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A RECORD IN KENTUCKYAs Well as in Several Other States Has Mr. Leigh French.Why Mr. Culbertson Added The Codicil To Hie WilL*1-it;eite3t1-nThe Chicago Dispatch states that it is enabled to throw considerable light on the reasons why the late Mr. Culbertson, the father of Blanche Culbertson, who resides at 594 Division street, put a codicil to hie will disinheriting the girl if she married Leigh French, an alleged “medical” student of Minneapolis.It Is evident from Mr. Culbertson’s actions that he was thoroughly ac quainted with at least a portion of Mi. French’s malodorous record. Such a record very seldom falls to the lot of one individual in a life time. Much of the glamor which has been thrown over what appeared to be a romantic story, reduced and stripped of all trimmings and decorations, the narrative resolves itself to one in which a foolish heiress became possessed of a strange infatuation.For years Leigh French has ostensibly been a circus fakir when he has not been occupied witn the duties incumbent upon a medical or law stu dent,and when ho has not been otherwise engaged in ways that are dark and devious.He comes of a very good family, noted for its wealth and social ioflu ence in Minnoajolis. Leigh graduated from college and before entering upon a course of medical studies he was sent by his father to travel through this country, having been instructed to join his father at the Oentenial. Leigh got as far as St. Louis, where he met a railroad conductor, named Fred Miller, and he was by him introduced to the latter’s 15 year old daughter, with wh)m he eloped to Oshkosh, Wis., where the couple were married. The young girl is described a9 being very beautiful, and when an addition was promised to the French household Leigh packed up his things and returned to his father.A year or two after this young French was heard of in Paducah, Ky. where he met and ruined a young girl who was a relative of a State Senator of that State. After he bad accomplished his purpose he left for parts unknown, and in 1882 he bobbed up in Evansville, Ind., wbere he became a frequent attendant on a ten cent show known as Shields lt;% Monroe’s show.He met Mrs. Nellie Monroe, the wife of one of the proprietors of the circus. Mrs. Monroe was formerly a Miss Gatlin, of Clinton, Iowa, and her sister had been married to the other proprietor of the show, John Shields. French was a good-looking fellow and Mrs. Monroe was duly blessed with her share of female beauty, the result being that they foil desperately in love with each other.Shortly after their acquaintance Monroe was taken suddenly ill and he died rather suddenly in his dressing room. The bereaved widow went right on with the show as if nothing had happened. Poor Billy Monroe was duly buried, and French at once took his place. It was given out that the couple were married, and when French’s father heard of it he called on his son and insisted upon his return home. A promise'to this lt;*fTeot was given, which was, however, broken the moment he had obtained several hundred dollars from his father. When his show reached St. Louis, French came face to face with the father of the Paducah girl. Leigh was arrested, but his father once more came to the front and squared the matter, when he received a promise from his son that he would leave Nell Monroe.Ijelgh then entered a 1 w school and studied just long enough to get another good hit of his father’s money and in a few months returned to Nellie. She sold him one third of the circus, as she had previously bought out John Shields. Among the performers of the company at that time were Millie Merreta and Jo Z»mora, Mexican Trapeze performers, and Leigh could not resist the temptation of falling in love with tne pretty Mexican.Nellie Monroe was not slow in understanding the condition of affairs and tne records of tho police courts at Memphis, Tenn., on August 25, lssG. show that .Nellie Monroe and Millie Merretta were arrested while engaged in a list fight for the affections of Leigh French. -Among the gang of fakirs traveling with the show at that time were Billy Edwards, Ed Ruley, Jim Henry, Jim McKinney and his brother John, a 1 of whom are ex cons— Buak Allen and Gilbert Fitzgerald, the latter of whom was In charge of them. As the show trav-stole the show and ran it into Kansas.Nell Monroe, about this time, made up her mlad to square accounts with French for the Merretta trick, so she ran away with Ruley. French followed them and located the pair at a prominent hotel in Kansas City. At the meeting the interest was kept alive by both men drawing revolvers and exchanging a few shots, Ruley being hit in the leg. French took his half of the show and Nell Monroe sold out her half to Burr Robbins, of Chicago. Ruley took the money and started the saloon on Halstead and Madison streets.French traveled another season, and he wintered in Chicago at Btate and Sixteenth streets in 1891. The circus was destroyed by Are, and it leaked out that French had attempt ed to sell the circus just prior to the “accident.” The local papers went into rhapsodies over the paroxysms of grief shown by French when he was informed that an Arabian horse named “Sapo” had been burned up. This was the horse which French had given to Nellie