The Heiress in Kent

by Gregory Kopp

  Lincoln spoke from the second-floor balcony, but he had changed the words and tone from the sparsely attended speech he gave in Columbus, the previous day. It was an effort to have both of his Columbus and Cincinnati speeches covered by the Eastern newspapers. The gimmick worked, for both speeches were sufficiently different to be reprinted in the Eastern Press.

  Meanwhile, Stanislaus also arrived in Cincinnati earlier that same morning. He sold his harvested crops to the Cincinnati grain brokers but only received half of the amount he was expecting. Stanislaus was at his wit's end, for he did not know how he was going to pay his property taxes. He decided to visit St. Peter’s in Chains Cathedral to pray for his family’s future. Stanislaus entered the imposing cathedral and took a seat in the rear pew. He knelt down and fervently began to pray. “Please Lord, help me find the courage to care for my family. Please, help me find a way to pay my taxes.” He prayed so fervently that his brow was furrowed and the tears soon began to flow from his eyes due to his anguish.

  Seconds later, he heard shouting outside the grand cathedral, “Huzzah! He’s here!” Stanislaus dabbed his eyes and went outside to see what they were shouting about. He saw the crowd massing in front of the Market House Square and decided to join them. Stanislaus was mesmerized when he heard Lincoln speak for the first time, as his speech was similar to the Baden orators during the 1848 revolution. He forced his way through the crowd to get a better glimpse at the tall gangly orator with a stovepipe hat. He then recognized him as the man who had pulled the gun away from John Bauer outside the Allen County courthouse.

  Lincoln continued speaking to the Cincinnati crowd. Suddenly he changed course and also began addressing the citizens of nearby Kentucky in the audience as they were representatives of the Southern States. After this speech, Lincoln would be lauded throughout the country as a serious candidate for President of the United States. In his high-pitched voice, he shouted for the crowd to hear:*

  My Fellow-Citizens of the State of Ohio: This is the first time in my life that I have appeared before an audience in so great a city as this: I, therefore—though I am no longer a young man—make this appearance under some degree of embarrassment. ... I should expect, it is true, that judge Douglas had reminded you, or informed you, if you had never before heard it, that I had once in my life declared it as my opinion that this government cannot endure permanently, half slave and half free; that a house divided against itself cannot stand, and, as I had expressed it, I did not expect the house to fall, that I did not expect the Union to be dissolved, but that I did expect that it would cease to be divided, that it would become all one thing or all the other;...I say, then, in the first place, to the Kentuckians, that I am what they call, as I understand it, a "Black Republican." I think slavery is wrong, morally and politically. I desire that it should be no further spread in these United States, and I should not object if it should gradually terminate in the whole Union.”

  *Source: https://archive.org/details/addcincinnatioh00lincrich

  Just at that moment in the speech, Richard Cordwell spotted Stanislaus pushing through the crowd to get closer to Lincoln. He grabbed his arms and wrestled him to the ground. Richard checked his clothing for a weapon, finding none, and then let him go. They both stood up and Stanislaus turned toward him and punched him so hard that Richard was knocked to the ground.

  Richard sat on the ground rubbing his jaw and said, “I guess I deserved that” while Stanislaus stood his ground with his fists raised.

  Richard looked at him and noticed his brawny frame, sharp eyes, and workman’s clothes. He stood up and asked him, “Would you like to earn some money?” Richard suggested the strong lanky man joined him in protecting Lincoln. He told him he would reward him for his trouble.

  Stanislaus nodded his head “Yes” and Richard positioned him at the head of the crowd and told him not to allow anyone to pass. He gave him a large club, and Stanislaus weighed it as he passed it from hand-to-hand. More rowdy members of the crowd began to step back after seeing Stanislaus holding the club for fear of being hurt.

  Lincoln concluded his speech without any further incident. Richard introduced Stanislaus to Pinkerton and suggested he utilize him as a bodyguard for the rest of Lincoln’s stay in Cincinnati. Pinkerton agreed after seeing the big and strong Stanislaus. Richard Cordwell then left and returned to the Burnet House Hotel to meet Josephine for dinner.

