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

LAURA REEDS SAD FATE-A FAIR YOUNG LIFE
ExTINGUIsHED AND CHILD or SHAME
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
the Cummnsvlle station and a cofln containing the
corpse OF young woman Of twenty FOUR slight girl
ish in figure, and but month ago mother was
hastily lifted from tho to undertakers wagon
Yesterday u little funeral cortege consisting Of
couple of carriages wendcd It's way slowly to Wesleyan
Cemetery where the last mortal remains OF fair Laura
Reed awaiting last sad rites and In the pres
of the few relatives and, strange to say. her al
legged seducer, wero laid away IN their last resting
place; while little homeless, namaless wait, only n
month upon tho Of time lifted up Its tiny
In the little town OF Emorc, 100 miles away and wept
al tho absences long, sad aDscncc-oi It's mother,
whose sudden death hangs and perhaps viii for
ever hang dreadful mystery. A rail, deli
cate, motherless girl the daughter OF we-to-do and
generally respected citizen Of the West End retiring,
modest, associatng with few outside her own family
acquaintances, among whom married Sabbath
school teacher, never suspected Of any improper
relations with those OF the opposite sox, suddenly dis
covered to be encicne sent out OF town" to hide her
shame, furnished ''home' among strangers AMI with
but indifferent treatment deserted apparently after
tho birth OF her child dying suddenly after having
recovered from the sickness OF childbirth, perhaps w
her own hand, ana leaving ntimatons. perhaps proof,
that her home and sabbath school teacher.
the husband OF the woman TO whom she looked as q
mother, tho father OF her fatheTloss child. Nine
years ago George W. Reed native oil this city, tho
father OF the unfortunate young woman whose
wife had died alter several years OF insanity, leaving
two daughters, Laura Nettic then but twelve and
fifteen years Old formed the acquaintance OF James
| l.. Reynolds, then residing In New York. Reynolds
being married ana without children Mr. Reed
! proposed that he ard his wife should come West with
hm and that they should set up housekecp together
Reynolds wie to have the OF the girls and attend
to the duties of housekeeping THIS proposition was
accepted and the Two families linked their fortunes
| TERRIBLE DISCOVERY.
Alter residing for on YORK street they rented
beautiful residence, No. 292 Wade street, where, IN
Ill within few months, they lived together and where
the msortunes OF tho lair Laura overlook her. Dur
had become members Of tie Methodist Cuurch, OF
which Reg nolds and his wis were also respected mem
bcrs. Together they attended York Street Methodist
Church, Mr. Reynolds instructng, al 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 years until, less than
year ago, just alter the absence Of Rypods' vile
| In the East. II discovered that Laura was
enccnte The discovery caused tho greatest
SURPRISE and CONSERVATION. Tho family stood
connected and Intelligent and refined, ana Laura had
always enjoyed an enviabic reputation for modcsiy
aud virtue and honor every OF the word. All
efforts by the family tie author u troubles,
II said wore In vain, and that they originated at
home did not seem to have entered the mind OF tho
father who still continues his family relations with
the who, us Will DO seen further ON, Is charged
with being the author Of poor Eauras troubles There
is however, II may properly DO said, direct and
positive proof yet Cleaned hero that these charges
true, though rumor tor some time before the girI's
death pointed To such state OF affairs When tho dis
covery made Laura was sent away to hide the
affair IRON her relatives and acquainanccs In the CITY,
many OF wnom stand high, and was, It Is SAID, in
formed by her father that alter her child born
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 tho letter published below, in tho
statement that she received neither money nor word
from home after her child WIS q week Old
Alter her departure the talk among the neghbors
along Wade street conunued, and there werc various
surmses tho author Of her troubles, but nothing
positive had been developed until the receipt OF the
letter published below which, II substantIated, points
to james Reynolds who had enjoyed her fathers con
hdence and well, 1t seems the confidence OF tho
members OF the church to which they belonged. There
were previous to the receipt Of the letter mentioned
to this eject aud II Is indeed alleged that tho
unfortunate Laura stated 10 Mrs DAVIS, an intimate
friend residing the same street, that she ibid not
go away IRON home for IL" Reynolds general repu-
tation, however good and friends refuse to
levc him guilty the alleged acton. Tho TACT, how
ever. laura had few, II any, gentlemen friends
even acquaintanccs, coup ed with the statements in
the letter published below that the intimacy began
when she was but seventeen or about year alter the
date OF OF the families, is accepted by
another indication that the charge Is correct.
SUICIDE?
Whether or not tho unfortunate Laura persisted by
her hand Is as yot uncertain, though, be-
low there is a fear that such was the case She had
said, frequently threatened suicide alter her dis
covery OF condition. and the fact thai she mad
rcIy recovered from the iluess accustomed by child
short duration. strena somewhat this Suspicion
1t is suspected also that she had Inherited IN slight
degree the insanity OF her mother, aud seems prob
able that should tho theory OF suicide prove true
will be traced TO this cause
woMAN's
A remarkable letter has been received by parties In
this Guy relating to tbs unfortunate grs death, and
conclusions drawn from her correspondence and dy
statements, which II Will 10 charges clearly aud
uncqulvocally tho responsibility IN tho case upon
Rcy nolds and also makes serious charges Of neglect
against tho father
ELMoRK, Chic. August 10. 1877
DEAR This quiet town has been thrown into confn-
who died under sad. some think suspicious eircu-
stances
from letters ia her possession which have examined. she
appears to have been Miss Laura Reed IRON your y
daughter Of George w. Reed employed at No LA West
Fourth street. he sent by her father Ia February
last 20 this place to conceal her shame from her friends In
the city.
very poor family who entire strangers the
girl family Her her father
him with her wetched surroundings answered by
must content herself with that place, he
should provide her with other So there she stayed
grieved. suffered and died the Sh OF this month"; evna
sou month old For three weeks previous to hci
death word came from the inhuman father.
kind gentleman bought collin and tclegraphed her
father news Of her death. No answer came, and he
sent another message ~ the Chief of Poicc, ana this
brought saying to send Tho body under
takrr In Cumminsvillc: the name do remember II
accordingly last and by this time unde
ground unless the Coroner has been nothed to hold fc
further investigation. which course here think ad
OF her death the villain Who caused this gir.
Intimate in her family lie s,d1ced her whsn seventeen
years OF aud maintained criminal re lions with he
for several 60 the time OF her being sent 20 th
this child follow mother W let