The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-29
Our Mississippi Correspondence,
COLUMBUS, (Miss.) April 70, 1919.
Dau1pe bu Fire.

Damage by Fire
Our citizens were aroused at 81 o'clock this morn
ing, with the cry of fire. and found the old wooden
stores on Main street, between Messrs. Morse e.
Ducherd, and Taylor, Hale & Murdoch, on fire,
which were very soon entirely burned down,
One portion was occupied as tailor's shop
contents mostly saved I; another as grocery, and
but little saved from this.
The roof of Taylor, Hale Il Murdock's store was
on fire. and stock partially removed, but building
saved, although stock somewhat damaged with
water.
Morse & Ducherd's store caught on the roof and
completely burned down, with contents, except
stock on lower floor which was removed with their
books and papers-bulldng insured TO full amount
of loss. The end walls, front and rear, fell out,
and on the west side saved from falling on the adj
joining buildings by propping against the walls of
A. Simpson " Co.,, who preserved their store and
ing them wet One of the engines was out of or
der for time, and water could not be supplied in
time to conflne the fire TO the first building. Twas
fortunately, very quiet time, after blowing gale
almost, for two or three days. The tiremen most
n!obly did their duty, (as they always do, in
city, being promptly the spot, and saving large
amount of property, by removing.
SINGULAR AFFAIR.-RoMANcE IN REAL L1FE.-
Truth, II has been said, is stranger than fiction;
and the of real life when all its features
scrutinized Is more fruitful Of wonder than half the
stories invented by the poet or the novelist, Tho
affair to which we cursorily alluded yesterday in
local news, under the head of Forgery" contains
chapter OF incidents so startling that one hard
ly bring oneself to believe that they occurred any
where, much less in a business community like
Here is young lady hardly out of her teens
told who fabricaes fortune for herself paper i'm
poses through the medium Of her charms CHATS not
very strapge) stad tradesman the extent of in
ducipg him to marry her, and to cap the climax pre-
walls ON grave notary public to undertake the coec
ton of the $4,000 dowry she possesses as if it
simple apothecary's undertaker's bill, to be paid
at sight unhesatngly by the generous donor Of this
round sum. In the mean time, the happy couple set
nTt t1,nN n,tJ,
bridegroom In blssfu hope that his BRIDES handsome
fortune will be duly transmitted to him through the
post. 1t is the greatest affair have known
The following are the incidents The affidavit made
by Mr. Michsud before Recorder Genos have al
ready mentioned He proneunces the note for $4,000
forgery but does not know positively who committed
it, although there is little to doubt the part
Miss Clement played in the matter.
The victim in the case is Mr.. Cabot who keeps
dry goods store on the corner of Canal and Dauphn
streets and is man of considerable property being
turday morning last, Mr. G. presented himself at the
Office of Mr. Chapella in Exchange Place accompanied
by Nlessrs Topenot and Michon, who had been wit
nesses to his marriage with Miss Elise Clement the
same morning and there stated to Mr. Chapella that
he wished to deposit with him note for collection, on
himself as he going to leave the same day witk
his bride for the North. He desired MIR. c. to invest
NIT it, that he might have the money without the
least possible delay. The following is verbatim copy
of the document
'NouvEL1E ORLEANS, IA Avril ls4e
"a presentation, je payerai Mademoselle Elise
Clement ordro la somme do dix mile piastres
Pour valeur recu (sgned) ANT MICHOUD."
And endorsed as follows
"Payez Pordre de NJ. A Chiapclla.
Eigned) "ELISE CLEMENT
Mr.. Chapella naturally thought the circumstances
under which the document had been entrusted to him
very strange and Immediately after MIR. Galot left
his office he repaired to the residence of Mr. Michoud
Unfortunately this gentleman not to be found other
wise the forgery would have been discovered in time to
arrest the newly made bride who did not leave town
until o'clock in the afternoon, when she started with
States Mr. Chiapella being unable to find Mr. Michoud
on Saturday, dropped the matter until tho following
morning; and though it Sunday he thought proper
not to procrastinate the business the tho
note payable on demand, and had been presented
at the domcil of the drawer the day previous On
entering the Office he observed to Mr. Michoud, "You
lod better give check for $4,000, and the
trouhle of calling tomorrow; have got note eff
yours for that amount Mr. NJ looked at the note,
forgot to mention before the signature had been
tolerably we'll initiated. Mr.. Chiapella at once called
Mr. Gallots partner to obtain some explanation OF
the affair, and there learned that Miss Elise Clement
had arrived in this city from France three or four
months ago with her mother and sister and that 1t had
been generally stated that she had brought with her
$4,000 francs in gold The clerk of tho house, who ap
pears to be thoroughly in the confidence of Mr. Gaot,
added that the young lady had deposited the castings
with MIR. John Hagan of this city, who in return had
given her h Note for $4,000; in fact, if have been
rightly informed such document Qorged of coursc)
has also been seen The person stated, likewise,
that Miss Clement, finding it difficult to negotiate tho
had ultimately exchanged it for the forged note
On applying to Mr.. Hagan. he Of course utterly
ignorant OF the matter but remembered that lady by
the Of Clement had frequently importuned him
for pecuniary assistance, and that at time to get
rid Of her solicitations, he had made her present of
five dollars Messrs Topenot and Michon, the grooms
of MIR. Gallo confirm the facts in relation to the
rumored wealth Of the lady but of all further particu
lars they ignorant. The latter states circum
stance, however, which gives colorng to the simpli
city with which Mr. GalOt welded his better half 1t
seems that he accompanied Miss Clement to Mr.. Mi
chouds store where she went ostensbly for the pur
pose Of obtaining the note and after remaining in the
place about q quarter of an hour, (making two
unmportant purchases, lcarn) she returned and
exhibited the document which had been forged, no
doubt, some days before. ~
Altogether this is the most singular and romantic
transaction have been made acquainted with.
The denouement for the poor husband will be melan
choy in the extreme. The happy fellow is now
joying his honey trip and doubtless little dreams
of the terrible damper which the Of this affair will
place upon his matrimonial bliss.
The comedy of n Bold Stroke for Husbando will
never meet any success upon the New Orleans stage
Again This affair completely eclipses anything of the
kind ever produced both in plot and incident, and the
principal character it must has been
well sustained throughout by Miss Clement.
Tecgraphic dispatches have been sent on North and
East, and doubt not that shall hear something
from the bridal party in day or two.-Nco Orleans
Picoyune, .9prii 20.
Brady's Gallery of DaguerreOtypes, Nos.