USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2 > Part 37
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stomachs of the victims and all of them were found to contain large quantities of arsenic. At the examination of the body of James Wesley Forrest, Nancy. was present but gave no indica- tion of guilt or even extreme interest in the proceedings. She was arrested, however, and after preliminary examination before Mayor Spencer she was bound over to the grand jury on the charge of murder. The grand jury found four indictments against her, covering the mur- der of the three members of the Forrest family and also the murder of Mrs. Greene, and in the last indictment the Italian nurse, Mrs. Bra- zilli, was included. As Nancy was in indigent circumstances and unable to employ counsel, Rutherford B. Hayes and John F. Hoy were appointed by the court to defend her. . The trial came on hearing before Judge A. G. W. Carter, who had just taken the bench. It was held in the Court House on the north side of Court street, and beginning on February 19, 1852, lasted for 10 days. The case excited great interest not only by reason of the atrocity of the crime charged but because of the apparent lack of motive. The extraordinary appearance of the prisoner and the peculiar character of the testi- mony, that of anthropologists, phrenologists and medical experts who had personal examinations of the prisoner before the court and jury, made the case unusual. The expert testimony of Drs. Z. Freeman and J. R. Buchanan was of great interest and displayed much "learning. Judge Carter's charge was regarded as an eminetly fair and comprehensive one and the evidence seemed conclusive, but the jury delayed three days be- fore finding a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. Nancy was sentenced to be hanged in the jail yard of Hamilton County on June 25th. The fact that a paper containing d portion of the charges found its way to the jury room and that the members of the jury had talked of the case with an outsider, gave Mr. Hayes an opportunity to attack the proceedings. During the interval Nancy was taken before the Probate Court and pronounced of unsound mind. She was sent to the Lick Run Asylum and afterwards to Longview. Here she soon made herself a general favorite and was soon in active service as a nurse.
In the course of her consultations with Mr. Hayes she had informed him that the death of Mrs. Greene had been brought about by the Italian nurse, who had taught Nancy, all im- conscious of hier act, how to administer the poi-
son. Mr. Hayes, who was very confident that Nancy was intellectually incapable of committing the crimes charged upon her, pressed for the trial of Mrs. Brazilli. On the day of the trial Nancy, who was expected to be the principal witness for the State, absolutely refused to give any testi- mony in relation to the matter. This unexpecte.l conduct made it necessary for the jury to return an instructed verdict of not guilty. Mrs. Bra- zilli was so overcome with her release from what seemed certain death that she fainted in the court room. She subsequently moved away to Illinois.
Nancy finally escaped from the asylum and was never seen again by any person in this neigh- borhood. The explanation of her conduct given at the time was that she was fascinated by the extraordinary power that she found that she possessed,-the power of life and death over those around her. There was no possible motive for the killing of the people who had been friendly to her and to whom she seemed much attached other than the mere lust of killing.
THE VISIT OF KOSSUTHI.
The visit of Kossuth in 1852 absorbed much of the attention of the public. The daily papers reported his movements from the time he arrived in the country until his departure and the speeches and addresses delivered to him were printed in full. Kossuth hats and Magyar caps were for sale by all the hatters and in the ad- vertisements of the day the presence of the distin- guished Hungarian was constantly referred to. One advertiser for instance invites attention to his wares by a large head line,-"Kossuth Sur- prised," the point being that Kossuth would be astonished to learn of the perfection of the wares offered for sale.