  Chapter Twelve

  As Richard was returning to his hotel, several men jumped out of the dark alley and began pummeling and kicking him. One of the men had him in a stranglehold and was tightening the grip on his neck so hard Richard was beginning to lose consciousness.

  Suddenly, Stanislaus appeared and began swinging his club at Richard’s attackers. Stanislaus’ club landed with a loud thud and one of the attackers fell to the ground with a cracked skull. The mugger holding Richard Cordwell loosened his grip and let Richard also fall to the ground while he ducked a blow from Stanislaus. Richard began gasping for breath as he was lying on the ground and saw the two attackers quickly run away before Stanislaus could strike them again.

  Richard stood up and began brushing his clothing. He recognized his savior as Stanislaus, following orders by Lincoln to keep watch on Richard while he returned to his hotel. Stanislaus saw Richard being jumped from behind and ran up to help him. Richard, after he regained his breath, thanked him. Both of them continued to Richard Cordwell’s hotel in the darkness.

  Josephine grew alarmed when Richard had not returned and was waiting for him anxiously at the hotel. She rushed to greet him when he finally entered the lobby accompanied by Stanislaus. “Richard, I was worried sick! Where have you been?” she asked noticing his bloody face and torn clothing.

  “I am fine. Thanks to this gentleman!” Richard said as he brushed his clothing and pointed at his savior.

  Stanislaus tipped his hat to Josephine and mumbled, “Pleased to meet you, Ma’am.” He then turned to Richard, “I have to return to Mr. Lincoln,” and he left the hotel to return to the house where Lincoln was staying. Pinkerton asked him to stay on guard watch all night.

  Josephine took a handkerchief out of her blouse and began to wipe the blood off of Richard’s face. He stopped her and instead suggested she accompany him to his room for a late supper. She was startled but smiled and said, “Yes.”

  Richard smiled back and said, “Good!” and asked the hotel clerk to send up two bottles of Champaign and some cold pheasant to his room. Josephine helped him up the stairs and they both retired to his room for the night.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next day, Richard Cordwell accompanied Josephine to the Cincinnati train station. He assured her after a long embrace that he would find and confront the criminals who stole her father’s money and reputation. Richard told her it was better for her to return to New York City because it was becoming far too dangerous for her to stay in Cincinnati with him. She agreed, kissed him, and boarded the train to return home.

  While her train was pulling out of the station, Lincoln and his bodyguard Allan Pinkerton was also leaving on the next train west to Illinois. Pinkerton was accompanying Lincoln back to Springfield and then returning to Chicago. Lincoln spotted Richard on the railroad platform and thanked him for his help during his visit to Cincinnati. Lincoln noticed the bruises on Richard’s face and winked at Pinkerton. Lincoln then pointed to the other end of the platform where he spotted Stanislaus standing forlornly waiting for the next train to Delphos. Lincoln suggested to Pinkerton to bring Stanislaus over to him and Richard. When they both arrived, Pinkerton told Stanislaus that he could use a man like him in his line of work. Stanislaus shook his head “No” and told him that he had to return home to take care of his family. Lincoln then pointed to Richard Cordwell and said to Stanislaus, “Richard has another mission that may need your help,” and he winked at Cordwell.

  Richard was startled. He told Lincoln and Pinkerton of his search for the mysterious Mary Morter in complete confiden
ce while they were riding on the train from Columbus to Cincinnati. Richard Cordwell cleared his throat and told Stanislaus he could use his help to find a former British citizen by the name of Mary Morter. She was living with her family somewhere in southern Ohio. The clerk at the Burnet House Hotel informed him about a man by the name of B.J. Morter that came through Cincinnati several years ago. The clerk thought he settled in the town of South Salem in Ross County. Stanislaus looked at Cordwell and said, “I guess I can stay a few more days.”

  Lincoln prepared to board the train when he looked around, “Where is Allan?” he asked.

