The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1910-12-01

(The Denver Tribune of Thursday, Feb 2, 1922
Just month ago this evening there arrived in
Denver direct from Atlanta, Ca. young lady,
who is nothing but the wreck of her former self,
but still the lines of great beauty linger about
her which command the sympathy of any gentle
man or lady who might happen to meet her On
the evening of Monday, January 2, 1882, the lady
arrived here over the Kansas Pacific, and being
out Of money. she was kindly shown to the Police
Headquarters. where she told her pitiful story
to Chief Lomery and was given a good room at
the Washington Hotel. on 18th street, where she
has ever since been brOoding over her past
troubles in the South. and everything else having
failed her to get redress for her wrongs, she re-
Quested an interview with a reporter for 'he
Tribune in order to make clear and full state
ment OF her alleged wrongs and see if there were
not some means by which her seducer could lie
brought to justice The obliging reporter, scent
ing something sensational ahead at once repaired
to the Washington house and after sending his
card to Miss Francis Vandervers room, was told
by the clerk that the lady was in and desired an
interview. Being shown the room occupied by
Miss Vanderver, he politely requested to be
seated and after a moment of hesitation on the
part Of the reporter the conversation was opened
in regard to her story, which was related in a
straightforward, ladyike manner, and more than
once during the conversation did the flashing black
eyes snap and sparkle as she related her tale of
love- cOurtship, seduction then desertion and
then she found herself an outcast upon the world
without money and without friends or relatives
to consult as to what course to pursue in the
future.
She began by stating that she was born in South
carolina, Just before the beginning of the re-
bell1On, and that her mother died when she was
but ten days old She had two brothers and
father, and being of true Southern chivalry she
was raised to believe that work was disgraceful
and when but little girl her father was killed in
the war; having espOused the Confederate cause
which left her almost alone in the world with no
one to seek for advice but her brothers and by
the time when she had arrived at that age when
brotherly advice was most needed they had
grown to manhood and gone away leaving her
alone to fight the battles of the world At the
age OF sixteen she moved to Atlanta where she
was thrown upon the world almost alone Being
very handsome at that age CAS- a picture of her
taken at that time shown the reporter proves)
she was sought after by all the young Southerners
or the city, and finally young and leading at
tOrney, named HOke Smith, was the acknowledged
champion in the race and the others withdrew
leaving clear field for the young attorney and
many regrets were offered by the others that they
were not more successful in their suit Time
wore and the betrothal of Mr. Smith and
Miss VanderVer announced and congratula-
lions were shOWered upon Mr. Smith on the
happy occasion. But there came change-in an
unguarded moment she yielded to the persua-
sions of her intended and gave up her most pre-
clous gift and from that time until last Christ
mas day her life in the Southern metropolis was
filled in the dark side. AS soon as he had ac-
complished her ruin he seemed to lose all regard
for her. and cast her out upon the world to battle
with life and death as she inclined. All this hap
pened some three years since When she became
aware that she about to become a mother
and called upon him to pay the necessary ex-
penses, he gave her a couple of dollars with
which to carry her through the terrible crisis
After the child was born he agreed to give her
the magnificent sum of $500 per MONTH but this
soon ceased, and at the end of four months he
again cruelty deserted her and refused to give
her support or that of his own offspring and after
the lapse of about year, death claimed the
little waif.
The child was attended during it's fatal illness
by Dr. Thompson and from the symptoms at