Her right to claim protection from all Freemasons throughout the world!
Liverpool Echo, June 19th, 1889
Letter posted
Sir, now that there occurs a temporary lull in the excitement in this case it may not be inopportune of me to ask for the insertion of this letter, with the view of at once and for all setting at rest the many absurd and idle rumours, which are not only in extensive circulation in Liverpool but have found their way into print in the London provincial, American and continental journals, as affecting the character and position of the Baroness Von ROQUES, on whose behalf I had the honour of holding a “Watching brief” on the occasion of the recent magisterial inquiry.
She has expressed her perfect willingness that the facts should be published of her having had three husbands, the first Mr CHANDLER, who was head of the famous banking house of St John, Powers and Co, Mobile.
His death in 1863 was from inflammation of the brain caused by extreme tension and anxiety, attendant upon the heavy financial responsibilities of his firm in the midst of the civil war.
A year and a half afterwards she became attached to the hospitals in Charleston during the bombardment, and married Franklin du BARRY, after he sustained in action a mortal wound. He was taken by her and his brother on board the FANNY, a blockade runner, which was chased by the U.S Gunboats from Wilmington to Nassau, and on the way he died, and was buried at sea.
Eight years after this in 1873, when the war was at an end, she married the Baron Von ROQUES who is still living.
The Baroness is endeavouring to trace the authorship of the atrocious, calumny, which has been uttered against her, and no stone will be left unturned to bring to justice [at the proper time] the foul utterers and circulators of so cruel a scandal which can have but one object, and that is to prejudice the approaching trial, when the only daughter of her first marriage will have to face a jury on the terrible charge of poisoning her husband.
I may further add that the Baroness is a member of the American Women’s Masonic Lodge of the Eastern Star, which is under the direction of the Grand Masonic Lodge of the New York State, and this gives her the right to claim protection from all Freemasons throughout the world.
If this letter only has the effect of stopping all the idle tittle-tattle of the foulest and most unfounded rumours, which have reached the ears, my object will be gained.
The trouble to her is surely cruel enough without it being aggravated by slanders which have no foundation in truth or fact. – Yours
J. T. Reeve EDCOME
Inner Temple London, June 17th, 1889.
Copyright 2002 / To date