1875

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January 03, 1875

• ❌Sioux City Journal Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, January 03, 1875 - Page 4 — Our chess club is creating considerable comment about town. Already there are between ten and a dozen members who feel confident of their ability to clean out Paul Morphy.

January 10, 1875

• New Orleans Republican New Orleans, Louisiana Sunday, January 10, 1875 - Page 3 — Alonzo Morphy Estate. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

February 16, 1875

• The New Orleans Bulletin New Orleans, Louisiana Tuesday, February 16, 1875 - Page 1 — D.E. Morphy Burglarized Business Integrity, D.E. Morphy & Son ★ / ★ / ★

D.E. Morphy and Son, Business Integrity 12 Dec 1875, Sun The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana) Newspapers.com

March 21, 1875

• New Orleans Republican New Orleans, Louisiana Sunday, March 21, 1875 - Page 8 — Fellowes and Morphy, Unclaimed Postal

April 08, 1875

• ❌The Kansas Chief Troy, Kansas Thursday, April 08, 1875 - Page 1 — The Art of Leaving Off. “Perhaps no more noticeable illustration, though one limited to a peculiar specialty, could be presented, that that of Paul Morphy. It would seem, indeed, as if he had fully understood the great principle—he “left off” at the very pinnacle of fame, the greatest chess-player the world had produced, and resolutely refused to be again drawn into the contest to the perild of his unbroken superiority. But they do say that he intends once more to enter the lists at the Philadelphia Centennial. He will find, alas, that the game has grown since his withdrawal—that the very influence he gave to it has bred players as great as himself. He will find, amid the overpowering mortification of defeat, that the whole work of a lifetime is undone by forgetting “the art of leaving off. ★ / ★ Read More

April 11, 1875

• The New Orleans Bulletin New Orleans, Louisiana Sunday, April 11, 1875 - Page 8 — A.E. Morphy, Benefit of the Wounded of September 14 ★ / ★

July 01, 1875

• The Tennessean Nashville, Tennessee Thursday, July 01, 1875 - Page 2 — Paul Morphy traveled as a knight errant wherever an antagonist could be found to meet him on the chess-board, and straightway established ties of brotherhood between other nations and our own, so far as all lovers of that game were concerned.

July 11, 1875

• The New Orleans Bulletin New Orleans, Louisiana Sunday, July 11, 1875 - Page 2 — “A fifth goes crazy over the triumphs of a Morphy, and devotes his life to the chessboard. These are the aristocratic, the thoroughbred hobby-horses, which imply a certain amount of intellectual culture and vigor in the riders thereof; but we once knew in Paris, two gentlemen of leisure and fortune, one of which had a costly god, or silver, or jewel mounted cane for every day of the year, whilst the other had gathered pipes of every shape, material and value from all the countries where smoking is practiced. This catalogue of hobbies might be swelled ad infinitum…” Read More

July 16, 1875

• The Brooklyn Daily Eagle Brooklyn, New York Friday, July 16, 1875 - Page 3 — The Problematist's Perplexity

• Wisconsin State Journal Madison, Wisconsin Friday, July 16, 1875 - Page 4 — Checkers. — “Mr. Wyllie's career as a checker-player has been one of continued success, until he holds a position among players of this popular game equal to that of Paul Morphy in the game of chess.”

July 25, 1875

• Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Sunday, July 25, 1875 - Page 3 — Chess — “…(c) Up to this point the game is identical with one played by Mr. Morphy against Messrs. Riviere and Journaud, the allies conducting the attack. At the sixteenth move, instead of attempt to defend the P, which is indefensible, Mr. Morphy retreated K to R 1, whereupon the allies replied by Q R Q1 and ultimately own. The game may be found in the “Praxis,” under the head, “Evan's Gambit.” Read More