Two nights previous to his arrival, a public meeting was held at the hall of the Mechanics' Institute, at which J. H. Gerard acted as chair- man and Cal. W. Thomas as secretary. Judge Carter delivered an address and William M. Corry, the chairman of the Kossuth Committee of Finance, presented resolutions. Francis Pulszky, one of Kossuth's suite, also addressed the meeting. Other speakers were Bellamy Storer, Dr. Buchanan and Judge Parker. Kos- suth was accompanied from Columbus by the most distinguished citizens-Governor Wood, Lieutenant-Governor Medill, and President E. S. Hamlin and Messrs. Miller and Manypenny of the Board of Public Works. As the train
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rolled in at the Sixth street depot, Kossuth was greeted by an assemblage of 20,000 people, which had been standing for hours. The arrival of the train was announced by a salvo of cannon accompanied by tremendous cheering. The crowd was so compact that it took some time to escort Kossuth from the train to the stand where the committee were in waiting. Here the mayor, Mr. Taylor, delivered an address of welcome which was responded to by the distinguished visitor. His voice, worn out by constant speak- ing, almost entirely failed him. The procession thereupon moved up Smith street, headed by Grand Marshal C. H. Sargent and Captain Guth- rie's troop of mounted escorts with a fine brass band. Then followed the military under com- mand of General Browne as follows: German Cavalry, Hamilton Artillery, Rough and Ready Cadets, U. S. Infantry from Newport, German Sharpshooters, German Riffemen, Lafayette Guards and Steuben Guards, cach preceded by a full brass band. In the second and third di- visions were the fire department companies and various associations and societies. Kossuth was seated in an open barouche drawn by four fine bay horses finely caparisoned. In the carriage with him were Mayor Taylor and Judge Hoadly, chairman of the committee of arrangements, Gov- ernor Wood and William B. Cassidy, president of the City Council. Madam Kossuth and Madam Pulszky also occupied an open carriage. The enormous crowd of people in the neighbor- hood of the depot made the procession move very slowly. Its route was up Sixth to Western row, thence to Seventh, thence to Vine and then down Vine to the east entrance of the Burnet House. Throughout the line of march, Kossuth was everywhere greeted by the same demonstrations of regard and the whole was a grand triumphant progress such as was never before seen in Cin- cinnati. During the march, Kossuth stood erect in his carriage most of the time with uncovered head, bowing to the huzzaing crowd on the street and to those of the fair ones waving hand- kerchiefs from every door, window and balcony. When the party reached the Burnet House, it required the full force of police as well as the cavalry to clear a passage. Almost 8,000 people crowded on Third and Vine streets in front of the hotel. In response to the demands of the people Kossuth appeared on the southeast bal- cony. He was called upon for a speech but was obliged to lean over the balustrade and say,- "Gentlemen, I cannot, I have no voice." At
this came a cry from the crowd that lights be put around him so that he could be seen, which was done and "as Kossuthi's noble . forin stood clearly · revealed before the sovereign people a shout went up from the multitude below that might for aught we know have reached Francis Joseph himself." (Gasette, February 10, 1852.)
Prior to the departure from Columbus, a com- mittee of the City Council headed by M. B. Coombs delivered an address extending an invi- tation to Kossuth to the metropolis of the West.
The train carrying Kossuth was obliged to stop at almost- every station on the way,-Cedar- ville, Xenia, Yellow Springs, Springfield, Day- ton, Middletown and Hamilton. At each of these points addresses of welcome were delivered and contributions to the Hungarian cause handed to the committee. Unfortunately Kossuth's health was such that he was not able to accept the for- mal reception tendered to him for some days after his arrival, but in the meantime various organizations of citizens called upon him at his hotel and tendered their respects. The formal reception finally took place on Thursday, Feb- ruary 12th, at the Court street market space in the presence of the mightiest gathering ever wit- nessed in the city. The addresses of welcome were delivered by Caleb B. Smith in English and Charles Reemelin in German, and Kossuth responded in an address delivered to 30,000 peo- ple, which occupied two columns of the daily papers. Despite Kossuth's exhaustion he was required to deliver addresses to all sorts of or- ganizations. Eleven hundred people paid $1 apiece to hear him speak in Smith & Nixon's Hall, where he was introduced by Frank T. Chambers. Judge Hoadly, Bellamy Storer, Judge Matthews, R. M. Corwine, William Gris- well and others were appointed to arrange for a general meeting of the various Hungarian associations in the city. On the same day he de- livered an address occupying one and a half hours to the German population at Turner Hall on Walnut below 14th street. The hall was filled with ladies while the area in the rear of the building used for gymnasium grounds was occu. pied by several thousand male German citizens. Kossuth spoke from a staging erected on the out- side of the building on a level with the hall floor so that he could be heard both by those within and those without. Charles Reemelin also addressed the people in German and pre- sented a formal address lithographed on parchi-
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ment. At each of these meetings Kossuth was presented with checks for more than $1,000.
The papers of the day contained minute de- tails of Kossuth's movements and the various delegations received by him. On one day he received delegates of the young men of the city under 15, the School Board, the French Associa- tion and the pupils of Mr. Herron's school, cach of which had presented him with a donation.
