Daily Republican., 1880-05-21
A MT. CUBA SENSATION.
Am UnsuecessfaI ElOp O. nm Q mt -
Flight. Pursuit and Capture - a
Young Girl Attempts 10 ElOPe
With q MIL Hand.

With MIL Hand.
Mr.. James Wilson is a prominent
resident Of the beautiful little Mill
Creek Hundred town of Mount Cuba
Hs has lately been member of the
well-known firm of Wilson, Wood & Co.
of this city. Mr.. Wilson is quite we'll of
and his family is looked upon as of the
highest respectability. In his family
is daughter, Jennie by name. She
is young and comely, and has received
a very liberal education. Combined
with this is a fair amount Of intelli-
gsnce and prospect of means in the
future. All this contributed towards
making her leader in society. She
had many friends and was an exceed
ingly popular young lady. 1t ia on ae-
count Of an escapade of this young per-
son Zone of the maddest pranks ever
cut by a girl fresh from school-that
4 Mount Cuba is now exercised to 3 very
extraordinary extent. The event is the
elopemsnt of the young lady with an
employee of her father.
Mr.. Wilson, some time ago needing a
ha.d to help in his mill, which stands
on Red Clay Creek, below Mount Cuba
proper, employed young fellow
named Joseph Leaf. He was good
looking and possessed Of fair amount
of intelligence but he had aspirations
much higher than Mr.. Wilson's dusty
meal bags. He had not been in his
new position long before he began
making himself agreeable to the Wilson
family in general and Miss Jen-
ME in particular. Before any one had
noticed it, young Leaf had succeeded in
making a decided impression upon the
susceptible heart of the daughter and she
soon began to entertain very kindly
feeling for him. The father noticed
this at last with dismay, and did all
he could to dissusde his child from
such folly. Bat it had gone too far.
II the protestation of the father had
any effect it was to make the young
girl more intent upon having her own
way. Finally Mr.. Wilson summarily
discharged Leaf from his employ and
warned him not to come near the house
again.
After Leaf had been discharged the
family did all in their power to turu
the girls mind from the object upon
which it was so intently bent. But it
was of no avail. She resisted all their
efferts, and that resistance strength
sned her intention. While this was
going on Leaf was busily devising
means by which he could overcome all
obstacles and secure the object of his
affection. He was Successful in this,
but to only certain extent, however.
On Wednesday evening last festival
was to be in progress in the neighbor-
hood, and this the family decided to
attend. Seeing his chance Leaf olan-
distinely communicated with Jennie,
telling her that their chance would
come that night, and suggesting an
elopement. To this the girl consented
and straight way they began to make
arrangements. When asked to 60 to
the festival Jennie refused, and excus-
ed herself on the plea of a headache.
Tho family departed about dusk leav
ing her alone in the house. Before .hey
had long been gone Lsat appeared, and
hasty preparations for fight were made.
In few minutes all was in readiness
and the couple hastily left the house.
Close by carriage was in waiting.
They entered this, and Leaf drove
rapidly away down the Wilmington
road, and
"She is won, they are gone over field brake
and scar,
They'll have swift steeds who follow, quote
young LOchinvar!"
This may have been the case with
young LochinvRr Of the legend, but not
so with the more modern personator of
that dashing Young Scot. His steed
was not swift, and those who followed
soon overhauled him. Sooner than
they expected the family returned. The
FIRST intimation they received of the
hasty flight was a note Of farewell from
the erratic daughter. This stated that
she loved Joseph Leaf, and would mar
ry him, and that they were goirg to
Baltimore. The feelings of the Wilson
household on reading this and realiz,
ing the deplorable state of affairs may
easily be imagined.
A lrother of the girl and compan-
ion at once started in hot pursuit and
over took the fugitives near Newport.
A halt was commanded but not obey
cd, and Leaf seeing his danger finally
leaped from the wagon and made for
cover. The enraged brother drew re-
volver and fred at Leaf, two or three
times but the fellow escaped. The
brother then took his sister to her
home, This done, the family. together
with their friends turned cut to hunt
the offender down. One of them
came to Wilmington about mid
night to institute legal proceed
ings. He awakened Magistrate Vandi-
grift from his peaceful slumbers, but
went away disappointed, on learning
that nothing could be done. J. II.
Hotfecker, Esq, was also asked about
the case yesterday and informed the
searchers that no legal action could bs
taken. Since then determined search
has been kept up for Leaf and the girls
friends threaten to wreck dire and sum
mary vengeance upon him.
1t is stated that William George OF
Mount Cuba is implicated in the affair
as an assistant of Leaf. !,
1t is supposed to-day that Leaf has
made his escape, and the hunt has
been abandoned.
No one for moment supposes that
the relations between Miss Wilson and :
and Leaf have been at all improper ar a
she young lady bears an excel mt
The family only (and sarv
objected to the union 4, az.
,ount OF the difference in the s,st;on
70 nf the vnupU nenn1a