August 03, 1875

• The Bury and Norwich Post Bury, Suffolk, England Tuesday, August 03, 1875 - Page 8 — Literature. The Magazines For August. — “…Reference is also made to the extraordinary powers of Paul Morphy, and it is stated that a work recording his achievements in chess contains the following testimony respecting another phase of his mental force:— “In the evening we went to the Opera-Comique, and witnessed a very unsatisfactory performance of La Part du Diable. Morphy has a great love for music, and his memory for any air he has once heard is astonishing…La Part du Diable was a new opera, yet Morphy, after leaving the theatre, hummed over many of the airs to me, which he had just heard for the first time, with astonishing precision.” Of course the noteworthy point here is (as the writer remarks) that Morphy is not a musician.” Read More

August 06, 1875

• New Orleans Republican New Orleans, Louisiana Friday, August 06, 1875 - Page 3 — “At five o' clock yesterday morning the roof of a one-story frame house, No. 117 Barracks street, was discovered to be on fire. The building is owned by Widow Morphy and occupied by J.A. Dejean. The damage amounts to about $800; fully insured in the New Orleans office.

August 22, 1875

• Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Sunday, August 22, 1875 - Page 3 — Chess.

August 28, 1875

• The Buffalo Commercial Buffalo, New York Saturday, August 28, 1875 - Page 4 — Chess and Chess-Players. “…A few years ago the Philadelphians thought that Mr. Reichelm was able to wrest the coveted laurels from New York, but the score was seven to nothing in favor of Mr. Mackenzie. A player must be drilled into skill by defeat before he can do himself justice and attain that impassiveness necessary to success. Morphy may be instanced as a solitary exception, but Morphy was a phenomenon, if not the greatest player of whom we have record, he was incontestably the best match player. The more an antagonist saw and experienced of his play, the more he seemed to become aware of Morphy's strength and to grow ‘demoralized’ under that appreciation.” Read More

September 05, 1875

• Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Sunday, September 05, 1875 - Page 3 — To Correspondents. Write to Chess Journal, Dubuque, Iowa, for all kinds of chess publications. We recommend you to Staunton's Chess Praxis, Wormald's Book of Chess and Morphy's Games of Chess. The last mentioned work is the best collection of Morphy's games. It is a magnificent work, and should be in every chess player's library. Herr Lowenthal is the publisher.” Read More

October 03, 1875

• The Morning Star and Catholic Messenger New Orleans, Louisiana Sunday, October 03, 1875 - Page 6 — The Game of Chess. — The number of really good players is singularly small, considering the many who play some sort of a game. The fact is, chess is a science, and a man of fair abilities can learn the Chinese language thoroughly in less time than he can rise to the dignity of a third-rate player. There has not been a first rate player in America since Morphy retired from the arena. … A player must be drilled into skill by defeat before he can do himself justice and attain that impassiveness necessary to success. Morphy may be instanced as a solitary exception, but Morphy was a phenomenon; if not the greatest player of whom we have record, he was incontestably the best match player. The more an antagonist saw and experienced of his play, the more he seemed to become aware of Morphy's strength and to grow “demoralized” under that appreciation. Read More

October 24, 1875

• St. Louis Globe-Democrat St. Louis, Missouri Sunday, October 24, 1875 - Page 3 — Philadelphia Chess Congress. — “Could Morphy be induced to participate, then a meeting between him and the masters across the ocean would be highly interesting; but, as it is, having no other first-class player but Captain Mackenzie to pit against them, it is perhaps better than the inducements we hold out for them to come over should not be too great.” Read More

November 02, 1875

• New Orleans Republican New Orleans, Louisiana Tuesday, November 02, 1875 - Page 4 — Widow Alonzo Morphy ★ / ★

November 03, 1875

• ❌Concordia Empire Concordia, Kansas Wednesday, November 03, 1875 - Page 2 — Poison Pen Extortion and Defamation of New Orleans Lawyer, Paul Morphy — Now falsely alleges Morphy is in an insane asylum. They may believe it, having imagined it while an inmate themself. ★

November 19, 1875

• ❌Evening Star Washington, District of Columbia Friday, November 19, 1875 - Page 2 — Paul Morphy's stalker claims that Morphy's success as a lawyer has not been great, but a lawyer Paul Morphy is, indeed! Which contradicts the campaign of defamation from February 3, 1873 which altogether falsely alleges that Morphy “isn't a lawyer”.