On another he sat for his daguerreotype at Mr. Faris' studio, received a delegation of Israelites and addressed a number of Hungarian societies and organizations.
On Thursday afternoon, the 19th, he received a thousand ladies at the Burnet House, where he listened to an address by Mrs. Telford. Im- mediately after the ladies had listened to a re- sponse from Kossuth, the clergy of Cincinnati took possession of him and to these he made another address.
Kossuth's banquet was held Saturday night, February 21st, at the Burnet House. It was attended by 450 people who paid $5 a plate. In the center of the dining hall was suspended a full-length portrait of Washington, with one of Jackson on the right and one of Kossuth on the left. The hall was draped with national flags of both Hungary and Turkey. The table was decorated with representations of the steamship "Mississippi" bearing Kossuth from captivity, liberty columns surmounted with statues of Washington, Franklin and others, a temple of liberty and a figure representing Kossuth tram- pling the crown of. Austria under his feet, a Turkish pavilion, an Egyptian monument, a Western steamer, etc. Tosso's band discoursed pleasant music. J. J. Faran presided. The toasts were 13 in number and were responded to by such speakers as W. M. Corry, Judge Carter, General McDowell of Hillsboro, R. M. Corwine, Caleb B. Smith, Judge Hoadly, Governor Moore- head of Kentucky, J. B. Stallo, Prof. O. M. Mitchel, Lieutenant Nelson of the steamer frigate "Mississippi" and Frank T. Chambers. The toast of welcome was "Here in the wilder- ness, in the bosom of the great West ; in the city of one hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants whence emanated the first public move in Amer- ica for his personal canse and also his liberation from captivity, do we welcome Louis Kossuth, the champion of self-government in Europe."
The receptions and addresses continued until Kossuth's departure on the 24th, at which time an enormous gathering of people once more occupied the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton
depot. Kossuth was introduced to the people by Bellamy Storer and was addressed by Will- iam S. Groesbeck and responded in one of his most lengthy as well as eloquent speeches.
Not the least interesting result of the visit was a discussion of the Hungarian question between Orestes A. Brownson and J. B. Stallo.
Unfortunately a controversy arose with regard to Kossuth's treatment. He was disappointed in the money raised by him for his cause, but little over $7,000, when he had expected as much as $25,000. There was also a controversy with regard to the hotel bill, which was finally paid by the city.
Francis Pulszky, who accompanied him, com- ments particularly on the lack of cohesion in the society of Cincinnati :
"I preceded Kossuth thither, in order to depre- cate on his part all costly processions, pageantry and banquets, and as he was exhausted already by speeches, I wished to arrange matters so, that he should only once address the multitude, and once those who had formed themselves into associations of friends of Hungary.
"But as soon as I was introduced to the Com- mittee of Arrangements, I saw that my diplo- macy must fail. Thirty gentlemen belonged to that body, and the great question was just under discussion, whether besides the Mayor of the City, it should be the Chairman of the City Council, or the Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, who was to occupy the carriage with the 'City's Guest' at the festive entry. 1 do not remember how this grave concern was settled, but, of course, it was impossible under such circumstances to carry the proposal that no procession should be held. Besides, every coterie claimed a separate speech, and the result was, that Kossuth had to address 'the Big people' of Cincinnati at a banquet, and others again at Nixon's hall, and then the Ladies, and the North- ern Germans, and the Southern Germans, and the fashionable public at large, and the lower classes at large, and likewise the inhabitants of Coving- ton, the suburb of Cincinnati on the Kentucky side.
"But this was not the only consequence of the want of homogeneity in the population of Cin- cinnati. Kossuth several times requested the members of the Committee to allow that he should himself bear his own expenses, and that the appropriation made for his entertainment by the City Council, which had invited him, shonkl be given to the Hungarian fund. The Commit-
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tee-men ,declined to comply with his desire, it seemed to them mean to do it. We left Cin- einnati, and Mr. Coleman, the lessee of the Bur- net-house,-the splendid hotel in which we had · been accommodated,-presented his bill to the City Council, but the Council, divided in the same way as the population, reduced the bill first by one-third, and then-repudiated the claim al- together, though the arrangements were entered into by their own members, who had been au- thorized to do so. I do not know whether Mr. Coleman recovered his claim, but I know that nowhere in the United States did we find an, establishment better kept, or an attendance bet- ter regulated than here." ( White, Red and Black, p. 292.)
