Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-05-06

to serve another purpose than that
which appeared upon the surface, and
so another acquittal was the result
But the woes Of the sisters were not
yet done. There came forward a
woman complaining that she had in
trusted money to the winsome brokers
to invest and that they had converted
it to their own use. She secured civil
order for their arrest, and heavy bail,
some $50, 900 or $4,000, was named,
and for a short period the firm OF
Woodruff & Clafiin fingered in Ludlow
Street Jail. Security, however, was
soon obtained, and the case came to
trial in the civil court. The testimony
Of Commodore Vanderbilt was consid-
cred necessary to properly present the
case Of the defendants, but the crafty
fnancier did not care to put in a public
appearance in connection with these
fair DANES. But Victoria Woodruff
said he should come upon the witness
stand, and come he did, and upon his
evidence they won the case.
Old Vanderbilt died. The heirs got
into a sQuabble over his money. Sud
denly, in 1879, Victoria Woodruff and
Tennie CIafin sailed for England
There are those who know why they
went, but that is a matter that it is
not necessary to go into at present.
But those who anew them best in this
country were certainly The most
amazed when the cable one day an
nouced that Victoria Woodruff had
married John Biddulph Martin, the
head of financial institution whose
history dates back to the early days
Tennessee Claf1in had married Sir
Francis Cook, an enormously wealthy
barOnet, who, even at that time, was
famous throughout Europe as the own
er of the Montserrat estate at Cintra,
the beauties of whose palace and whose
groves are sung by Byron in his i'm
mortal "Childe Harold" This news
seemed so incredible that for some
time it was not believed.
Both women returned to this country
in April, 1890, and their coming was
actually prefaced with an announce
ment made in a paragraph of the Lon
don Court Journal, which bore about
it suspicious Of Victoria Woodhulrs
authorship, and numerous copies of
which were sent to this country in ad-
vance of Mrs Martins arrival. The
lines referred to read as follows:
Mrs. J. Biddulph Martin, who, a
dozen years ago, when she was Mrs.
Victoria Woodruff, drew such crowds
to her lectures in st. James Hall, has
received a pressing invitation to visit
her native country-America- once
more lecture in the principal cities of
the United States, the invitation being
accompanied by the offer of one thou
sand pounds for each lecture This
popular lecturer and philanthropist has
not accepted this invitation, her health
not permitting her to undertake SO ar
duous an engagement; but, were she to
do so, she would, it is said, give away
in charity the whole Of the proceeds.
However, she leaves for New York in
few days, and it may, therefore, not
he out of place to mention that her
lectures had the effect of raising the
moral tone of all who came under her
influence"
Victoria Woodruff raising the moral
tone of a community was sight to
make angels weep. Mr.. Martin &C
companied the sisters on their voyage
to this country, and later they were
Joined by Sir Francis Cook, but, strange
to say, even the unblemished reputa-
lions of their spouses did not win for
them a. welcome in this country, and
they soon returned to England.