Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-06
BARON Won JASMUND.
Love and Suicide-A Romantic Story
from Real Life-A German Baron
and the Widow of an Eng
lish Clergyman.
Where They First Met-HOw the Old Man
Fell i'm Love, and Why he was Dis
carded by the Book Peddler.

Chicago correspondence Cincinnati Enqui
rer: The press has much to say concerning
the suicide of Baron Theodore Won Jasmund,
or the sad end of an old mans dream. There
have been so many mIsstatements and con-
tradictions published, some of which make
the gentleman to be an impostor, and others
preferring charges against the lady, that
should like to write the story as it was told
me by the only reliable authority, and friend
of both parties, containing some additional
facts. 1t will be remembered that just a
week ago tonight the body of a dead man
was discovered near komaka, Ontario, Cana
da, on the track of the Great Western rail
road. 1t was that of q gentleman, tall aud
handsome, with light hair and mustache, and
about ffty-Gv years of age. His clothing
indicated ample means, but there was little
to identify him save that In the hat, under
the lining was found torn heading to let
ter-a lady's ntly-with the address,
No. 927 Wabash avenue, Chicago. Besides
this IN his coat pocket was found lady's gold
watch, encrusted with diamonds, an emerald
ring, another of plain gold, marked from - /.
V. L. to M. H., May %, 1S78,'' and the
miniature of a very charming young lady,
which | saw yesterday. The face Is oval,
with prominent but regular features, brown
hair, full blue eyes, and a very pleasing eX-
pression-nothing bold or coarse about 1t,
and the last type IN the world one would ex-
pect to find in a book canvasser, for such WAS
the vocation of this distrachng young woman.
But to return to the unfortunate man who
was identified as Baron Theodore Won Jas
mund, editor of the VOlkSbldH, of Detroit,
and as the name indicates a member of a no.
BILE family whose estate Jasmund is in south
ern Prussia, and one of whom Is secretary In
the cabinet of Emperor William. 1t seems
that sixteen years ago, like many other lnl-
poveriShed Germans, the baron came to this
ok1rIrt
the latter now unmarried and living in
Sarnia. After a life of viclssltudes and
losing his wife, the baron drifted to
Detroit, where he became the editor of a
German paper. A man of the world and
education, he made many friends in that city,
and formed an agreeable addition to the So
ciety of fashionable clearinghouse. All,
what tales these boardinghouses could i'm
part! While there bewitching young book
canvasser made her appearance and engaged
board. | have described her, but will add
that she belonged to IA most respectable Eng
fish family, and is the widow of the Rev.
Somers Overton, an Episcopal clergyman of
Montreal, and a godson of the Duke of Cam
bridge. When the goodly relict departed he
was as poor as the proverbial mouse that in
habits sanctifed buildings, and, as her own
family were in modest circumstances, the
young wife made up her mind to do for her.
self. Like many other unfortunate women,
she was thorough in doing only one thing
that, in doing nothing. She could not dig;
to beg she was ashamed; ami, q friend sug-
costing book canvaSsing, with a courage past
understanding unless supported by cheek,
she commenced the business. Success at
tended her venture. Whether it was her
pleading blue eyes, her graceful manners or
her sad situation that appealed to the hearts
and pockets of men, they alone know,
but certain It's that she gained comfort
able living, prospered and grew plump.
and all went well until she visited Detroit,
and tested the tender Inequalities of the
baron's clearinghouse. Here she made
friends. but none SO fond as he. She was
taken i'll. He loaded her with delicate attsn
tions in the shape of light literature, green
house grapes, bananas, and the oranges of
Crushed Tragedian. " She read the romances,
devoured the delicacies, and WAS grateful.
Convalescing, he took her out carriage riding,
and-well, he proposed to her, and she, tired
of blistering her pretty feet In weary rounds
of being snubbed by servants and lnsulted
by their mistresses, thought it would be wis
dom to become the Baroness Won Jasmund.
June went on and she repenJed. Twice the
engagement was broken and renewed. The
gentleman held out dazzling prospects-a
trip to Europe, fine dresses, jewelry, and who
knows, perhaps presentation at court. 1t
was tempting, and third time did the be-
reayed blonde shut her eyes to the difference
of thirty years In their age, of different tastes,
and the charms OF an independent life. Pres
ents were powerful appeals, but one of them
was the source Of the final trouble. Among
other promises and inducements were settle
ments, one of thirty thousand dollars life
insurance, and some property, also of
ready money to complete her wedding prep
arations, but the latter came not. How
ever, the day was set, May 29th, and Miss
Mary Hancock Overton came to visit some
friends in Chicago, at 927 Wabash avenue,
and prepared for the event. And then oc-
Cured a mysterious mistake over the lovers
last present. Just before leaving Detroit, the
baron sent his fair bride to be a new trunk.
He filed it with the finest of silk stockings
and dainty kid gloves and gossamer handker-
chiefs. The trunk also contained two hand
some silk dresses, gift, and some purchases
of her own, among which was the material
for wedding toilet of white silk and point
lace. This trunk the baron was to forward
here in ample time for the contents to be
made up, but it came not. Miss Overton
wrote to know the cause of the delay, and the
answer was that by mistake it had been sent
to st. Paul. Very much annoyed by this ir-
regular mistake, the fair widow answered in
touchy letter, implying that she could not
understand it. This was the entering
wedge in the compact, and, the money orders
failing to come, On consultation with her
friends, she came to the conclusion that there
was a screw loose somewhere, and wrote
breaking the engagements ION account OF
the many obstacles, to use her own words,
leaving all his presents honorably
enough with her friends here to
be forwarded. She left for Grand Rapids, to
wander once more over the beaten paths of
the book agent. No sooner had she gone
than two packages, marked one thousand
dollars and five hundred dollars, came
by express. 1t was then that her friends
here notified him that his letters, presents
and these packages had been left with them;
would he give directions, as Miss Overton
had not? In response, the gentleman arrived
in this city, and on hearing how determined
his former betrothed was, he declared he
would not live and, leaving here, returned to
Detroit, left his baggage at his boarding.
house, with a note to his room mate, and
then ended his life on the railroad track, to
be identified as above. Miss Overton was
terribly shocked at the ending of the affair,
and writes to her friends that she is Ill from
the effects of it, though size feels that she did
right, and had been treasured Of it on dis
covering that the troublesome trunk had
never left Detroit, nor any attempG had been
made to forward it. A little mystery, as the
baron had repeatedly said "a man in my
position could not stOop to tell lie" But
then when it is to conquer, people easily be- |
come round shoudered.
A Fatal Runaway.
Nashville american, 4th: The horses at |
tached to an ambulance driven by James |
Burlington, and in which were seated his |
son, Frank Burlington, fourteen years old; |
Mrs. General A. G.. Gillem, and Mrs. Lou |
Gillem, her sister-in- law, became frightened |
while descending the first hill beyond Mount |