The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-30
wvs,cr,ous and Romantic.

Mysterious and Romantic.
A BEAUTIFUL ILLINOIS GIRL, WHO WAS BE-
LJEyED TO HAVE DIED, SAID TO BE LIVING
ASA FAMOUS PRIMA DONNA.
The Chicago Inter Ocean Of Monday edi-
toriallv remarks: About three years ago
tbe Inter Ocean published letter from it,
Paris correspondent, margaret Bertha
which purported TO give the history OF
Young lady who had formerly lived in
Rock Island county, I'm this State. The
story was to the effect that the young lady
had gone abroad under patronage OF rela-
tiyes in the East shortly after her marriage
70 Young army officer, and with the ull-
derstanding that after devotng three years
10 the study of music she should return.
Before the three years expired her husband
received letter announcing her death,
and IN due time the remains were forward
ed 10 friends in the East, inferred, and for
nal notice taken Of the funeral.
This was the accepted version, but
Z" Margaret Bertha" declared that the wo-
man was not dead, but was, under an as
sumed name, leading a brilliant profess
sional career in Europe, and that she had
been seen on the streets OF Paris within q
few days of the date OF the letter.
The letter gave a number OF interesting
details. leaving the impression that one
branch OF the lady's family was in tue
secret of her scheme to make her old
acquaintance and friends believe her
dead. While the narrative was made
purposely q little obscure, those who
knew the particulars OF the case at once
iumped TO the conclusion that the Paris
correspondent OF the Inter Ocean re-
ferred to Miss Minnie Bealls, who about
the time mentioned in the letter was
married TO Lieutenant Philip Reed, OF the
army. Mrs. Reed left Topeka, Kan, for
Europe a few hours after her marriage.
She was to remain abroad three years to
complete her musical education. At the
expiration OF the time Mr.. Reed had COM
pleted preparations for his departure,
when he received intelligence that his wife
had died suddenly in Paris. The remains
were forwarded TO Boston and inferred in
Mount Auburn cemetery. y story was
circulated at the time that on opening The
coffin il was discovered that the hair OF the
corpse was OF different color frCm that OF
Mrs. Reed while living. From the gossip
about this rumor or report, it was said,
originated the story that Mrs. Reed was
not dead.
The story told by "Margaret Bertha y
agreed i'm essentials with the career of Mrs.
Reed up TO the time of her death, and those
familiar with tue story Of the latter filled
ND the blanks in the letter with Mrs.
Reeds name. This caused much annoy
ance to the relatives, and some OF these,
among them the father of the lady, called
at this office TO ask for further information.
An investigation was set on foot, and the
Inter ocean gave, through is correspond
ents and others. all possible assistance.
Gentlemen who visited Paris in 1878 made
careful inquiries, and they returned salts
fed that MrS. Reed had died as her friends
believed. Their report was received. rs
settling the question Of fact, although
&" Margaret Bertha" still maintained that
the story she told was in the main true,
and some Of Mrs. Reeds relatives were not
satisfied with the evidence furnished by the
gentlemen who had investigated the case.
So the matter rested until few days
ago. when I'm dttdche Of the American Lee
CATION at Alexandria, Egypt, was inter-
viewed by the Kansas City Journal. This
gentleman incidentally mentioned that he
had seen Mrs. Reed in Europe travelling
in her profession as the wife Of a noted
tenor. lie had known her rs Miss BeallS
in Topeka, Kansas, and he was confident
that there could be no mistake as to her
identity.
This story, told by a man who does not
give his name, corresponds with that told
by the Paris correspondent OF the Inter
ocean three years ago. Now that 1t la,
gone so far, the name OF the man who be-
Iieyes he saw Mrs. Reed alive several years
after her reported death should be given,
and the facts stated without establishment
1t is certain that the relatives OF the lady in
this State would be glad to know that she
is living, and any one who can assure them
Of the fact should do so at once. II the
story is revived on hearsay evidence, or fol
the mere purpose Of creating a sensation,
the relatives have good cause for conf
plant.