Monroe. Fire Inspector Shay tegan an investigation, but it amounted to nothing. French started fur Europe and in this connection may be cited the strange coincidence that Nellie Monroe also sailed, as she said, for the purpose of obtaining “ladies” for bycycle tournaments to be given in tho leading tititw of this country.The coincidence continued to do business at the old stand, for when French returned she was on the same ship. Nellie had a six pound box of cigarettes presented to her In England and when the custom officers Inspected the stateroom they were invited to help themselves. Had they been ordinarily bright they would have found a solid silver faro box at the bottom of the cigarette package. This box had been made in Germany and it was made for the purpose of dealing crooked faro. Ruley turned it over to “Bunk” Allen and the box was used at 5050 Lake avenue until The Dispatch began its crusade.The silver Faro box is always concealed when not In use in a clock on the wall, and if this article doee not put the gang on their guard it will be there right along. It co9t three hun dred In Germany and its proprietor ship is Ruley’s interest in the game After Leigh French arrived in thl6 country he had another stormy session with his father, who had found out his son’s renewal of friendship fo r the Monroe woman. Leigh promised to never see her again and to take up the study of medicine.It is not a matter of surprise, con scquently.that Mr. Culbertson should disinherit his daughter if she did not relinquish her Ideas of marrying Leigh French, circus fakir, confidence man and professional libertine.Is a ne Bon Be flat w eitherAGFAt pritIT]sup;tos.eled went it was known as “The1-)tFrench Aggregation of Wonders,’ and it was about as tough a gang as was ever connected with a tent show. When at Creston, Iowa, French andFitzgerald became acquainted with farmer named Richards and they put up a job to sell him the circus and then steal it back after a few weeks. This was d me, and one week from the date of sale Ruley and the gangBy All Means Read This.My stock of Boots and Shoes is entirely too large and to reduce same at once. I shall offer prices lower than any I have known in my 41 years experience In this business. I nave the best makes and qualities from manufacturers of the highest standing In their line In this country and some of the goods 1 am offering I know to be under the cost of production, bargains obtainable only by the ready cash during a financial stress such as the present. Call and see my large new stock and do not let sue': a rare opportunity o.icane you.J J Tkkstkguk,457 State St.PROGRAM OF REOIPALN PIAtltThe and shape the B 1st w the tr range befori cure withl Grou pond Passe 48 W apoli! hund WritAp era Ir ofNe to Ju1-7aiB)j:iiHlGiven by DoPauw OonaoivatoryPuplla, Friday, June 2, 93.liuot-FaaclnRtlon..............................IVrilugUin Hopkins and Miss PucktudMelody.......................................'-------lU-jerJacle Wriglit.Vocal Solo....................................SelectedMaud Hoy.Polonaise Urlllante.....................MerkelPhliuro Reilly.1st piano, Kdltli Kly.2d piano, Butler Williamson.Fairies' Dance....................................JroIIBlanche Gilliland.Duo—Saluln Perth.......................Kowalski1st piano, KUnaCuppy.2d plauo, Miss Packard.Serenade..................................SchubertBetty McGrathDuet—Steeple Chase..................... McMostersNellie HewlU aud Ratio DePauw.a. Funeral March...............................Choplub LeBauanler.................,....GottschaikMary Talbott.Due—Vaprlce Hongrolse...............Kltterer1st piano, Mayrne Frlsble.2J piano, Essie Allen.Hummer Morning..............................FoxArta Wilcox son.Duet—Melody....................................Mer*Prlino part by Sue Baldwin.Marche d-s Tax hours.....................vmlthK.mma Durbin.Solo—The hlol of Heart ................. ..stahlEliza Tabler.Duel-Frivolity Polka..................La CoaseitoFleta Crawford aud Carrie Harrell.Pasquinade.................................GUI ho ha IkDibble Welch.Tro— Norma.............................Julia Fawcett, Jennie Mini 5fl*H Packard.Holo....................-.................George F. AllenMountain J tream................ .Mamie Norton.Duet—Oberon.............................Ley bachEdith Browning and Amelia Barth.Vocal Molo......................................... -SelectedMr*. Carroll Carr.Duo—Don Juan...............-............Leyoach1st piano, Carrie Trailer.2d olano, Mies Packard.tiuartette—March.....................Smallwood.let plauo, Llzsle Vogel, Kllxa Morrle.2d piano, Bernice Rinehart, Bertha Conner. Recital Saturday £31) p. ra. Admleelon 10 cents.111Ge:Coi t'xerny•iiMin and.Selected.WelibShiloh's Vitali7.br Is what you need for Dyspepsia, Torpid Liver. Yellow 8k!n or Kidney Trouble. It is guaranteed to give you satisfaction. Price 75e. 8old by druggists. 4WillyourgivelineR€waysAF/PIN*Goo meat and 1 Kfren Ecllto Fargl
Newspaper Details
New Albany Evening Tribune
New Albany, Indiana, US
Fri, Jun 02, 1893
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
New A.
Indiana, USA 21 May 2017
Other Publications Near New Albany, Indiana
New Albany Weekly Ledger
New Albany Evening Tribune
New Albany Gazette
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