November 21, 1875

• New Orleans Republican New Orleans, Louisiana Sunday, November 21, 1875 - Page 4 — The Chicago Post says: “Paul Morphy, the famous chess player, is insane.” Mr. Morphy can be seen on our streets any day, having given up chess playing for the practice of the law. He was never in better health, physically and mentally, than now, and the above news is calculated to surprise him and his friends. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ Read More

Refutation of Northern Newspapers' Political Slander and Defamation of Paul Morphy 21 Nov 1875, Sun New Orleans Republican (New Orleans, Louisiana) Newspapers.com

November 27, 1875

• The Pittsburgh Daily Commercial Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Saturday, November 27, 1875 - Page 2 — “No Morphy Found”

Mr. Morphy can be seen on our streets any day & never in better physical or mental health than now. 27 Nov 1875, Sat The Pittsburgh Daily Commercial (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com

• City Archives, New Orleans Public Library, New Orleans (La.) City Insane Asylum, Record of Patients, 1882-1884; 1888, 1 v.
  Pages 1 - 50 (1882) No Records of “Morphy” Found.
• Pages 51 - 145 (1883) No Records of “Morphy” Found.
• Pages 146-199 (1884/Jan. - June; 1888/6/30) No Records of “Morphy” Found.

November 29, 1875

• Hartford Courant Hartford, Connecticut Monday, November 29, 1875 - Page 3 — “A New Orleans paper says that the story about Paul Morphy's insanity is the work of some imaginative reporter. Morphy is practicing law in New Orleans.

A New Orleans Paper Says 29 Nov 1875, Mon Hartford Courant (Hartford, Connecticut) Newspapers.com

• The Buffalo Commercial Buffalo, New York Monday, November 29, 1875 - Page 2 — Paul Morphy, the once famous chess-player, is not insane, according to a New Orleans paper, which positively contradicts the report recently circulated, and states that Mr. Morphy was never in better health, physically and mentally, than now. Mr. Morphy has given up chess-playing, it appears, for the practice of the law. ★ Read More

Paul Morphy, the Chess Player and New Orleans Lawyer is Not Insane 29 Nov 1875, Mon The Buffalo Commercial (Buffalo, New York) Newspapers.com

• New York Daily Herald New York, New York Monday, November 29, 1875 - Page 6 — There are many conflicting rumors concerning Paul Morphy, the once famous chess player. he is said to be insane, and yet the story is declared to be unfounded. Every American will hope that it is wholly without truth. Perhaps it is only a sensation started by some witless wag. ★ Read More

• Harrisburg Telegraph Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Monday, November 29, 1875 - Page 2 — The New Orleans Republican spoils a few sermons that are now in process of preaching by the announcement that Paul Morphy, the great chess player, is not insane. The Republican says: “Mr. Morphy can be seen on our streets any day, having given up chess playing for the practice of the law. He was never in better health, physically and mentally, than now, and the above news is calculated to surprise him and his friends. ★ / ★ Read More

Paul Morphy, The Great Chess Player, Is Not Insane 29 Nov 1875, Mon Harrisburg Telegraph (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com

November 30, 1875

• St. Albans Daily Messenger Saint Albans, Vermont Tuesday, November 30, 1875 - Page 2 — Quoting the report that Paul Morphy, the famous chess-player, had become insane, the New Orleans Republican says: Mr Morphy can be seen on our streets any day, having given up chess-playing for the practice of the law. He was never in better health physically and mentally than now, and the above news is calculated to surprise him and his friends. ★ Read More

• Boston Post Boston, Massachusetts Tuesday, November 30, 1875 - Page 1 — Paul Morphy, the chess player, isn't insane after all. The story originated from the fact that he is busy practicing law. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

Paul Morphy, the chess player, isn't insane after all. 30 Nov 1875, Tue Boston Post (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com

• Democrat and Chronicle Rochester, New York Tuesday, November 30, 1875 - Page 2 — They say now that Paul Morphy is not insane. Well, he is certainly out of sight. Has he resigned himself to Morphyus?

