The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-07
YirI1n1ol,d 1ispatth.
".. DEtEMbhh = A''0'
A MYSTER

rely. and he Is therefore Wlilhs 10 'oue"
for their authenticity. ,.s,.oto /.
The facts related to us wonld lhu iss',,,
case of abduction, yet there are e.s sh;nh
save transnired in our efforts to "work the
matter up.N that have tendency 70 feiu.e
This idea. We give the facts as reiated ~
us, and our readers can put their OWN in'
terpretation upon them.
TIE STORY.
Friday evening last lady OF n'gn stana-
ing. residing in C---n, West virginia,
arrived In this city on visit to her friends
and relatives. a number Of whom reside IN
this locality, and shortly after her arrival at
the residence Of one of our leading citizens
she related the following
MYSTERIOUS INCIDENT:
She took passage ut Wheeling on the eX-
nress train on the Cleveland and Pittsburg
railroad, which arrived in this city about 4
O'Clock on Friday afternoon, and some
time before the train arrived at the ALE.
yhany station she observed, a few seats in
front Of her, an elderly gentleman whose
dress in point Of elegance and neatness was
faultless. The man appeared TO be about
fifty-tive or sixty years Of age; his hair was
slightly gray, and his clothing was IN the tn
heighth of fashion from hat to boots. In the
y
but elegantly attired, apparently about
twenty years OF age, who, from her appear
ance, was in some serious trouble, her
face-naturally handsome-with an express
sion indicating intelligence and refinement,
occasionally gave tokens Of fear and deJec-
ton, as though some great danger was con-
tinual,y threatening her. In the seat IN
front Of the parties last named sat Two
Young men, who, from their actlonS, haa
some connection with the old gentleman
and the lady who appeared to be IN his
charge. Nothing of an unusual ma
lure occurred on the trip until the train
reached the station at Allegheny, where, as
soon as it stopped, the young lazy maze
on attempt to leave the car, but was pre-
vented by the old gentleman, who thrust
her back in her seat in, as our informant
states, rather rude manner. The young
lady took her seat, but appeared To be
greatly distressed and wept bitterly. The
train moved on to the Union depot, where
another scene occurred, which. instead OF
explaining the mystery had tendency 10
increase 1t, and gave rise TO suspicion IN
the mind OF the lady from West Virginia,
whom, for convenience. we shall call Mrs.
P, that there was something wrong In
the matter. When the train stopped the
old gentleman and the two men who oc-
cupied the seat in front of him, to whom
we have before alluded, arose hastily, and
the old man seized the young lady by the
arm and attempted to hurry her from the
ears, and he was assisted in his efforts by
the two young men. The young lady drew
back Us if reluctant to accompany them,
but was forced toward the door by the old
man showing her. She finally managed to
get into a seat which had just been vacated,
ana the crowd in the aisle of the car pre-
vented the men from getting her out. she
remained there until Mrs. P, who was
leaving the car, came opposite to her. when
she caught hold of Mrs. P-'s dress and
inquired, care not you Mrs. P, of
C-n, Virginia." Mrs. P replied
that she was that person, but that she had
not the pleasure of the inquTer's acquaint-
ance. The young lady replied that she
had met her at the house Of Mrs. Moore,
in Wellsburg. She then appealed to Mrs.
P to protect her and not let those men
take her with them. Mrs. P asked her
what was wrong, to which she replied that
she could not explain there, but for Gods
sake
DON'T LEAVE ME-.
Mrs. P then turned to the old gentle
man and inquired if there was anything
wrong to which he replied rather imper-
tiuently that there was not, and that he was
fully competent to attend to his own affairs.
He then seized hold of the young lady to
force her out of the car, but she chung TO
Mrs. P-'s clothing and begged her not to
leave her. Mrs. p then asked the old
gentleman where he intended to take the
young lady to, and he replied to the St.
Charles Hotel, where her sister was. The
young lady remarked to Mrs. P that
she had no sister at the st. Charles
Hotel, or in the city. and begged
Code cnl-o tn talya nharUe IF
her and protect her from the men. Mrs.
P said she was goingto the Monongahe-
Ia House, and as there appeared to be some
mystery about the matter she would take the
girl with her, where the gentleman could
explain. The old gentleman again made
some crusty remark about being able to at
tend to his own business, and said that he
would take the girl to the st. Charles. Mrs.
P was fixed in her purpose, and insist
ed that she should accompany her to the
Monongahela House. The old gentleman,
probably to prevent a continuance OF the
parley, yielded, and all the party save one
of the young men moved out Of the car, the
young lady still clinging to Mrs. P, and
got in an omnibus. Mrs. P directed the
driver to drive to the Monongahela House
He evidently received other Instructions
as instead Of going to the hotel he drove di
rect to the Monongahela wharf, where the
mysterious party got out, and the young
Indy, against her consent, was forced upon
the Elector, which was just about to start
Mrs. P felt that she had been out. gene
rallied but still thinking there was some.
thing wrong. she called to the captain of
the boat, who was on the hurricane deck,
and informed him that there was something
mysterious about the party Just going
aboard the boat, and requested him to see
that no harm came to the lady.
We have made diiigent inquiry concern
ing the matter of the officers of the steamer
on which the party took passage, and learr
that the party disembared at Elk Valley pa
per mills, about thirty miles up the Monon
9ahela river. The captain states that he
observed nothing unusual In the actions Of
the party. The girl made no complaint
and he saw no cause for any interference or
his part.
If there was no foul play connected with
the affair, the only hypothesis upon which
the mystery can be explained is that OF The
girls insanity, conclusion scarcely war
rantable from the statement of Mrs. P
whose statement was in part corroboratiyf
okfhe gentleman connected with the wharf
baAt, Who says he noticed that the young
Lady was forced on the boat against hel
win, and that he called the attention of s
igentlemln from Brownsville, who WAS
aboard, to the matter, and requested him
to investigate 1t.
There may have been something wrong,
and for this reason we make the publica-
ton, as the information we have given
might be of value If such was the case.
sEEDsMEE, FLORISTS, dc.