The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-12
THE CHARGES.
Interviews with Mr.. Haire, s. L. Pix
lev and DIR. Fleming.

statements or ner 1aInlly, was Que 10 a
conspiracy on the part Of Robert Fulford,
her husband, DR.. Walter NJ. Fleming and
Annie Joyce maid to Miss Pixley, has
aroused considerable comment among the
friends of both parties. The friends of Mr..
Fulford are indignant and refer to the
charges with contempt, and assert that it
only requires Mr.. Fulford's presence here
TO entirely dissipate them
On the part of the family, their attorney,
Col. r. ]. Haire, is vigorously investigating
the case, with view to securing the rights
of his clients to share of the estate Of
the actress more than attempting to prove
that Miss Pixley's death was due to her
husbands desire to make away with her.
Colonel Haire announces that he has posi-
tive evidence to prove that Miss Pixley
left q will providing for her family, and
he says that witnesses will testify as to the
harsh treatment of his wife by Fulford.
Forgeries in the transfer of deeds are also
broadly hinted at. The case, which will
come up in Philadelphia, promises to be
sensational one. The estate of Miss Pixley
is variously estimated at from S2OO,OCO TO
S4O0, ,OOO Among other things it includes
$4,000 mortgage on the Park Theater, in
Philadelphia The latter, it is claimed by
Colonel Haire, Miss Pixley arranged prior
to her death TO be set aside for her mother.
A BROKERS STORY.
In connection with the charges emanating,
according to published reports, from the
Pixley family Mr.. Starr l.. Pixley, brother
of the late Annie Pixley, said to the re-
porter on behalf Of the family: I'VE all
believe that the manner in which my sister
came so suddenly to an end is, to say the
least, peculiar. While we have no proof
upon which to base a. prosecution of Robert
Fulford her husband, for causing the death
of my sister, the published stories and in
terviews with the mother and sister repre-
sent opinions on the subject. The only
object of the legal proceedings we are pre-
pairing to take is to obtain what we believe
to be right to a proper snare or the
estate of Annie and to cause Mr.. Fuiford
TO make proper accounting TO us or his
disposition of the will, deeds and papers OF
my sister. in which we can prove we are
interested. My sister trusted implicitly in
her husband and he was always in full con-
troll of her property. and deposited In banks
all her money in his name so thai. that Annie Ad1In
she wanted to spend.
"Annie's brain was in no way affected.
band called in Dr. Walter Fleming to at
tend her. Dr. Fleming and Mr.: Fulford
were intimate friends. Annie did not like
him and begged that she be permitted to
have another physician We do not know
exactly what the powders were which were
prescribed for her and which were so per-
.Joyce. Annie's maid and dresser We wish
We had kept one of these for analysis. AS
I'VE can only give 1T as our opinion that
Annie's death was very mysterious and her
cremation, despite the wish of the family
that her remains be sent home, only adds,
in our minds, TO the strength of this view.
The entire lack of proof, in a legal sense,
prevents our making these charges against
Fulford.
TT is true that Mr. Fulford has complete
possession of the entire estate of his wife.
transferred
and we suspect Miss Joyce to have assisted
in this. Her writing is certainly very like
that of my sister. We do not think it pos
sbe that Annie ever intended to leave her
mother any of us out OF her Will. In
fact, it is well known to many who knew
my sister that she proclaimed her intention
to handsomely provide for her mother Only
a short time previous to her departure for
England Annie showed Alice, her sister, a
typewritten document, with a blue cover,
which was undoubtedly her will She kept
this document in her writing desk. She one
| day showed Alice this paper, and, uncover
| ing all but a few lines called her attention
| TO a clause reading, To Alice, $500, dia-
mond sunburst and ring There is no
| of that document contained other clauses
providing for our mother and all of us a
| share in her estate"
ATTORNEY HARE TALKS
Col r. ]. Haire, of No. 245 Broadway,
| counsel for the Pixley family, referring 10
| the charges made regarding the death of
| Annie Pixley, said to the reporter: II would
| have preferred it had the Pixley family
used more discretion in their statements
They believe, of course, that the charges
| made against Robert S. Fulford, Annie Pix
| ley's husband, are true. There are many
| circumstances connected with the departure
| for England of Miss Pixley, her treatment
for her illness and the final disposition of
| her remains which lend color to the opin-
| ions that have been published. 1t is. how
J ever a very serious matter to charge a man
\ IL felony unless !ee
| proof, and, in the present case, no such
| charge will be made. know nothing about
| the matter beyond what has been told me
! by the PiXley family. My duty is simply 10
| investigate the question of what right Mr..
| Fulford had to transfer the entire estate of
| his wife to himself, thereby entirely ignor-
ing the claims of her family, and his fail
| to advise them concerning his DISPOSE.
| ton of her estate and their interest in it..
| All the friends of Mrs. Fulford knew very
| well that her hobby was to provide against
| want on the part of her mother and sisters,
| and the fortune she accumulated amply JUS
| titled even an eXtravagant estimate of what
| she must have provided for them in her will.
| Il have engaged associate counsel in
| London and in Philadelphia to assist me
| in preparing the case, and when 1T comes
| up Philadelphia will be the fighting ground.
| as il is there that Miss Pixley's largest
interests lie. Mr.. FulfOrd has, 1 under
| stand, retained Messrs Morgan & Lewis,
| of No. All Chestnut street, Philadelphia, as
his counsel. They are able men. / shall,
| when ready to begin proceedings, endeayor
ford baNi record of Money Oii ,eaI i' IL
| and jewelry left by Miss PiXley to the
| value of between three and four hundred
| thousand dollars The actrees was very
| generous, kindly and ambitious. Her trust
| in her husband was very great, and he
| controlled, absolutely, her affairs. Appear
| ances indicated some understanding be-
| tween the mad Joyce and Fulford. Joyce
was was engaged by the Pixleyss, at Philadel-
| phia about seven years ago..
| DENIED BY DIR. FLEMING.
| DR.. Walter NJ Fleming, who attended the
late Annie Pixley during her illness prior
to her departure for England, speaking of
| the published charges made by the family
| of the late actress that the powders he
| prescribed for her were opiates of a pow
| erful character and assisted in her un-
timely end, made the following statement:
| Il have been intimately acquainted with
| Miss Pixley and her husband for many
years. ] attended her during her illness
I just before she left for England in com
| pany with Mr.. Fulford. She was suffering
| from oVerwOrk, nervous proStration and
| the loss OF her young son caused her to
| worry and herself out The insinua-
| tionS as 10 the character OF my treatment
| of Miss PiXley are absurd and unjust to
| the last degree. AS TO what course | will
| pursue with reference TO these charges,
| prefer to say nothing further than that the
| last has not been heard Of them
| The universal indignation Of the friends
| of Mr.. F'uiford is nothing short of intense.
| / never knew any charge or misconduct TO
! be taken up and so Indignantly condemned
| as the charges made against Bob Fulforci
have been by his host Of friends. The less
the family of Miss Pixley have to say