• Burlington Daily Sentinel Burlington, Vermont Tuesday, November 30, 1875 - Page 2 — Paul Morphy is not insane, but is engaged assiduously in the practice of law, and may be seen daily upon the streets of New Orleans. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

Paul Morphy is not insane. 30 Nov 1875, Tue Burlington Daily Sentinel (Burlington, Vermont) Newspapers.com

December 01, 1875

• The Wilmington Morning Star Wilmington, North Carolina Wednesday, December 01, 1875 - Page 2 — Paul Morphy is not insane, and playing chess didn't do it. The fellow who reported it had a little too much Morphine on the brain, that's all.

Paul Morphy is not insane. Chess Didn't Do it. The Fellow Reporting it, Had Too Much Morphine 01 Dec 1875, Wed The Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, North Carolina) Newspapers.com

December 02, 1875

• The St Cloud Journal Saint Cloud, Minnesota Thursday, December 02, 1875 - Page 3 — The statement that Paul Morphy has become insane is positively denied by his friends. He has abandoned chess and devoted himself to business, but his mind is as clear as ever. ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★

Paul Morphy's Friends Positively Deny He Has Became Insane. His Mind is Clear as Ever 04 Dec 1875, Sat Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Newspapers.com

December 03, 1875

• Democrat and Chronicle Rochester, New York Friday, December 03, 1875 - Page 2 — “It seems that Paul Morphy isn't a lunatic — he is merely a lawyer.” ★

• The St. Albans Advertiser Saint Albans, Vermont Friday, December 03, 1875 - Page 1 — The New Orleans Republican declared that the recent report of Paul Morphy's insanity is untrue and says that Mr. Morphy is practicing law and was never better, mentally or physically than now. ★

New Orleans Republican Declares Recent Report of Paul Morphy's Insanity is Untrue 03 Dec 1875, Fri The St. Albans Advertiser (Saint Albans, Vermont) Newspapers.com

• Manhattan Nationalist Manhattan, Kansas Friday, December 03, 1875 - Page 2 — Poison Pen Extortionist Death Threat and Defamation of New Orleans, Lawyer Paul Morphy

Poison Pen Extortionist Death Threat and Defamation of New Orleans, Lawyer Paul Morphy 03 Dec 1875, Fri Manhattan Nationalist (Manhattan, Kansas) Newspapers.com

December 04, 1875

• St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis, Missouri Saturday, December 04, 1875 - Page 2 — Paul Morphy says he is surprised to learn that he is insane, but supposes the newspapers know. In the meantime he continues to transact his legal business just as if he wasn't. ★ / ★

Paul Morphy is Surprised 04 Dec 1875, Sat St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com

December 07, 1875

• Public Weekly Opinion Chambersburg, Pennsylvania Tuesday, December 07, 1875, - Page 3 — “‘The insanity of Paul Morphy’, the chess player, is contradicted.” ★

The insanity of Paul Morphy, the chess-player, is contradicted. 07 Dec 1875, Tue Public Weekly Opinion (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com

December 12, 1875

• ❌St. Louis Globe-Democrat St. Louis, Missouri Sunday, December 12, 1875 - Page 9 — False Report on Paul Morphy “never touching a chess board,” but report of insanity pronounced untrue.

Reports of Paul Morphy Insanity Pronounced Untrue 12 Dec 1875, Sun St. Louis Globe-Democrat (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com

December 17, 1875

• The Athens Post Athens, Alabama Friday, December 17, 1875 - Page 3 — Paul Morphy, the once famous chess player, is not insane, according to a New Orleans paper, which positively contradicts the report recently circulated, and states that Mr. Morphy was never in better health, physically and mentally, than now. Mr. Morphy has given up chess playing, it appears, for the practice of the law. ★ Read More

December 24, 1875

• The Weekly News-Democrat Emporia, Kansas Friday, December 24, 1875 - Page 4 — Paul Morphy Is Not Insane.

