A Secret Life_ The Lies and Scandals of President Grover Cleveland - Charles Lachman [84]
And then the “great bombshell” of the election was ignited.
Before going to press, John Cresswell met with George Ball one final time and asked the minister if he would be willing to put in writing everything he had learned about Grover Cleveland. Ball said yes, provided his name was kept out of the Evening Telegraph’s exposé, although he authorized Cresswell to release his identity “when we deem it needful to do so.”
Titled “A Citizen’s Statement,” Ball’s account was addressed to the editor of the Evening Telegraph:
You ask me for facts about Mr. Grover Cleveland’s moral character. Since his candidacy is being pushed on the assumption of irreproachable morals, and many are being deceived thereby, I yield to your request. . . . I give you a part of the well attested facts and place at your disposal the names of responsible citizens, both democrats and republicans who will confirm every item, if called upon.
An officer long on the police force declares that he has often seen Mr. Cleveland beastly drunk, and has indisputable evidence of his habitual immoralities with women.
Two responsible and influential citizens testify that hearing a great row in a saloon one night they rushed in and found Mr. Cleveland and another lawyer in a terrible fight over a lewd woman. Each seized a belligerent and held him fast till they both agreed to keep the peace. They were both drunk, and they had rent and torn each other till they were both nearly naked and covered with blood.
Since Mr. Cleveland was elected to the present office [as governor] he reached Buffalo one Saturday night; drove to a noted saloon; was met by three other men; laid in a stock of liquors; repaired to apartments in another building; sent out for four lewd women and spent the night and all day Sunday with them in debauchery.
Some years ago a beautiful, virtuous and intelligent young lady entered the employ of Flint & Kent, as you know, most excellent men and leading merchants in our city. She was put at the head of their cloak department and served them for some two or three years to perfect satisfaction. Mr. Cleveland made her acquaintance, won her confidence and finally seduced her. She of course lost her position, was cast out of good society, and driven to despair. Her appeals to him to fulfill his promise of marriage he did not regard. The mother and child were taken to the residence of Mrs. William Baker on Genesee Street to board and visited occasionally by Mr. Cleveland. The boy was named Oscar Folsom Cleveland. The mother was wretched and often desperate and worried Mr. Cleveland by her threats. He resolved to abate the annoyance, employed two detectives and a doctor of bad repute to spirit the woman away and dispose of the child. She refused to surrender the child or go with the detectives. Then they seized her by force and in spite of her screams and violent resistance, took her to a carriage and drove her to the Providence asylum in Main street, where she was committed as insane, for which services Mr. Cleveland paid the two detectives $50. The child was taken to the Buffalo orphan asylum. Our worthy citizen, Dr. William Ring, was the visiting physician at the Providence Asylum and on examining the new patient pronounced her perfectly sane and the authorities allowed her to depart. She had been committed without legal process and departed on her own volition. Her first move then was to employ an attorney and recover her child. Her lawyer advised her to secure it by force if necessary. She succeeded in getting the boy into her arms and at once fled, no one obstructing her flight. Then negotiations were opened with