Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-01

1
on yesterday Of the notorious
and much.marrled Ann oDelia
Di, Debar has revived the in
teres, In the srrs,lc career Of the wom-
an who fe,ced susceptible men ana
women all over the United states, and
whose influence over teveral wealthy
and intelligent men IN this city Is still
fresh In the memories u New Workers.
says the New York Evening Sun. Her
reputed husband, Frank Jackson is
still In prison
Mrs. Dis Debar had spectacular ca
reer In America. II was she who, as 4
spook priestess, succeeded in so fascinat-
Ing Luther X. March the distinguished
old lawyer Of New YORK, with a belief
IN her occult powers as a painter OF
spirit pictures. that he gave her large
sums Of money and decided 10 her his
splendid residence at l66 Madison ave-
nue.
In all the ennsls Of occult fakirs there
IL no stranger tale than that OF the
operations Of Dis D-bar. who boldly
proclaimed herself the Princess
Edltha Lolita. daughter Of the king OF
Bavaria and Of Lola Montez. the ac-
tress
she was in fact Ann O'Delia Solomon.
daughter Of John G, r. Solomon, Ger
man musician and composer OF merit
and respectabillty. He had left the
fatherland for political reasons, and
after settling in Washington and later
IN Louisville. KY, De married a Miss
Thompson. belonging TO one OF the most
famous Of the Blue Grass families. Ann
was the youngest OF four children A
brother was, until his death a few
years ago. a prominent Louisville bus
mess man, while the two sisters, one OF
them principal OF grammar school.
are highly respected. The parents
long ago died Of grief over the erratlc
and disgraceful behavior Of Ann.
She became an outcast and adventur-
ess OF her own volition al the age OF
Is. after attempts had been made 10
confine her IN an insane asylum. she
ia now over co years old. In 1871 she
ran away with young Franchman.
Dr. Messant whom she married. Later
she became the wife OF Gen. Dis Debar.
and two children were born TO them.
She travelled about the country repre-
sentlng herself as the possessor OF &C.
cult powers and the reyealer OF spirit
ualistie truths. This so disguised Gen.
Dis Debar that he left her.
In 1858 she turned Up IN New York
city with her husband. They had IN
their possession about 100 famous old
paintings. These they used In deluding
various men Of wealth. including the
antiquarian and art collector, 5. l.
Loewenhertz and their best known
dupe, Luther r. Marsh, wealthy re-
tired lawyer. 70 years old, who had
no near relatives living. Having con-
WINGED Marsh that she had been sen
10 him by his dead wife from the
spirit world to guide his Affairs, Mrs,
Dis Debar used the paintings 10 cliIch
her hold on the old man. She would
first smear a painting by Titan or Ru-
bens or Van Dyke with a coating OF
chalk, and. after hypnoiizing Marsh,
she would invoke the spirit Of the an
Client master ana then deftly material
lie" the painting before his eyes with
damp cloth Some color was lent to
her claim 10 being the daughter Of Lola
Montez by the fact that many Of the
pictures with which she duped Marsh
and Loewenheriz seem really 10 have
belonged once 10 the collection Of King
Louis ! Of Bavaria, and his relations
with Lola Montez were % such a ma
iure that his scheming and beautiful
mistress might easily have secured pos
session Of them.
With some Of these. which she
olaimtd that her spirit guides painted,
she FOOLED Loewenhertz. With others,
which she secured from the old collec-
tor. she fooled Marsh. Dis Debar him
ser who was an artist, Il supposed 70
nave painted some Of the pictures
Marshs friends fearing that he was
being yictimiEed. In spite Of his pro-
tests. descended on the home TO Wit
ness some Of the spiritistic marvels ~
which the old man talked They found
the house, one OF the finest on Madison
avenue, IN the possession Of host OF
spiritualists Marsh explained that In
response 10 the request Of his dead wife.
ne had decided Il "a Mrs. Dis Dtbar
and that he had made his viii In her
iaVof. He was wildly indignant when
MS friends became rude with the heav-
enly messenger IN the person OF the
DIS Debar. and ordered them out OF the
house
II vas apparent that the old man
was suffering from senile Dement'S ana
thAt the schemsrs held him under h,,n.
motto oontrol.snd the New York Rar as
seciation took the matter In hand. After
oitttr hght that vas the sensation az
the tine IN the United States. Marsh's
properly was restored TO him. and Mrs.
Us Dehar was sent 70 the penitsniiarv
ioI one year and the Gerry society took |
chatee OF her two children.
Nhie the spook compeller was IN
prison her husband died. on compl.,.
ms her term o. imprisonnsnt 49, |
nent OF we Stage as assistant 20 Her. |
mann. me magician, % produce |
pIl painting IN public. bu, |
maj mol proving a very lucrative |
business. the Dis Dsbar pretended "a |
commit suicide from a Jersey civ ,er. |
Ilooat ana until she was arrested IN |
chicago three years later FOR swindllnr |
she vas thought 70 be dead.
Under the name Of We're p. Ava shs
tell into the hands % the Chicago no-
nee ana was sent % the Joliet renter.
nary Tor two years Released fro,,
duranoe vile. she met William ]. yc- |
'roNan IN 1885 IN Chicago ana ma.
ried HIN. MCGOWAN. like Msrsh. was
man ~ wealth. but that ala no, sion /
ssr taseer OF sharp practices ra,er 1
W vas arrested on the usual charge
N Rome. italy. but escaped conviction.
Aiter operating extensively IN Europe
she returned 10 New York. ana thsn
inaulsea again N her fancy for start.