The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-11-25
A Very Mysterious Story Of Life In
Chicago.

Inv AOw Aoin 11et~uTy Vi rectut uale
contains long and remarkably curious story
OF certain events which it alleges transpired
in Chicago, which are related with all the
circumstantiality of truth. We copy the
story from the Mercury, says the Chicago
Democrat, surpressing the name, however
ofone Of the principal personages, and neither
affirming nor denying our faith in the entire
truth OF the statement. The Mercury says
"A few weeks ago, prominent firm Of
jewelers. doing business in this city, received
letter from Chicago, containing the follow
ing curious order. The writer said he wa.
worth some hundreds of thousands, and, be.
ing DESTROYS of making his wife handsome
present, wished the NJ essrs -, to manu-.
facture for him Immediately golden urn, o.
the most elaborate description, and large
enough to contain human heart, as he in
tended to place his own heart in it, and give
it to his lady for keepsake The letter
wound up with postscript to the effect that
as Messrs. -, might want some proof Of
the writer's ability to foot the bill, he begged
leave to refer them to his father-in law, Mr.
-, of Chicago.
The jewellers were quite nonplussed by
this singular order for while, and hardly
knew how to act. The whole affair looked
like freak OF insanity but so many men,
acknowledged to be sane, had INDUCED in
just such whims, that they resolved to seek
further information on the subject. The
corresponding party at once addressed let
ter to customer in Chicago, desiring him
to find out ifsuch a man as the referee named
in the order really existed, and, if so, whether
he was responsible party. In few days
an answer came, stating that there was q
person at the locality named, and that he
was one of the merchant princes of the wes-
tern city. This almost satisfied the New
York firm that the order was genuine, but
they still hesitated to fill it, and finally con-
cluded to write to the referee and ask his
advice in the matter. This they did, and
the consequence was, that the Chicago mer.
chant came to this city at once, steam haste,
to prevent the filling of the order. He stated
that the person who gave it had indeed been
his son-inlaw at one time, but was then a
madman-harmless, it was true but still a
madman-and destined to be placed in an
asylum very soon, The old gentleman then
went home, but scarcely had be LETT the city
when second letter came from the son.in-
law, complaining that the firm had not &C.
knowledged the receipt of his order, and
asking them whether they would fill it, or
oblige him to apply to other parties. Rather
provoked at being subjected to what they
considered troublesome hoax, the jewellers
very thoughtessly wrote back to him that
they had detected his true character, and
would write to the Chicago authorities con.
corning him if he played any more of his
crazy pranks upon them.
OF course the threat was a vain one
but it had the effect to Brighten the poor lu-
matte, and, by heightening bis madness, led
him to commit I" an outrage" that brought
him before certain portion of the Chicago
public One evening, as an elegantly dress
ed lady was in the act of alighting from her
carriage for the purpose of entering dry
goods store, he suddenly darted to the door Of
the vehicle, and, with loud cry, threw his
arms around the neck of the fair equestrian.
The lady at first took him for an intoxicated
man, but seemed to recognize him before
she could cry for help, for she tainted before
the coachman and bystanders could pull the
man away. The affair created a great
sensation, which was heightened by the
madman's declaration that she was his wife,
which he made with fearful oaths. Finally,
however, the carriage was driven off, with
the lady inside, and the lunatic taken before
the magistrate. During the night be was
securely confined in a comfortable apart
ment; and, in the morning, the person he
claimed as his father in-law was sent for and
came. Through the influence of the latter,
the examination was held in private; but
enough leaked out by certain channels to
show that the following strange story of
manly constancy and woman's per6dy was
revealed:
1t seems that some years ago, James
was young man employed as
clerk in dry goods establishment on Broad
way In this city. He received a rather
meagre salary for one obliged to supp ort
himself alone, yet he would probably have
remained there had he not lost his parents.
Both died, within week of each other, by
cholera, and left their only son to breast the
world alone. Keenly feeling his great loss,
and unwilling to remain in city where all
most every object reminded him of it, the
young clerk threw up" his situation and
went to Chicago, carrying letters of recon-
mendation from the employee be had quilted.
In Chicago he found new employer IN the
person of wealthy commission merchant,
who received him into bis counting house as
assistant bookeper. ..+l ,,r
His refined manners, sensitive DISPOSE
ton, and practical ability so won upon the
merchant that he invited him to his house
before he had been in his employ two
months, and treated him as son rather than
an employee. The merchant had beauti.
full daughter, just entering her teens, who
also took great liking to the modest, re-
firing bookkeeper, and as she always saw
him when she visited her fathers store, as
well as when be visited the house, they
soon became we'll acquainted-theE limo.
Gently familiar, and finally loved. The rich
merchant saw how the affair was likely to
terminate, but he had formed resolution
to let his daughter select husband for her
self, and, though his clerk had only salary
then, be resolved to make Ga man" Of
him, if he continued to do as we'll as he had
done. r...a.el ..cI.IT p. ..-,.,- j.. ..o--
"He was not much astonished, therefore,
nor very indignant, when the young man
informed him that he loved and was beloved
but he told the youth that he was very fool
ish, and then consented to the alliance. In