Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-06-21

uals. A commissioner will presently CON-
mence taking evidence in the divorce suit
in New York city, and developments are
awaited with interest by good many
prominent people of New York and Pitts
burg. The principals in the case are best
known in those cities, although Mrs. Buff
FUN had an interesting career in the south
some years ago.
1t is noteworthy that In all the columns
which have been printed about the case not
one word of the woman's side has been
presented. Hitherto she has refused to say
anything about the series of events and the
attacks made upon her, but she yielded to
the Establishments of a New York World
reporter the other day, and the following
story is the result:
DR.. Frank II. Buffum is the son of a
bother in Pittsburg He lived in the house
kept by Mrs. Eva Wetmore at 242 West
Twenty-third street while pursuing his
medical studies in New York. According
to his story Mrs. Wetmore is much older
than he, but he was wheedled into loving
and finally into marrying her. Then, In
order to more firmly hold him, she palmed
OFF baby as her own. He became sus-
picious and employed a private detective
to look into her history, and thus discov-
cred that she was an adventures. In
many features the story resembled that of
Eva Ray Hamilton.
With the early history of Mrs Buffum,
or Mrs. Wetmore, as she is better known
in New Y York, this story has nothing to do.
There is no possible doubt of her right to
the name of Mrs. Buffum. The Buffums
admit that. She says that she was born
on steamer while her parents were COM
ing to this country, and that she has high
connections abroad. She says further that
her relatives are rich. She was married to
an officer in the United States army when
she was IA years old and had a son by him,
who died about two years ago.
For three years Mrs. Buffum, or Mrs.
Wetmore, as she was then, had the houses
at 240 and 242 West Twenty third street.
One of the houses she sublet furnished to
a family. The other house she occupied
herself and rented furnished rooms. Frank
Buffum came to her house for the first
time in the spring of 1891. He said he had
been recommended there by his brother.
Mrs. Buffum knew the brother DR.. Joseph
FL. Buffum, when he was studying in New
York. Joseph was then and is now profess
or of ophthalmology in the Chicago Ho-
meopathic college
1.-THE first time that Frank called did
not see him." Mrs. Buffum said to The
World reporter. my colored maid showed
him the only room l had vacant, which
was the third floor front He came around
in day or two and asked to see the room
again, and / showed it to him myself. He
said that he liked the room very much, but
that he could not afford to pay SO a " eek,
which was the regular price. l told him
that would let him have it for 81, but
that was the best could do. The next day
he appeared again. Then he told me that
he had no means save what his brother
gave him. He wanted very much to live
in my house, but that he could not afford
to pay over So week. The summer was
coming on, and as l knew his brother l
finally told him he could have the room
for that price. He asked me to send to
the Coleman House for his baggage and
l did SO. The next day he told me that he
was without any ready money, but that he
expected money every day from his brother.
gave him my meal ticket ON the restau-
rant next door. A few days afterward
gave him $5 to buy ticket for himself.
Just about the time that Frank came
to my house sent my son Leander abroad
with his uncle. We had never been parted
before, and the separation made me very
lonely. Like most women, l cried good
deal. One day, should say it was within
a week after he came there, Frank came
into the sitting room and found me crying.
He asked me what the matter was, and
told him. He came up to me and put his
hand on my shoulder. Don't cry he
said. THAT won't help matters any. Let
me be your brother and take his place as
much as l can. I'll try to be as much
comfort to you as your son was.
THAT was the beginning Of it all. Oi
course l was grateful for his sympathy
Then we began to be good deal together