Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-06-13
An ElOper Turns Up.

Lieut.. A. d. Fletcher, of the United
States Navy, who, on February IL,
eloped from Baltimore with the daugh-
ter of his boarding house keeper, is at
present a guest of the Government, or
rather, of the officers of the receiving
ship 81. Louis, lying at the League
Island Navy Yard. Upto week ago
the whereabouts of Fletcher were q
mystery. Last Thursday week, unac-
companied, he entered the Mercantile
Hotel, on Tenth street, above Chestnut,
and engaged room for two days. In
the evening he indited letter to Sec
rotary of the Navy Thompson, inform
ing that official that he was very i'll and
requesting that orders should be given
for his admission to League Island
Navy Yard. In this communication he
complained of troubles in the head in
such terms as to convey the impression
that lie was not exactly compos mentis.
After mailing the epistle the very sick
man found his way to Miller's Winter
Garden, where he remained until after
midnight. On the following day Fri
day. he displayed great enxiety in re-
gard to some letters which he expected,
and spent the whole day watching for
the postmen as they went their rounds.
No missive came, however. On Satur-
day, while Fletcher was gone for a
stroll, an ambulance from the Navy
Yard rolled up to the door of the hotel
and awaited his return. Notwithstand-
ing his letter to Secretary Thompson,
Fletcher seemed nervous when he came
back and noticed the vehicle. First
writing and mailing postal card to
some unknown party, the "sick man
mounted the seat alongside of the dri-
YER, and was driven to the Navy Yard,
where he has since remained. The Off
GERS at this place acted upon instruc-
tons received from the Navy Depart
ment, authorizing them to receive the
Lieutenant and place him under medi-
cal treatment. Since he has been there
he has shown no signs of mental aber-
ration, although his actions have been
closely watched by those about him.
He is man of middle size, slender in
build, forid complexion, with the front
part of his head devoid Of hair. He
has seen nearly forty years of life.
At the time of the elopement Fletcher
was under suspension of two years for
deserving from the ill.fated United
States steamer Huron, just prior to her
departure on the voyage on which she
was lost. After the wreck of the vessel
he claimed that his action was caused
by premonition that the ship would
60 down. Those who know him say he
is brimful of premonitions. He is q
married man and has one.child. The
elopement created q genuine sensation,
as no one was aware that he entertained
any improper feelings for Miss Bailey,
the subject of his guilty love, who has
not yet seen eighteen summers. He paid
every attention to his wife, who comes
from high society, up to the hour of
his elopement.
What action will be taken in fetch
ers case by the Navy Department is
not yet known. 1t is believed, how
ever, that as soon US the attending ply
sicians have formed an opinion in re-
gard to his mental alteration allegation,
he will be court martialed for conduct
unbecoming an officer and q gentleman.
He can also be tried for breach of
discipline, the articles of suspension
ordering him to remain within the
boundaries of the State of Maryland
until the expiration of the two years.
In the meantime he may be consid-
cred under arrest, as the officers have
instructions to prevent his leaving the
Navy Yard.-Philddelphia Record.