. French re-
| fused either 10 deny or affirm this. lie
said that he knew that Colonel Parsons
was very anxious TO break up the inu-
macy between Mrs. Appleton and his
found Mrs. Appleton and Miss Par
SONS last evening at the clearinghouse
No. IS east Twenty-eighth street. The
! Iadies were not IN the least surprised
yban I stated 20 them the report that
Mrs Appleton was exerting hypnotic
inanence over Miss Parsons. They stated
| 1bat the story had been In circulation
| qsktfNl
10 he thought Of for a moment.
..rhis silly accusation" said Mrs. Ap'
rl.,on lis nothing more or less than the
| ou,growth OF a clearinghouse squabb'e.
| Nc Parsons gave the same statement
a. ,,rs Appleeton regarding the attitude
| NJ briggs had taken toward them ana
| satd her father might possibly have been
tr'st,',mental in circulating reports about
har os ne desired her 10 return TO her
|
home in virginia "A Nj. p.sssons
",,sbed me 10 remain az home, but
oo,,3 not have there the advantages IN
strdving art that l require ana fcr tnH
resson | am living In this city. MIS-.
| Ar,,Ioton was introduced 20 me by my
/ f,tber IN Boston several years ago. We
| ba,.. been close friends ever since pu'
t,r Mrs. Appleton exertins an undre
s-e'.o,os ~, over me Il is absolutely ridicn-
I'M am of age and perfectly COM
na.ont 10 take care Of myself
| ,,,~a Parsons stated that after they
,,,.s Rriggs house the story shout
h,.e.o,isun was brought 10 them by sew
80, rsysons. and Mrs Appleton sent TOT
| "a iaa,ver. George X. French, 70 ASK
~ S,.;ce as 20 what she should 30
-, =, He advised her 20 pay no at
ta.,ior whatever 10 the stories.
.rroaeon" steven V. White was at MS
! So 2O4 Columbia Heights. Brook
i,,- n,ben | saw him last night.
-, Inow Mrs. Appleton" he SAID ana
| -, mat while al Natural bridge. Va
e. met Colonel Henry Clay Parsons. tne
sa,.nr az Miss Katharine Parsons. Ihey
| bsd some didicuty about ss'lelchs
oS ,be receipts for photographs ! oel.osv,
-" law suit resulted. Miss PARSONS
1 anu AnplefOn and