  Richard turned and saw Pinkerton speaking with a large, burly man at the other end of the platform. Pinkerton saw them staring at him and hurried back to join Lincoln. Richard Cordwell instantly recognized the man from Anna and Frederick’s tenement apartment building who climbed down the fire escape. Richard quickly ran past Pinkerton to the other end of the station platform in an attempt to capture the large, burly man but the man disappeared. “What was Pinkerton talking to this criminal about?” he wondered aloud as he stopped to catch his breath. Richard thought for a second and then he remembered Pinkerton’s Scottish accent and his cold demeanor towards him while he was meeting with Lincoln in Columbus. “Is Allan Pinkerton in league with criminals?”

  Sir Richard Mayne warned him about the Yorkshire Chartists rearing their ugly heads but could the Chartists in Scotland be troublemakers for the British government too? Richard hoped to have a few words with Allan Pinkerton to confirm his suspicions before he boarded the train with Lincoln. Cordwell hurriedly walked back to rejoin Stanislaus and the rest of their party.

  Unfortunately, as Richard was returning to the other end of the station platform, Lincoln and Pinkerton had already boarded the train for their return trip to Illinois. A chagrined Richard was forced to wave his goodbyes along with Stanislaus to the famed orator and his bodyguard as the train left the station.

  Lincoln never even looked up from reading the newspaper accounts of his speech to acknowledge them while Allan Pinkerton tipped his cap and smiled a toothy grin at Richard Cordwell. Pinkerton was relieved he had given Richard the slip before he would be required to answer any questions from the Scotland Yard detective. He knew Richard had recognized his large, burly Scottish associate and would have informed Lincoln about him. Pinkerton could now relax easily knowing he avoided any embarrassing conversations with Lincoln and would be returning to Chicago without any more difficulties.

  Richard resolved to catch up with Allan Pinkerton someday and confront him about his conversation with the large, burly man but in the meantime, he had an assignment to complete. “Come on”, Richard said to Stanislaus, “I have to make a stop first.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Richard Cordwell and Stanislaus returned to their hotel. Richard asked the hotel clerk where he could find Charles Stetson, the former president of the Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company. The clerk told him that Stetson had resigned in disgrace after the failure of the company. He was waiting at his home in Cincinnati to see if legal charges would be filed against him for fraud and embezzlement by the Ohio banking authorities. Richard informed Stanislaus he needed to meet with Stetson to identify whether there were any British citizens involved in the failure of the bank. When they arrived at the home of Charles Stetson, they discovered the former bank executive sitting in a chair in the parlor of his home. He was wringing his hands and drinking heavily.

  Richard Cordwell introduced himself as a Scotland Yard detective investigating the Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company for the Queen. Stetson looked down at the parlor floor and whimpered how he was disgraced and his reputation ruined as a result of the bank failure. Stetson took a long drink to steady his nerves and looked at Richard and Stanislaus. He told them it was a conspiracy which forced the bank to close. Richard looked at him in wonder and said, “Conspiracy? What type of conspiracy?” Stetson told them he discovered a group of former English Chartists was siphoning money from the bank to fund revolutionary activities back in Britain. When he tried stopping them, false evidence was created and leaked to the newspapers and the board of directors. The evidence accused him of stealing the bank’s funds for his own purposes. He described how his family and friends abandoned him after the newspaper stories came out and he was fired.

  Richard requested that Stetson write out exactly how the bank failed and identify any of his former associates as the guilty parties in the conspiracy. In return, Richard would put in a good word for him with the British Government and the Ohio banking authorities. Stetson began to scribble furiously on a sheet of paper he found as Richard and Stanislaus watched him.

  Richard was surprised when he read the finished letter to discover Edward Clarke as one of the main conspirators. Richard put it for safekeeping into his jacket and returned to the hotel with Stanislaus. After checking out of his room, Richard and Stanislaus mounted fresh horses he secured for them and rode out of the city towards South Salem, Ohio.

