The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-06-05
The ERNEST Mystery.
Fhe PFeiiaisary Trial-Raess, IaeiAeass sad
DeDePipeisas.
TFrum the Lavrencs Journall

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TFrom the Lavrsses JournaLI
GARHErr, KAs., May "a.
EDITOR JOURNAL: Our quiet little city has
been kept in y constant state Of excitement for
the past month over the sudden aud mysterious
disappearance Of Mrs. Lille 4. Ernest, wife Of
Henry Ernest, who lives ut Mineral Point, dis
tance Of about twelve miles from this city. The
facts in the case are these:
About year ago Henry Ernest, In opposition
to the wishes Of his parruts, married Lille A.,
the daughter Of Rev. Mr.. Tipten, Of Burlington,
and brought her to live ut tho residences Of his
parents. at Mineral Point.
The displeasnre Of Mr.. Erncstis parents at his
marriage increased from week to week, and I'm
ally seemed to settle into direct hatred of his
young wife, and their malice was vented upon
her alone. Some very severe charges Of ill-treat-
ment Of Mrs. Ernest arr rife among their neigh
burs, and anne brutal. it seems hard to believe
them. 1t is true, however, that they prejudiced
her husband against her. took her clothing aud
jswelry away, and forced her to live i'm . corn
shed adjacent to the houss. The conduct Of the
Ernest family toward tho young wife attracted
the attention of many Of our citizens, and met
with the sevcrcst condemnation Of all who knew
Of it.
About the 20.h Of April it became known that
the Young Mrs. Ernret wss not living at Mineral
Point. hut had gons East, leaving a baby only
six weeks old with her husband. Such an occur
renee was 10 very singular, that it reused the
curiosity of the neighbOrs, and resulted in . no.
titication being sent to the lady's father in Bur-
lington. He at once came up to this city and Wis
tied his sOn-in-law. who stated that she had gone
to Kansas City to visit snme friends, about tie
days before. Ernest said he had taken her to
Princeton and put her on the train, since which
time be had received no information, except q
letter dated at Ottawa, which he showed to the
anxious father. The letter read to the effect that
Ernest need not send her clnthes, rs she was not
going home; that she did not wish him tn cast
any stain on her name that she would try to live
right hereafter, etc.
Mr.. Upton at once started in pursuit Of his
daughter, but conld gain NO tidings of her, either
xt the station at Princeton or at Ottawa. Some
slight trace was found at Kansas City, but moth
ing sufficient to establish the belief that Mrs.
Ernest ever reached the city. The affair looked
50 dark and suspicious that Henry Ernest was
arrested, had n preliminary examination AMI was
put under - 900 bonds to appear on the Path
inst.
A Young woman Of bad repute, who goes under
the sonbriquet Of "Miss Lille" and Lieut.. Err
nest OF the regular army, are mixed up with the
affair. The former il under strict surveillance,
and Gen. Sheridan has been notified to place Lent
Ernest, now stationed at Omaha, umtier arrest
Last Monday, May 19th), the farm Of the Ear
nest family was searched by . constable The
trunk belonging to Lille Ernest was found in
the honse, with all her best clothing therein. Her
j.welry was found in bureau. Those who wer.
intimately acquainted with her state that only
two Of her most common dresses were not found
A piece Of carpet WAS found in the house, upon
which was discovered clOtted blood. Mrs. Sam
uel Ernest accounted for this, by stating that
some kittens were born on the carpet. Nothing
else was discovered, although strict search was
made.
The man Ernest is very little liked here. and
has made himself particularly obnoxious Of late.
His conduct since being arrested has tended to
aggravate public opinion. He goes around will,
an Indifferent, braggadoci0 style, and declares his
Contempt for the whole affair." stating he is SAT.
enough, and the law can't reach him. etc.
He bad his second examination to-day, and the
occurrence attracted q large crowd; fully one
thousand men were in the city from the adjacent
country. 1t was rumOred that Ernest would be
lynched az soon as he came into the city limits
aud il was much feared that he would b.
strung mp that large number of armed men,
some thirty in number, escorted him to the conrt
house. his arrival was greeted with jeers, curses
and threats.
The court room was densely filled, and crowds
fhrongeti the streets and corners round about. BY
special order all the saloons wer- closed. He was
brought to trial before 'Sqnires Cook aud Thorn,
about 10 o'clock. Rev. Mr.. Upton was the prose-
ecnting witness; Col. Hoffman appeared for the |
State, and Messrs. Bergen & Kirk and w. A Jshn- |
son for the defendent. The State not being ready
FOR trial. he was bound over to the District Conrt
IN the of $1,000.
During the proceedings Mr.. Kirk, for the de-
Iendanf, stated that the law was on their side, |
and they must abide its course, and prove the |
man guilty before convicting him. The mob be-
;alne very bOistcrous, and shouted to Kirk to re-
ract, and, rather to save disturbance than other
wise, apparently unavoidable, Mr.. Kirk modified
his language and the crowd became quiet.
1t is said that wagon hitchesl to u post in
ront Of the court room had fourteen guns in it,
md nearly every man present was armed, more
,r less.
Detectives are on the track Of the missing wo-
nan, AMI it is hoped that some clue will be
ound ere long and the mystery solved. A, re-
sar,l Of 500 is offered for information that will
sad to her discovery.