The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-04-21
4 TRAGEDY OF TREASON.

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No woman in American history, or
certainly none in Philadelphia annals,
has excited 80 much interest and 30
often been the subject of controversy
as the beautiful and unfortunate Peggy
Shipper, wife of the traitor, Benedict
Arnold. Whether she was guilty of
completely in her husbands crime or
the innocent victim of circumstances
was for years a favorite theme with
historians. Some, says the Philadel.
phia Press, delighted in picturing her
an unscrupulous, artfal seducer, whose
inordinate vanity caused her husbands
downfall. Others wrote page after
page refating these allegations, none of
which could be sustained by any sat-
isfactory proof indeed. the only valid
reason for the accusation was the word
of Aaron Burr, who, according to her
family, circulated these reports after
his advances had been repulsed by
Margaret Arnold, when he was escort
ing her back to Philadelphia. In the
eyes of the vast majority of her con-
temporaries and of those who have ex.
amined the subject thoroughly she was
absolutely ignorant Of the plans of her
husband, for it was not likely that a
man of his nature would disclose such
q perilous secret to q young, volatile
girl.
As the supposed tory proclivities Of
her family have so often been advanc'
ed as q reason for her influencing
Arnold to betray his country, it will
not be amiss to state their exact status.
The Shipper family to which she
belonged was one of the most aristo.
cratic and distinguished in Philadel'
phia. Edward Shipper, her great
grandfather, had been the first mayor
of this city, a man of means, of posi-
ton, and her father, Edward Shipper
III, was one of the leading officials in
Pennsylvania. Like many others at
the outbreak of the revolution, he
disapproved of taking up arms against
the mother country. though he was in
entire sympathy with the causes that
led to it. Many of his near relatives
were actively engaged in the contest
on the side of liberty. He preserved
an attitude of strict neutrality, was
required to give his paroleandt through
out was never so much as suspected Of
any disloyalty to his country. The
respect in which he was held is proven
by his being appointed, after the war
to special posts Of trust and confidence
finally becoming chief justice of Pen
nsylvania.
Margaret, or Peggy, as she is usually
called, the youngest ofthe three daugh
tiers, was the darling of the family
Beyond the fact that she was vel
educated and fond of remaining Al
home in her fathers company, little il
known of her until she blossomed
forth as the beautiful, fascinating
belle, captivating the hearts of thu
English officers. When the British
held Philadelphia during the winter o.
1777-78, she, though not yet Is, wa.
the toast of the town, and the homage
paid her was endless. One Of hel
most devoted admirers was the i'll
starred Andre, and this friendship wa
afterward looked upon as most dam
aging piece Of evidence against her.
Although many accounts say thai
Peggy and her two sisters took part in
the celebrated Meschianza, the state
ment has always been contradicted by
the Shipper family. According t.
them, the young ladies were invited
and had arranged to 60, their names
were on the programme and theil
dresses prepared, but at the last instant
some prominent Quakers visited theil
father and persuaded him that it would
be unseemly for his daughters tc
appear in public in Turkish costumes
In consequence, though they are said
to have been in a dancing fury" they
were obliged to stay at home.
Exactly one month after this fare
we'll fete to General Howe, the British
were obliged to evacuste Philadelphia
the Americans marched in and Gen
eral Benedict Arnold was placed in
command of the city. He was at thil
period very popular, having rendered