A CHEQUIRED LIFE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2170, 21 December 1885, Page 2

A CHEQUIRED LIFE.

A woman who can relate a' remarkable life history, appeared before the Chicago public recently as complainant in a libel suit against the 'Tribune, 1 On September 30 that paper published a despatch from St Louis stating that Belle Boyd, the exConfederate spy, had put up at Hurst's Hotel, but had gone from there to St. James, leaving her trunk at the former place. The article did not state that she had eluded a board bill, but left that to be inferred, and facetiously described the contents of the trunk, which was opeued by the people of Hurst House. The mention of a pair of old corsets, a slipper, a plug of tobacco, and a " God Bless our Home" motto as the only contents of the trunk incensed the lady, and she sued for 5,000d0l damageß. Belle Boyd, or Mrs Hammond—for that is the name under which she brings the suit—is a woman of tall and graceful form, and a face in which still lingers much of the beauty which it possessed when its owner became famous during the war, lam opposed," she said, "to the newspapers publishing my private affairs with the object of making mo ridiculous, Not only has that story, which was entirely false, wounded my pride, but it has done me great injury here and elsewhere. If I am poor (and the lady's blue eyes filled with tears), it is not my fault. It was a matter between ' the hotel peoplo and myself.". Of her career, which made the' name of Belle Boyd famous the world over, she said: "When the war began 1 was a girl of fifteen, just out of school, and enthusiastic inmylovo for my country—the South. What I did for the cause was not done in the consciousness that I \vas a. my, I only wanted to help' my people, I was exchanged for a Union colonel, and when I got back to the Southern army I received an enthusiastic reception. In 18641 was Bent to England with despatches from the Confederate Government, and ran the blockade in the steamer Greyhound, 1 was captured at sea, with my despatches, the Greyhound having been run down by the Connecticut, under .command of Lieutenant Harding. The lieutenant fell' in leva with me, and permitted the captain of the Greyhound fippe. I was brought tq Washington again a prisoner, but was banished to Canada to be shot the next time I was caught. Lieutenant Harding was court martialled and dismissed from the service. He went to England, and the same summer (1864) we wore married in London. I received the most distinguished attentions there. After I was left a widow in England I went on the stage, In 18671 made my, first appearance on the stagci jn America, Iflth lien de Ear, and after that I starred twq' seasons, Then I tnarried Colonel Hammond, at New Orleans, and lived' quietly far' Texas uhtil'a littlfe over a year ago. Colonel Hammond isnow afflicted with softening of tho brain, and I am' compelled to support , myself and three children., I intend to return to the" stage, and make a name for myself'ye^t. 1 ; MissBsyd has anengagement- ",Pro- ! fessor" company, to ( play fl(iss Elliott;,