  Unbeknownst to Richard and Stanislaus, the large, burly man Richard Cordwell had seen on the railroad platform was watching them from across the street from the hotel. He noted the direction they were traveling and then mounted his horse with some difficulty. He began following them slowly at a distance trying to avoid detection, but Richard spotted the man out of the corner of his eye and decided not to tell Stanislaus, in order not to trouble him.

  During the long ride to South Salem, both men recounted their respective war experiences. Stanislaus described the execution of the revolutionary leaders by the Grand Duke after the failure of the 1848 Baden revolution, while Richard described the various battles his company was engaged during the Crimean War, including the Battle of Balaclava, now immortalized in the poem by Lord Tennyson. Richard shook his head at the futility of war.

  They arrived in South Salem at dusk and decided to stay at a local Inn for the night and resume their search for Mary Morter the following morning. The large, burly man quietly observed them and entered the pub next to the inn. He quickly spotted the biggest and roughest looking men at the bar and offered them money and whiskey if they would assist him. The thirsty men jumped at the chance and followed him out the door. He lied to them and said Richard Cordwell was a spy for the British government. “He is carrying an important letter and I would like you to subdue him and bring him to me. I will be waiting across the street,” he said. “And there is a large reward!” Then he shook a bag which rattled with several gold pieces inside. Both men eagerly agreed.

  Meanwhile, Richard went outside in back of the inn to smoke a cigar ignorant of their nefarious plans. Just at that moment, the two brawny men jumped him. Luckily for Richard, one of the men had stepped on a twig which snapped while they crept up behind him. Richard Cordwell turned quickly and caught the man’s hand holding a knife and twisted it until the man screamed out in pain. His associate grabbed Richard from behind and pinned his arms to his sides while the other man began punching him in the face.

  Just at that moment, Stanislaus came out of the inn for some fresh air and spotted the three men fighting in the dark. He rushed up and realized Richard was in trouble. Stanislaus jumped onto the man holding Richard, grabbed him by the neck and threw both of them to the ground. Richard Cordwell broke free of the man’s grip, stood up and drew his revolver and aimed it at the two men. The two attackers ran away as fast as they could. One of the attackers was clutching his wrist that Richard had broken during the melee. Richard wiped the blood from his lips and watched the attackers run away without firing a shot. He thanked Stanislaus for saving his life once again and both of them went back inside the inn.

  The innkeeper noticed their torn clothing and asked them if they were “OK”. Stanislaus and Richard Cordwell both said, “Yes” at the same time and laughed. At that point, they returned to their rooms to catch some sleep.

  Meanwhile, the large, burly man was smoking a cigarette and had watched the men attempt to subdue Richard Cordw
ell from across the street. He stubbed out his cigarette in anger when he saw the two men he hired fleeing. Then he climbed on his horse and rode away into the darkness before he was spotted.

  The next day Stanislaus tried to help Richard find the missing Mary Morter by talking to several people in town. He discovered she was already dead and buried in a nearby cemetery. Her husband had moved away after her death.

  Stanislaus informed Richard of his discovery and told him he would be returning home to his wife and family. Richard Cordwell looking relieved slapped him on the back and thanked him again for saving his life. He then pressed an envelope into his hands and told him it was the least he could do to repay him.

  Stanislaus just nodded and shoved the envelope deep down into the breast pocket of his jacket and forgot about it. He had to hurry to catch the last train leaving out of the station for Delphos that afternoon. Richard turned and walked back into the inn.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Richard Cordwell asked the innkeeper for directions to the South Salem Cemetery. He discovered it on the outskirts of town and then walked among the graves until he spotted a gravestone engraved with, “Mary A., Wife of B.J. Morter, Native of England, Died April 16, 1852, aged 34 years, 1 months and 4 days”. Richard realized that he had completed his mission for the Queen. He found the final resting place of Mary Morter. “What will the Queen say when she finds out that Mary is dead?” he thought to himself. Looking at the gravestone Richard noticed that near the grass line was chiseled the word “Think.” “What a strange word to be on a gravestone!”

  Richard was sore and weary after the brawl outside the inn the previous night and tired of puzzles. But “Think” was the same word on the scrap of paper he received from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Force.