The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-30

MoKillip's supporters, has sent a check
to be used in the furtherance OF the work.
Mrs. Merritt has promised to give all as
sistance possible to the person who goes
to England in Mrs Maybricks behalf.
Mrs. Potter Palmer is also IN England
and Is In sympathy with the movement.
AS a new home secretary Is In the Brit
ish cabinet and former sympathizer OF
Mrs. Maybrick sits on the throne the
situation Is regarded as more favorable
than ever before. Lady Somerset has
been one Of the most vigorous workers
In Mrs. Maybricks behalf in England.
Mrs. McKilllp. through Mrs. Potter
Palmer and Mrs. Merritt expects to
meet Lady Somerset, who. through Fran
ces Willard, was Interested in Mrs. May
brick, and hopes that their common aim
will result in way being found for Her
to present her plea to the queen.
With every change in the office of Eng
fish home secretary in the British cabi-
net renewed efforts have been made to
secure Mrs. Maybrick's pardon. Many
times her friends have apparently been
so near success that a wave of exultation
has gone through America with the pre-
mature announcement of her release. In
every instance leniency has been stayed
ct the last moment by some unknown in
fluence, and though the justice who SEN
fenced her died in an insane asylum. the
counsel at the trial has become lord chief
justice of England, and the prince of
Wales. who once openly sympathized
he doa he TQrfff cI,
she still suffers in prison
Believing that their mother is dead.
and unsuspecting that the Maybrick
tragedy has played so important a part
in their lives, the two children of the
unfortunate American woman have been
cared for by foster parents in an obscure
hamlet of England. Her son this year
reached mans estate. and the mother
wrote from her prison cell that his 21st
birthday anniversary was to her more
full of heartaches than any previous day
since she passed within the prison por-
tails The daughter is passing from girl
hood into young womanhood, and this
year was II years old.
Though they do not know that she is
their grandmother, these two children
have been watched over by Baroness de
Roques. the mother of Mrs. Maybrick
From her home in Rouen, France, she has
supervised their training in England, and,
concealing her identity, visited them as
often as she crossed the channel to the
country where their mother and her only
child is a convict. The Baroness has
been unceasing in her efforts to secure
Mrs. Maybrick's pardon. She has won
to her cause thousands of men and wo-
men from every station in life, and has
secured influence varying from that of the
humblest citizen to Presidents of the
United States am governors and rulers
of other countries.
Other emissaries have left this country
for Europe to intercede in Mrs. May
bricks behalf in previous years and have
been supported by even stronger influ-
ence, but have failed to accomplish any
thing for her. When James G. Blaine
was secretary of State for President Har-
rison he was Influenced by his niece, ,
Gail Hamilton, to use his offices in Mrs.
Maybricks behalf Though congress
passed resolutions, petitions were signed
by the cabinet members, and Gail Ham
ilton wrote a book in behalf of the pris-
oner, Lord Asquith the house secretary,
refused to reopen the case. In 1892 Mrs.
Helen Densmore issued at her own ex-
pense another book In Mrs Maybrlck's
behalf.
In 1896 it was reported in the United
States that Sir Matthew w. Ridley, the
her. In February, 1901, another rumor
of her pardon specified even the hour
when she would walk out of Aylesbury
prison through the clemency of King Ed
ward. In both instances. within twenty
four hours. the report was denied. and
the general impression of Mrs. May
bricks friends is that these repeated
false rumors of her freedom were the
work of her enemies.