Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
ROMANCE IN REAL LIPR.
How q Mans wife Was stolen from Him
by Her Killing ithe Brother
and Leading q Wanderers Life for
Thirty Years-MsotinH Ills uebaArrtsd d
WIFE and MarryIna Her ARaia.

| At the hospital In the Soldiers' Home
| there Is an old soldier, n veteran of the
war of 1879, now in his eighty-third
year. His frame In somewhat stopped
with years, but otherwise indicates
vigor that promises to last for many
years. He has cheerful, intelligent
! face. and his record at the Home IL of
the best character. A few weeks ngo he
met with brutal treatment nj the hands
of rough fellow in West Dayton He
has not yet recovered from the injuries
| that were inflicted on him.
| The name of the old veteran Is Elias
8. Jones, and his history Is one Of n kind
often recorded in romance, and the
counterpart Of which the poet Tennyson
hus rendered immortal In the pathetic
| tale of Enoch Arden. The story Of Elias
Jones life Is more dramatic and even
more painful than Enoch Ard5n's.
though its end is happier.
lie was born in Vermont, and was
only In his sixteenth year when the war
of 1912 broke out. Amor peace had been
concluded Jones removed TO New York
State where he bought small tract Of
land in Steubcn county. Another per
son was bargaining for the same piece Of
property, which was section located
in very favorable position, and when
hc learned that Jones had obtained the
property his anger was so extreme that
on several occasions they had nearly
. come 10 personal encounters. Jones
lived on his property, and some time
after met, loved and cour,ed young
lady who lived in that section of the
State. Her name was also Joncs-Miss
Aida Jones. She was a handsome
country girl Of seventeen, and though
her home WAS at some distance from
Elias. young women, and pretty young
women, were "A scarce article NJ that
time in the neiRhborhood, and his calls
were frequent. One day hr met thC
brother OF the young lady, her only liv-
ing relative. and he recognized In him
the enemy hc hna made in the purchase
Of his land n scene cnsued. in which
Elias Was ordered from the house, with
a threat of being shot If lac returned.
This did moi check the attachment be-
tween the young people, and a few
months later she left her bIothcT's house
and was married 10 Elias Jones. Her
brother sworC, however, that hc would
he even with them both. This was in
ls30. They had been married over n
year, and had one child, bsy. When
the father returned homo one night. after
several days absence. hc found hi- house
! burned down and his wife and child
by from his wifc's brother. stating this
/ work had been done by him in revenge.
llc also added If Jones followed and
tracked him hc would shoot him on sight
Elias could find no ;racoof his family,
but he determined to recover them. and.
as he says, having been shot 1T in tho
war. lic though he could risk il again for
his wife and child. An opportunity Of
fcrcd and he disposed Of his farm. and
SGT out upon a clew that he had obtained.
II proved right. and he found that his
hruth"r-in-lav was living in the Gcncsco
valley. in New York. and the house hc
discovered setting back In the woods.
From the distance he saw his wife in
the doorway, and lie was advancing to-
ward her when "A rifle cracked and he
fell over pierced with ball. lie in
stantly recovered himself and looking in
the direction Of the smoke. saw the
brother of his wife step from behind
some brush with the discharged piece in
his hand. and advance toward him II
was the work Of an instant for Elias 20
/ bring his own piece 10 a Level and fire.
I. He felt. - proved TO be the case. that
the shot was fatal. Elias was a sure
shot and his own injuries made him des-
peratc.
! Hardly knowing what hc did. Elias
sprang ~ his feet. waved an adieu 10 his
| wife and child at the doorway and
| rushed away. Ili- own wound proved
tO be slight, though had the aim been
the least truer. Il must have caused
Elias death. He pushed right on Ia
New York city. and there engaged
board ship for three years cruise.
sending letter to his wife before be lcfi
She remained time at the place after
4. a -.a A a
I was born to her, whom she named after
its father. Then an old friend stopping
NJ her house she removed with him TO
/ Pennsylvania, where she had other
friends living. No further word was
heard from her husband for several
years. when one day the death Of an
American sailor. Elias $. Jones. Of
+, Liverpool. was chronicled in n news
| paper, and she WAS subsequently mar
ricd to the friend who brought her To
! Pennsylvania, n man named Anthony
Swopc. with whom she lived twenty
five years and became the mother Of ten
more children.
In the meantime Jones returned from
his cruise. but received no word from
his wife, and started upon another vow
age. None ot his letters were answered
In Liverpool he fell from n mast, was
]
pital. which fact probably gave rise 10
The report of his death. Subsequently
he learned that his wife had married
again after he left her, and Jones con-
tinucd his seafaring life for thirty years,
when, getting into the decline Of life, he
determined 10 renounce the sea.
lie driited ont 10 the place where he
had last seen his own wife, and where
the fatal tragedy had occurred. lie did
not have any definite purpose except
ycarning desire to learn something more
! respecting them. They had been for
I gotten at the scene Of the shooting. and
/ the homicide itself was only remembered
rs distant legend. lie was able to get
some clew which led him 10 Sandy
Creek, Mercer county, the place she had
I gone 10 live In Pennsylvania. She had,
/ however, gone still further West, and
the old man lost all further trace.
| Chance led him to Conneaut, Ohio, and
u a