The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-15
WICKED BETRAYAL.

LAURA REDS BAD FATE-A FAIR YOUNG LIFE
LIVING "A HEARrLEss AND SHAMELESS
FATHER.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer, August IL
On Friday tho "lhrough express" from the East on
tho Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton road pulled up
ut tn. Cumminsvio Station aud u coiin containing the
corpse OF young woman of twcpty- four slight girl
sh IN figure and but a month ago mother was
hastily lifted IRON tho car to an undortakcrs wagon
Yesterday httlo funeral cortege consisting OF
couple of carriages wended way slowly to Wesleyan
Cemetery, the last mortal remains OF fair Laura
Reed awaiting tho last sad rites and IN the pres
OF the few relatives anu strange to say, her al
legged soducer, wcrc laid away their last resting
place; while ht,le homeless, nameicss wait, only
month upon The of time. lifted up its Tiny
in the little town Of Elmore 100 miles away and wept
at tho absence-a long, sad aDscnce-o ITS mother,
over whose sudden death hangs and perhaps Will for
ever hang. n dreadful mystery. " A iral, deli
cate motneress girl, the daughter ola weto-do and
generally respected citizen of tho West End retiring,
modest, associating with few outside her family
acquani ances, among whom was married Sabbath
school teacher never suspected of any improper
relations with those OF the opposite suddenly DIS
covered to DO cnccnte, out OF town" 10 hide hcr
shame, furnished a "nome' among strangers ana with
but indifferent treatment deserted apparently after
tho birth OF her child dying suddenly after having
recovered from tho sickness OF childbirth perhaps Wy
her own hand, ana leaving intnations, perhaps proof
that her home acquaintance and sabbath school TEACHER
the husband OF the woman TO whom s he looked as a
mother was tho father OF her ialhcrless child Nine
years ago George W. Rced native OF this city, tue
| father OF tho un tori unatc young woman whose
wife had died alter several years OF insanity leaving
two daughters Laura aud Nettic then but twelve ana
fifteen years Old, formed tho acquaintance Of James
| l.. Reynolds, then residing Ia New York Reynolds
being married man and without. children Mr. Reed
proposed that he ard his wifo should come West w.
hlfOn ND thuf Qh
Reynolds wife to have the care OF the girls and attend
to the duties OF housekeeping. This proposition was
accepted and the two families linked their fortunes
TERRIBLE DISCOVERY.
After residing fora tune on York street they rented
beautiful residence No. 292 Wade street, where. un-
Ill within few months they lived together and where
the mislorlunes OF tho air Laura overlook her Dur
had become members of the Methodist Cnurch, OF
which Reynolds aud his wife were also respected men,
bcrs Together they attended YORK Street Methodist
Church. Mr.. Reynolds instructing, Us he still does,
class Of young ladies in the sabbath school some
times the whole family went together and sometimes
only Laura and Reynolds alone. Things ran on
smoothly in this way Tor eight yours until less than
in tho East, It was discovered that Laura was
enceinte. The discovery caused the greatest
brS in anu soca crea. beng promnensy
connected and intelligent aud refined, and Laura had
always enjoyed an envsbe reputation for modcs,y
aud virtue aud honor IN every sense OF tho word. All
efforts by the family 10 carn tie author Vi her troubles
Is SAID, were In VAN ana ,aa. 'nsy Originated at
father, who still continues his family relations with
| the will turthcr Is charged
with beng the author Of Door Laura's troubles There
Is, however, may properly be said, no direct and
positive proof yet Cleaned here that these charges are
true though rumOr Tor some time before the girls
death pointed to such state Of affairs Whom the DIS
covcry made Laura was sent away to hide the
affair her relatives and acquaintanccs in the city,
many of wnOm stand high, aud was, It Is said, in
formed by her tthcr that alter her child was born she
longer look TO him Tor support or aid IN the
battle Of life That he kept the promise only TOO we'll
is indicated by the lotter published below in the
statement that she received neither money nor word
|, from home after her child q week old.
After her departure the talk among the ncighbors
along Wade street continued, aud there various
surmises tho author of her troubles, but nothing
positive had been developed until the receipt OF tho
letter published below which. II substanated POM Is
to James Reynolds, who had enjoyed her alher's
nacnce, anu well, seems, the confidence OF tho
bers OF tho church which they belonged. There
we're previous to the receipt of tue letter
10 tins elect, aud II IS indeed alleged that the
ireoG rcs,dn~ on the same street thai, she did not
60 away from home for IT." Reynolds' general repu-
iaton. however, good, and MS friends refuse to be-
I,evo him guilty the alleged action. The act how
ever, that Laura had few II any, gentlemen friends or
even acquainanccs, coupled with tho statements IN
the letter published below that the Intimacy began
when. but seventeen, or about year after tho
date Of of the Two families, is accepted by
another indication that the charge Is correct
, WAS IT suClDEg
Whether or not the unfortunate Laura persisted by
her hand is asyot uncertain though, us seen be
low, there Is fear that SUCH was tho She had
IT said frequently threatened suicide after her dis
covcry OF her condition, aud tho fact that she mad
tircly recovered from the ness accustomed by child
birth, AMI that her last sickness was but OF very
short btTengtucnb somewhat SUSPICION
IL Is suspected also that she had inherited IN slight
degree the insanity OF her MOTHER aud II seems prob
able that should the theory Of suicide prove true II
Will be traced to tins cause
woMANs
A remarkable letter mas been received by parties In
THIS city relating to the unfortunate sirs doatn, and
conclusions drawn from her csp0udeuce and dyin
statements, wh.cn u will DO charges clearly and
uncquvocaly the responsibility tho case upon
Rey nolds and also makes serious charges OF ncgec
against tho father
ELMoRE, Chic. August ~. 1877
DEAR --This quiet town has been thrown Into nfn
sion this week by the death OF gr from city
who died under sud- some think suspicious crcum
stances.
From her statements just previous to her DEATH
from letters in her possession which have examined she
have been Miss Laura Reed. from
daughter Of George w. Reed employed at No. IA West
Fourth street he sent by her father In February
last this concsa her shame from her friends ~
the city.
n place provided Tor her comfocss howell with
very low family who entire strangers to thu
him with her wfetched surroundings, b.,
him stcpmothcr III very cold unieelipg name
saying must content herself with that place, HI
should provide her with other So there she
gricvcd suffered and died the 9Th OF this month"; 10
| month old For three weeks previous o he
death word came IRON the nhumau father
father OF her death. No answer came, and h
another to the Chief OF Police thi
takrr in Cumminsviile; the name do not remember.
accordingly sent last evening and by this time undc
ground unless the CORONER has been notified u hold IL To-
further investigation. which here think ad
vtsabIe poison being hintc the her death
My opinion is that grict cruel neglect tho soil
her death. the villain ~lo causcd this GIRLS
and death Is one James l.. Reynolds. married man
intimate in her family lie scduced her when seventeen
years of age and maintained criminal relations with he
for several to the time oi being to i
place. This should be exposed and compelled
provide for this child twill follow Its mother ef