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Mr. Pulszky was much impressed by two Cin- cinnatians whom he met at this time,-Prof. O. M. Mitchel, who was in charge of the Cin- cinnati Observatory, and its donor, Nicholas Longworth. Mrs. Pulszky also discusses Cin- cinnati in her diary. She thought that the land- ing place offered a grand view with its thirty gigantic steamers always to be seen, some com- ing, some going, some loading, others discharg- ing. "Ileavy waggons throng the banks ; every- body seems to be interested in the heaps of wares they carry; we feel that this place is one of the great markets of America. Along the river there are extensive storehouses, filled with busy labourers, like bee-hives. Higher up rise the brick and stone buildings of the wealthy, and the frame and wood houses of those who are striving to grow rich. The Germans live all together across the Miami Canal, which is, there- fore, here jocosely called the 'Rhine.' The asso- ciations coupled with this name are multiplied by the vines, which cover the hills around the city. It is the only place in the United States where the culture of grapes is carried on to any large extent. But even here all the European sorts of vine have failed; the native Catawba alone has succeeded, and gives a very pleasant beverage, though not to be compared with the better sorts of European wines; Americans drink it and pay for it more from patriotism than by taste. The villas and country-seats of the citizens of Cincinnati, on the heights, command a most beautiful view; gardens are laid out around them, and the houses, though nearly all of them frail, wood structures, look very elegant. ( White, Red and Black, p. 297.)
At another place Mr. Pulszky says: "Amer- ican grandiloquence is too well-known. We can scarcely suppress a smile, when every Westerner
whom we meet assures us in the first moment of our acquaintance that America is a great country. But when we see Cincinnati, with its one hundred and thirty thousand inhabitants, its extensive commerce and navigation; the canal connecting the Ohio with Lake Erie; the rail- ways radiating in every direction from this con- mon centre; its schools and colleges; its ten daily papers, and its numerous beneficent insti- tutions ; and when we remember that in 1788 this city was laid out in the wilderness, we must ex- cuse the boast of the American. He has full right to pride himself on his nation and on its energies. After the difficulties he has sur- mounted, and with the self-confidence they have inspired in him, he does not know the limit which could stop his progress." (White, Red and Black, p. 288.)
While the party was in Cincinnati, they learned that the Misses Fox, the spirit rappers, were at the Burnet House with them and the Hun- garian party thereupon visited the two mediums. Unfortunately the spirits were confused as to the age of one of the ladies of the party and added 10 years to her actual age. When the lady re- monstrated, Miss Fox replied that she and her sister were not responsible for any errors that might be made by the spirits and that there were lying spirits as well as truthful ones. As a result of this visit, which was published in the news- papers, the report got about that the Hungarian party were spiritualists and they received invi- tations to a number of seances. There were a number of spiritualistic circles in the city at that time and according to Mrs. Pulszky the principal spirits in the habit of appearing to Cincinnatians were George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Benjamin Franklin, Zachary Taylor and Eman- uel Swedenborg. The spirit of Swedenborg had forgotten the Latin language and did not know the title of his own works. Sir Robert Peel also appeared, but he had strangely enough become republican since his advent in the other world. At one of the seances at which the party was present, some difficulty was experienced in com- municating with the principal spiritual messenger who seemed to be in demand on that particular meeting in two different circles. In fact, during the evening a letter was brought to the host from another circle asking if they could not spare this spirit for that evening. At another seance, held on Washington's Birthday, the spirit of Washington itself appeared and delivered a message written in quite bad English. The party was charmed, however, to learn that all
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the spirits took great interest in Kossuth and his cause and prophesied the speedy deliverance of Hungary. Mrs. Pulszky's concluding re- mark about this matter is: "I was no longer as- tonished at the great number of insane persons in this country-above 15,000 in twenty-three millions-one hundred and fifty per cent more in proportion than in Hungary."
Mrs. Pulszky found that Americans, especially in the West, had little leisure to enjoy nature and no art to refine their feelings. "The soul must grow weary of the tinkling of dollars, of the purely material aim of their life. They long for excitement; the ladies grow nervous, and work themselves into trances and visions, and cheat themselves and others. Spiritual circles are formed in lieu of balls and concerts and theaters." (White, Red and Black, pp. 296 and 307.)
