The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-09-26
Romeo Reese

AOetc u Que cuopter IN the lie OF
The dead finsncier, Michael Reese,
which has hitherto smid allpthe inter.
est taken in his affairs, remained un-
read. 1t is peculiar and interesting
chapter. since it places him in o role
which he was believed never to have
filied-thst of the tender lover and Of.
fectionate fstber-sud those Who be-
lieved him possessed of . heart
which beat responsive to the touch of
gold alone may hereafter credit him
with broader sympsthies. The scene
Of the romance. at present, is . little
alley leading south from Broadway,
above Dupont. whsre dwells woman
who now makes legal claims in be-
half Of berself and con to . portion of
the dead mans estate. Her story is q
long one. and is the Oft repeated tale Of
. love that cared for no convention
alitiss snd . marriage which knew NO
prieotIy rites, yet which. nevertheless,
bore fruit which promises to cause the
interesting spectacle Of . fight over
q five million dollar will The name
of the woman is Isabella Acona,
native Of Panams, who came here amid
the rush of 1850. Circumstances threw
her in the way OF Mr.. Reese, then q
young man whose heart was not 20 i'm
pervious to the assault Of dark hair and
brown limhed beauty as it proved in
after years. Good looks were never q
large portion Of bis capital, but he was
an energetic and thriving business
man. and
THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE.
Smoothed by gold. or silver more pos
sibly. fually led TO the fall Of the young
lady, if she had not before suffered that
catastrophe. and she became Mr..
Reese's mistress. This happened in
the yesr 1853. They went to live at
the Lafayette House, one Of the hos.
telries which has disappeared in the
city's advancement. but which old
timers will remember, and lived togeth.
or from 1863 to 1859. The fruit of the
union was boy. who travels under the
name Of Richard Rsmesis (wbose certi-
fication of birth, with the parents
names attached, is among the records
of the Catholic Church on Vallejo
street. and two other Children girl.
who died at her birth, and another boy.
who did not live beyond infancy. In
1869 the matrimonial courtship was
dissol ved and the woman went to
Stockton with her son, where she re.
manned number Of years. Whether
or not the Amorous Romeo continued to
support her. and whether or not he
wrote her any letters. remains to be
seen. She returned. howevor, and
took up her residence In the ally men.
toned. where she has since lived.
THE BOY GREW UP,
And earned . prccarious living 40
steward, eoachman and table-vaiter.
which varioas oocupetions farnished him
. support, his father furnishing him
with . little money at times. Mr..
Reese visited the house quite often,
though always privately, and appeared
to be still inspired with the rememb.
rance of the old affection. On one o.
casion he captured y picture Of his
son, which 10 said to be among his pri-
vate papers. il he didn't distroy it, and.
altogether. manifested sufficient interest
in his former bride to create % uncom-
plimentsry discussion in the alley 40 to
his morality in visiting the retired
Panama woman. When the news Of
his decesse came. the provision of his
will Was anxiously looked for. - he
had promised that the spAring hand
with which be had dealt out the dollars
in the latter years should be replaced
by liberslity in his will. There was
NO LEGACY FOR THE WOMAN AND
HER SON.
However. and they immediately Get
about detsrmining what rights they
might have BY law. They enlisted
the service Of Jose Alcayaga
proprietor of . grocery store
ct No. 524 Broadway, and Csndido
Gutierex. . Spaniard whose trop-
ical brain has wrsstled with the il.
tricaciss Of the law. The two gentle
men went to Henry Barroilhet and
obtained letter to Hall McAllister,
desiring to enlist tho best legal talent
obtainsble. Mr.. McAllister inquired
into the case, and finding that Mr..
Reese had never in any manner pub
licly adopted the son, and that such .
ceremouy wls necessary 10 endow him
with any rights. declined to 60 into the
case, - . contingent fee was rather
dim. The gentlemen went in search
Of another counsel. however. which
counsel, the inquisitivsness Of . Post
reporter has failed to discover. In the
meantime. however. ail the points Of
the caso havo bGon re0uoe1 % writing.
and al The Witnssoos who ere kuown
TO bs cognixant Of the facts have been
hunted up. The largensss Of the prize
Il, = may b inaosnsd. sn sncsativs to
ersat exertiou, and peoportionate nal 10
being manafsstsd. The woman and
con, whatever may bs the result of the
legal investigation. are perfectly con-
fidsnt OF proving their relations to Mr..
Reese q mistress and son. 1liss Acoua
ct presant does not appear anything
like the Hebe she possibly was when
che encountered Michaels a6ections.
She l. short in stature. vSinkled9 and
dark. and a beautiful - The avssses
Panama woman OF foyty-sight usually
10. The son Richard has the compiler
ion Of . halfbreed. . bright and rather
soodl -ookineface; and noss IN which
the mosaic b easily diacerniblc. In
fact, his face i not bad supplement
10 his claims on 4r. RCess - : father.
What will cone Of the afair cannot. OF
courss, b teld. bat e ths Partiss can
proye all they claim and maintain
their prsseat ssal . court coatest to
which no little interest Will attach