Passionate Abolitionist and
Witness to the American Civil War
Passionate Abolitionist and
Witness to the American Civil War
Here we read of the rage of Mrs. Curry (daughter of Mrs. Hicks who for a short period late on life was married to Thomas Jackson but later divorced.)
She questions the accuracy of the previous day’s newspaper reports. While she was still reacting in the grief of the loss of her brother, Mr Curry sounds to still be still stunned and had not even had the energy to read the verdict of the jury about the affair.
The incident unearths deep hatred by Mrs Curry for at least one person on the jury. That appears to have stemmed from a claim that that juryman had earlier voiced that Mr & Mrs Curry had forged the will of Mrs Hicks, the mother of Mr Curry!
To add to that, there clearly had been an earlier rumor that the Curry’s had allowed a Mr Wall to starve to death on the property. Mrs Curry brought that up from the past and went on to deny that too.
Finally the wife of the first man to die, Mrs Elliott, had asked that both men who died should be buried side by side. Mrs Curry violently disagreed with that wantinginstead that her brother be buried separately.
All in all, an article reflecting great anguish to all of the key players.
HOW THIS RELATES TO THOMAS JACKSON
For many years, Thomas Jackson boarded with Mr John Hicks & Mrs Ruth (Curry) Hicks after TJ’s wife had died during a visit back to Birmingham England to be with her relatives. The Hicks lived in a house on the same property where this event took place.Finally after Mr Hicks died, Thomas Jackson married Mrs(Curry) Hicks but the relationships up ended in divorce.Mrs Hicks reverted to her maiden name Curry as reflected on her gravestone.Her son and his wife were the owners when this even took place 3 years after the death of Ruth Hicks
The Reading Daily Eagle
Reading. PA., Tuesday, June 13. 1876
Mr. and Mrs. Curry’s Statements
MORE OF YESTERDAY’S TERRIBLE CALAMITY
-THE JARRING EVIDENCE SOMEWHAT CLEARED UP – WHAT THEY THINK OF THE JURY’S VERDICT.
The dreadful “cess pool calamity” of yesterday morning was the topic of conversation yesterday afternoon and evening, and the Eagle’s complete report was read by thousands.
The verdict of the jury might have been judged by some as rather severe upon Mr. Curry and with a view of obtaining whatever statement the family might have to make an Eagle reporter called at the house in the evening.
Mr. Curry was sitting up but in a distressed condition. Mrs. Curry was still deeply lamenting the loss of her brother. They were told as to the false impression the verdict might create, when Mrs. Curry sharply replied that it appeared to be the business and principle talent of the newspapers and the Eagle among them to create false impressions. “Newspapers print the facts, so does the Eagle,” said the reporter. “Then the facts are untruths,” said Mrs. Curry, “and sensational scandal is not legitimate journalism.” “The people are responsible for all vile and scandalous transactions, if they did not murder, rob, forge, and commit other crimes sensational or otherwise, the newspapers, the Eagle among them, would not publish them; people want the facts now-a-days.”
“It is all wrong, all wrong!” said Mrs. Curry.
Mr. Curry had not heard of or read the verdict of the jury, and he desired to know what it was. He was told that is censured him for not digging the well deeper. To that he replied that the digger had told him he could go no further down on account of having struck a rock. He did not report the fact because he did not think the law required it. As for holding him responsible for the deaths of the two men, he said he was entirely blameless. He had not desired Elliott nor had he told him to go into that well. He did not want it tapped on Monday morning, but had concluded to wait until the night. “If I had been up in time it never would have happened. Elliott would never have gone into that well. I had arranged in my mind to have the man that dug the six feet to tap it Monday night. I would have been present, and had there been anything wrong I could have helped the man out. I got to the well as quickly as I could after my wife told me of the terrible affair. I got a ladder and went down. I smelled no gas. I saw three men lying at the bottom; fastened a rope around the colored mans body and handed up the ends to the top and they drew him out. I then caught hold of brother-in-law, and when I attempted to raise him his shirt tore and he dropped on top of Elliott who was at the bottom. I worked hard to get them out, and finally I was overcome with anxiety and excitement and they led me away. That is all I know about. Why they desire to have me responsible for this very sad affair I cannot understand.”
“Americans,” said Mrs. Curry, “are indeed a very queer and unrelenting people.” A grave insinuation was here and made against one of the jurymen, Mr. Moyner. “As quick as I heard he was on that jury I knew that we might expect something against us. We have been charged with murder, forgery, and other crimes, but all these charges are false an our accusers have been utterly unable to prove them. One of these jurors, Mr. Moyner, was reported to have said that we forged the will of Mrs. Hicks, and when we went to him to ask about it he said he knew nothing of it at all. Some people in this neighborhood accused us of allowing James Wall to die a horrible, lonely death, when the facts were that Mr. Wall was a great enemy of mine, and still I carried him food and drink, contrary to my husband’s desire. We are English people, but that is no just or good reason why we should be falsely accused or maliciously slandered. We have always tried to be honest, just and upright, and were always willing to help the deserving if we could.”
A person here entered the room and stated that it was Mrs. Elliott’s wish that the two men be buried side by side. “No,” said Mrs. Curry, “My brother shall be buried on the spot where I thought should be my last resting place, by the side of my dear children. God will provide a burying place for me.” Mrs. Curry paid a high tribute to her brother, saying he was noble and brave, kind, devoted and sincere.
Susan Nichols was asked how it was that her testimony differed from that of Bronchkowsky’s. He had testified that Mr. Curry was present, and she had testified that he was not. Mr. Curry had corroborated Mr. B in his testimony. The lady replied that when she first got there Mr. Curry was not present; then she ran for the doctor, and when she returned, then it was that Mr. Curry had got there. She led him away when she saw he was nearly exhausted.
EFFECTS OF FOUL GAS
Mr. Dorsey, the colored coachman, is out of danger. HE says it is almost impossible to tell of or describe the sensation produced by the gas. First when he went into the well he noticed nothing unusual in the air; then he suddenly felt as if he were going to faint, and he thought it was the result of too much excitement. Then he screamed for help. After this he felt just as a tired man would feel who was very sleepy. The air became thick, close and oppressive, and his throat apparently commenced swelling. He felt lighter, and gradually became aware that he was locating the power of his senses and his limbs. Then he swooned, and finally dropped senseless, striking his head. The first thing he remembered was, when he came to his senses, as the men were leading him out. He was very weak and could hardly walk. They placed him on a lounge and administered stimulants and supplied plenty of fresh air. Gradually his system was purified and strengthened, his mind and thoughts became calm and collected and in an hour’s time he could talk coherently. He said it was an easy death as it felt just as if going to sleep. Many people have an idea that the men were suffocated while in the foul contents of the cess pool. This is wrong. None of the matter escaped the new well except the gas and a little water.
This article is full of surprises. First it appears that a jury had been called the previous evening and had judged that the Currys were negligent and responsible for the two deaths.
This process would be unimaginable today as there would seem to be not enough time to find an unbiased jury and to assemble all the evidence to make valid judgment.
Then, there appears to be conflicting opinion as to whether Mr Curry knew the Mr Eliiott would tap the old cess pit that morning. Mr Curry maintains that he was expecting someone else- the man who dug the new pit-would do it that night when Mr Curry was there to check that things went OK.
However, it sounds as if Mr Curry has accepted that he did not know he was not following the city regulations for how new septic tanks should be built and licensed. At the very least, this new cess pit appears to have been far less deep than should have been the case.
We can expect problems arising out of that.
It is stunning gossip to read that there is a suggestion that Mrs Curry’s son and his wife forged Mrs Hick’s will to get possession of the property!