Paul Morphy Is Not Insane. 24 Dec 1875, Fri The Weekly News-Democrat (Emporia, Kansas) Newspapers.com

December 25, 1875

• Reading Times Reading, Pennsylvania Saturday, December 25, 1875 - Page 1 — The Paul Morphy Canard. — New Orleans, Dec. 24. — The story generally circulated that Paul Morphy had become insane and been placed in a lunatic asylum is cruelly unjust to that gentleman. He is on our streets daily, and in good health. He is in independent circumstances. ★ Read More

The Paul Morphy Canard. 25 Dec 1875, Sat Reading Times (Reading, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com

December 27, 1875

• Birmingham Daily Post Birmingham, West Midlands, England Monday, December 27, 1875 - Page 6 — A Parisian Sketch of Paul Morphy. — It having been reported that the celebrated chess player, Paul Morphy, had suddenly lost his reason, a Paris chronicler seizes upon his pen and treats his readers to the following biographical sketch of the unfortunate gentleman, whom he, of course, calls Murphy and not Morphy. After describing his youth, the writer says that only last year Murphy, played a match with an Englishman for £1,000, the Englishman to pay the telegraphic expenses, which amounted to £600. Murphy won. We are then informed that Paul Murphy never encountered but one serious rival, to wit, the Guikwar of Baroda, recently deposed by the English, who one day beat the famous American champion. The pair played on a chessboard of gold and silver, and the pieces were of precious stones. After the game the winner gave Paul Murphy the chessboard and chessmen, and may other costly presents. Murphy, however, felt his defeat so acutely that he at once left India, refusing to accept a challenge from the wealthy ruler of Mysore. Amongst the other adversaries of Murphy were the Prince of Wales, Prince Bismarck, the President of the United States, and other notabilities. The sums gained by M. Murphy, we are assured, amounted to £40,000, and yet he did not like playing for money. One day, it appears, a great Florentine lord proposed to play Murphy a match on these conditions: Murphy was to put down 30,000 dollars, and the Italian a property to which was attached the title of Count. As Murphy, being an American citizen, cared little for a title, he refused. The chronicler winds up by saying that Murphy is to be brought to France to be treated by the specialists of Paris, who are the first in the world, probably because the have so much practice. Morphy may possibly have gone mad, but he never went to India, and he gave up playing at chess about twelve years ago. His having won £40,000, is of course a fable; but it is true that he objected to play for money.—Glasgow Herald. Read More

December 29, 1875

• The Buffalo Commercial Buffalo, New York Wednesday, December 29, 1875 - Page 2 — Paul Morphy, the famous chess-player, thinks its strange the papers will persist in locating him in a lunatic asylum when he can be seen daily walking the streets of New Orleans in good health, and in such independent circumstances that, as he says, he “has enough to live on without playing chess or practicing law.” Read More

Paul Morphy Thinks It Strange 29 Dec 1875, Wed The Buffalo Commercial (Buffalo, New York) Newspapers.com

“The happiness of “the Bohemian Caesar,” as Steinitz fondly called himself, was not unalloyed. Paul Morphy was his bête noire. He attempted to undermine the pedestal upon which Morphy's glory is everlastingly established. But he did not succeed. If Blackburne makes a brilliant combination, he calls it a “bit of Morphy.” But no one ever heard anybody call a brilliant finish a bit of Steinitz…” — The Age Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Saturday, June 19, 1897 Poison Pen Blackmail and Defamation of New Orleans Lawyer Paul Morphy: These articles were part of 1860s-80s campaign of stalking. Attempts by friends of Morphy vouching for his sanity & to stop such false rumors (New Orleans Republican 11/21/1875; Tennessean Nashville, 5/05/1877, “The Truth About Mr. Paul Morphy. He has Never been Insane”; Detroit Free Press 11/30/1880, etc). 1884 at age 47, Mr. Morphy “suddenly died”. The stalker's press release claimed ‘due to a bath on a hot day.’ Forensic toxicology was still in its infancy and no investigation ever performed. / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★ / ★