TIIE CITY INFIRMARY
Was opened for the reception of inmates in the year 1852. Previous to this time the paupers of the city had been provided for at the old Com- mercial Hospital and by a system of outdoor relief. The institution was located near Hartwell not very. far from the County Infirmary near Car- thage on property formerly belonging to Maj. Daniel Gano. The building, built of gray lime- stone, was four stories high in the center and at the ends had a frontage of 304 and a depth of 47 feet, in addition to a wing at the center 133 feet in depth and 32 feet wide.
The first private execution held in the jail yard was that of Henry Le Count who expiated upon the gallows at the end of this year the murder of one William Church, committed about six months before. The jail, then on Sycamore north of the canal, was surrounded by an im- mense crowd and the housetops and windows in the vicinity were packed by the inquisitive popu- lace.
An anti-slavery convention was held in Smith & Nixon's Hall beginning April 27,' 1852. Dele- gates were present from New York, Pennsyl- vania, Ohio; Indiana and other States, including Frederick Douglass and other prominent negroes. This convention particularly represented those anti-slavery agitators who had based their efforts upon religion. Dr. W. H. Brisbane called the meeting to order and Rev. J. G. Fee of Ken- tucky acted as president. Frederick Douglass took a very active part in the proceedings, which lasted for three days.
THE BEDINI RIOTS.
The so-called Bedini riots occurred in Decem- ber, 1853. Cincinnati at that time had within its limits a large German population, who were very active in polities as well as in business. In 1850 at a time when the entire population of the city was 115,438, more than 51,000 of this num- ber were foreigners. Of these there were 30,628 Germans and 130 Prussians.
Quite a number of this German element were known as "Forty-eighters," who had taken part in the Rebellion of 1848 and had been obliged to flee from Germany to the land of freedom. These Gernians, from the very circumstances of their coming, were men of great force and deter- mination and they felt keenly the political condi- tions which had made them abandon the land of their birth. They had organized in this coun- try a "Society of Freemen" and this organiza- tion, dedicated to the universal equality of man, kept alive the spirit of relentless hatred toward those who had injured them in their old home. Among others they felt that the Papal Nuncio Bedini had been concerned in their troubles in Germany, and when he arrived in Cincinnati as the guest of Archbishop Purcell, a strong feel- ing of indignation was mainfested throughout the German population.
A meeting was called and resolutions were passed demanding that the Nuncio leave the city. After the meeting a number of valiant "Forty-eighters," in all more than 200, started for the Archbishop's residence at Eighth and Cen- tral avenue, where it was known that Father Bedini could be found. When they reached the Eighth street park in front of the old city buildings on Plum street, they were met by the entire police force, headed by the chief acting under the orders of Mayor David T. Snelbaker. The officers used their clubs with great vigor and the rioters were soon thrown into a panic which resulted in precipitate flight. A number of shots were fired and as a result 14 people were wounded. One of these, a policeman, died as a result of the wounds and a citizen died from the blows which he received at the hands of the policeman. A number of arrests were made but to quiet the excitement the offenders were dis- missed at once. Naturally such an affair aroused the German population especially, as it was claimed that the mob had no intention of doing any injury to Father Bedini but simply desired to make a demonstration. The policemen were
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denounced for using their clubs and the citizens were called upon to vindicate their liberties.
Another indignation meeting was called and a committee of 100 was appointed to wait upon the City Council and ask that body to request the mayor for his resignation. The committee fol- lowed their instructions but the Council paid no attention to their request. Thereupon a meet- ing of the committee was held and word was sent to the mayor to appear before them. He notified them that he was too busy to do so, but that he would receive any communication they saw fit to forward to him. This disregard of the wishes of the committee was received with fierce anger and one of their number, Judge Spooner of the Police bench, offered a resolution that since the mayor had refused to comply with their request he should be forced to come and that a large enough body be sent to bring him. At this, Bellamy Storer, who was present, addressed the assemblage and urged upon them that they had reached the limits of their authority. They had the right to express their disapproval of the action of a public servant but could do no more without violating the law themselves. His coun- sel prevailed and the meeting adjourned. The mayor, however, was forced by public opinion to dismiss his chief of police, Thomas Looken. Much feeling was engendered by this affair, which lasted for some years.
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