Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1874 — The Sad Story of a Daughter of Thomas H. Benton. [ARTICLE]

The Sad Story of a Daughter of Thomas H. Benton.

—; New York, April 4. The French cause celebre, in which Gen. John C. Fremont was the central figure, in connection with his railroad speculations, and the manner in which large numbers of Frenchmen were Victimized thereby, will be fresh in the memory of your readers. Gen. Fremont escaped the rigorous verdict of the French court by having made his way to this country. Intimately connected with Gen. Fremont’s schemes, and mainly instrumental in having them favorably introduced in financial circles in France, was Baron Gauldree-Boileau, for many years French Consul in New York. It will be fimembered that in the early days of the ranch Republic Boileau left this city for France, to defend himself against the charge of being an accomplice of Fremont. The sad sequel to all this is as follows: The wife of Baron Gauldree-Boi-leau, daughter of Thomas H. Benton, of Missouri, died on the 6th of March, in a state of almost abject poverty, in a. garret in Paris. —Since her husband had been sentenced, about twelve months ago, by the Parisian tribunal, in consequence of his connection with Gen. John C. Fremont’s railway speculations, his unfortunate wife,' with six children, whom he had left absolutely penniless, had lived in wretched quarters at Boulogne, where she was supported by the bounty of a friendly English family. Finally she removed to Paris, where M Frederick Gaillardet, formerly editor of the Courrier des Elate Unis, of New York, who lived near her, was the only person to render aid. Being in very feeble health, she was unable to do much for herself, and both she and her children were subjected to the greatest privations. Moreover, the Parisian police molested the pool woman repeatedly, by prying visitations, as is generally done in France toward the families of convicts. Grief and despair at last did their work, and fihe diea broken hearted. When Marshal MacMahon heard of her sad end, and that six children were left helpless, he granted Baron GauldreeBoileau a free pardon. The latter was beside himself with sorrow upon hearing the sad tidings, and at the latest advices from Paris it was feared that his reason would give way. 4 . * “ A Colquitt (Ga) minister is the father of thirty-two children.” How neatly could "he preach a sermon from that olive-branch text, with illustrations in all the front pews!