Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-22
THOSE rEo aRcH-1MrosroRs.
Mrs. william Peel. the Hospital Nurse
and "Professor'' Hackett--The United
States Government After Them.

Mrs. william Peel. the Hospital Nurse
and "Professorh Hackett--The United
States Government After Them.
Probably most of the citizens of Will
mington will recollect the Mrs. Peel and
"ProfessOr" Hackett, who came here
last spring and with their stories of mis-
fortune and deprivation, almost turned
the city upside down in its collective
feelings Of heartfelt sympathy for the
great war nurse, almost an American
Florence Nightingale, in the alleged ex-
periences she had undergone in tending
wounded and dying soldiers at the
various hospitals during the war.
The whole community was indignant
that such deserving woman should
longer be neglected by the ungrateful
Federal government She had a little
child with her and, so the story went,
they were starving in tenement on
Elliott avenue. The press of the city
drew attention TO the case. A number
of charitably inclined and sympathetic
ladies took up her case. Mrs. DIR.
Shortlidge moved actively in the matter
and in few days Mrs. Peel was over
whelmed with food supplies and cloth
ing of all kinds.
du Pont Post took q hand and aided
the impostor's coadjutor, "Professor"
Hackett, in getting up lecture at
Institute Hall for her benefit, In other
words she worked" the town in most
successful style.
GOVERNMENT DETECTIVES AFTER HER.
1t now appears she has been caught
attempting to gain a pension on false
claims, 50 the charge is. The Washing
ton officials are thoroughly stirred up
over the matter. Some believe she is q
fraud. Others who don't know her
anteccdents so we'll assert that she is
hardly dealt with.
DIR. Il. G.. Shortldge received the
following letter on Monday, which is
self-explanatory:
PHILADELPHIA Society FOR ORGANIZING
CuARIrY, No. 1905 Chestnut street, Philn
delphia, Dec. 10th. lS02.-Dr. n. O, Short
iidgc, No, 1872 Market street, Wilmington
| Dd.-DEAR SIR: A woman calling herself
Lucinda Hackett is trying to raise money
| here by lecture to be delivered by PRO
fessor Breckinridge." Dr. Post Of Phila
| delphia has sent us information which
leads us to think that these parties are
identical with Il party who operated il
| your city under the names of Mrs. Pee
and Professor HaCkett. DIR. Post has SEN
me your letter concerning them. Now
want to have some one who knew the pal
| who worked Wilmington, come on her
and identify IL she is really the same per
son. | will cheerfully pay the expenses Q
some one coming here on this GRAND
Please reply at once. Very truly yours,
JAMES w. WALK,
General Secretary.
The PHILADELPHIA and WASHINGTON
papers have been full Of tn
story for the past two days. The pro
posed lecture here never materialized
The professor" did not appear. Mrs
Peel hurried out of town with the tickle
money that she had collected at til
door, and also the amounts collected TO
her by kind -hearted soldiers who ha
sold tickets. She did not leave tOwi
however, until she had attempted t
obtain pension papers here. She M
piled to Colonel Wainwright, who, o
examination of her claims, declined
touch her application. She elaine
that her husband was in Libby prsor
where lie died. She told another stor
here that he had been blown up on
revenue steamer on the lakes. Tn
professor" seems to be the advanc
agent or promoter" He also is moi
probably as great q fraud as she is.
Dir. Shortlidge Immediately too
active steps in the matter. He wrote
Secretary Walk suggesting the prophet
of his sending one Of his agents dow
here, and meanwhile he busted himse
all yesterday afternoon and evening
collecting evidence on the subject.