The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-07
Mrs. Van slingerland Discusses
Tragic Ending of Rohnce in
Which She Was Confirmed.
WERE MARRIED BY C N1RAcT.
Fell in Love With Eai Other
While He Was in Warrington
Working for Appointment
Jealousy Caused Trable.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
New York July 6.-News Of u death in
New Orleans Thursday of Johus. G. Pit
Kin, formerly Minister to Arstina and
more recently Postmaster at Ne Orleans.
reached here on Friday a fudlment Of
a premonition to Mrs. Nellie B. an Sling
crland. who was long in closesympathy
with the man.
She says she was married to IN by con-
tract last year. not many month before
hitter quarrel. which was given luch pub
licity and which cost him his Off of Post
master. separated them. Despitthis sep
aratior. Mrs. Van Slingerland d4ares. she
had for several days q premoniti, that Mr.
Pitkin was In danger of death.
Il was impelied,'' she said on riday, ito
write him urging him to rreparfor death.
knowing; he was not ready to cnt upon the
: future i!fe. failed to write. owever. I
had no intima ton that he was DIT in good
!. health. and the news of his dth was a
great shock ia me-
Mrs. Slingerland. who Is the dorced wife
of W Lynn. hut who goes BY r. mothers
maiden name. says her Marie by con-
tract 10 Mr.. Pitkin took placei Washing
ton. %. G.. III 1900. when he haa wife l;V-
ing In New orleans. On thi,point MIS-.
Slingerlard said:
George Eliot BRAND of arringc.
Our Hid!IiaSe WIS Il ptIu4i diA dug
ment, such a ono as existed beteen George
Eliot and G. II. I.evses. We regarded lit
as sacred as If it had been pe,rmed by
minister. 1t was provided thaif Mr.. Pit
kin should be released by 1ivce or death
We should be married in the onodox way.
After the contract marriages before. we
lived apart. We loved each Ger. and the
world knew it. L suppose
Mrs. Van Sl.ngerland who la handsome
md of ffl-.a f5r1Gr ~.
ciety leader in Washington. Sce May she
has lived at the Clarendon, otel. Eight
centh and Fourth avenue, thtcity. OF her
association with Mr.. Pitk: Mrs. Van
Slingerland said:
Il first met Mr.. Pittin whilI was living
at the Windsor Hotel here. Y fell in love
and he called frequently: Inlet. so often
that feared that 1t would ause gossip,
and warned him to be. carefi The result
was that he became insaneiy ;alous and at
times would threaten TO CONT suicide.
He made. great efforts ftcoLtain a. re-
appointment as Minister to gsentina. but
was not diplomatic. ard fare TO Obtain
immediate appointment caus him TO pub
licly criticise President Nkinley. This
ended his chance of becopg Minister TO
Argentina, but he was dPostma ster at
New Orleans
Pitkln's .sFatnl .bve."
In the interim. we were constant cor
respondence. as we had beeIsince our first
meeting. These love letterstogether with
poems we had written to eacbther. We later
published. 1t may seem paiiiar that we
should do such a thing. buthe simple fact
was that neither of us had ny means, and
It was necessary to obtain inds, The let
tiers and poems were publiaed under the
title of Love and Poiitics:A Social Ro-
nance; The Love Letters ad Poems of n
Prominent Orator and IA Scsty Queen
Neither MIR. Pitkin's name mr. my own APP
peared.
When Mr.. Pitkin returnd to New Or
leans. j also went there. 1 vas appointed.
his private secretary. Mr.. Films jealousy
increased, and at last he dsanded the re-
turn of certain letters he lad sent me
through the mail. / refusd to surrender
them, as they were my peSnal property
Then he caused my arrest N the charge
of stealing them. This wa fatal move
on Mr.. Pitkin's part, as tbfublicity of the
affair resulted in his losin his Office. The
Grand Jury refused to ind.t me.
Although I can neverfdget his cruel
treatment, yet i grieve CRAFTY for him
when remember him in;istbest days and.
fefore his mind became feeted, as sin
cerely believe IT was, byjeabusy'
Mrs. Van Slingerland SIS she has suit
Tor $S00.O00 pending here gainst her former
husband. w. H. Lynn, f. the loss of prop
erty in Minnesota. wlch, she says, he
disposed of while theySxere married. Mr..
Lynn is now the hustnd of sister OF
President 1glesias Of iosta Rica, and is
wealthy and Of much influence in Central
America.
John r. G. Pitkin waknown in Louisiana
~ my Dear Pitkin,' because of an In.
cident in connection VIII Republican Re-
turning Board, Of with he was a member.