Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-03
A ROMANTIC STORY.
Finds It's Concluding Chapters in
this City.
A Beautiful YouAg Girls Progress from the
"Good Shepherd" and open Arms"
Converts to Shelter Here
John McGannon's Gen.
ous Hospitality.
SENSATION CONTINUED.

Three weeks ago the Cleveland papers
published a sensational article concerning
Miss Bashi Hughes, young lady of Wheel
ing, which has been since proved true and
in this city have been enacted the conclud-
ing scenes, which place honest John Nc
Cannon in q very creditable light, and
form the conclusion OF the first volume OF
a very romantic and interesting story. 1t
was worked out, piece by piece, yesterday
by a REGISTER reporter, but will be given
IN succirict form. At first it seemed to cast
crave shadows upon the Catholics here,
but as will he seen, 1t closes
by placing them in the best possible
light. For some of the information Rev.
Father Sullivan is authority, but the most
of it came from the lips OF the lady her
self, who, after many wandcrlngS, now
finds comfortable home beneath Mr. Nc
GannOnS ROOF.
About three weeks ago. during a cold
rain storm, the directresS of the Open
Arms."a charitable house at Cleveland.
was startled by ring at the door bell at
o'clock in the morning. Going to the YES
tibple she found woman, drenched with
the rain, crouchcd in the corner OF the
door PRAYING admission. She said she had
come from the convent of the Coed
Shepherd, on Sterling avenue, and
was fleeing from the rack and
the torture which were being prepared for
her She seemed diStraught, and cried
wildly for protection from some terrible
evil which she fancied was pursuing her.
The matron took her in and afterward
called in physician and detective The
latter visited the Good Shepherd and ascer-
tanned she was visitor there, had been
treated most kindly, and had come there
from the residence of John McCannon, of
Wheeling. The physician examined her
and pronounced her deranged, and she was
committed to Jail Word was sent to Nc
Cannon here, and afterward Sheriff Bangs,
of Cuyahoga county, brought the lady, who
gave her name as BaShi Hughes, to Bridge.
pert. where McGannon met and received
her.
on Saturday morning her brother,
William Hughes, of Clay>ville, accom-.
panied by Dr Durant, of the Sentinel, came
10 this city to get her. This they failed to
do. and as they are PrOtcstantS and she a
Catholic. IT gave rise to numerous stories,
all OF which were preposterouS, but which
brought the matter TO the ears of REGIS
TIE commissioner and set him upon the
track. One of the stories was that Miss
Hughes was detained by force and against
her will, and to learn the truth of this Rev.
Sullivan was called upon. lie knew but
the meagrc outline, but OF course knew the
detention by force was absurd. He gave
what he knew OF the story, which l. in
CorpOrated elsewhere.
Then the home Of John MCGanmUn, on
McColloCh street, was visited and here the
full particulars unfolded themselves. In.
stead of being the frightiul ogre, detain-
ing maiden against herwill, John MCGan.
non and his wife have been father and
mother to the iriendlcss girl, thrown upon
their charity. She WAS there and is now.
and soon came in to speak tor herself. She
is OF very prepOsSeSSing appearance, with
pale face and large dark eyes and appar-
emily 30 years OF age. She told her story,
which, with what was gathered, is about as
follows:
At the aye OF, - >he came here from
Greene county. Pa. and entered the acade-
NV at Mt de Cl.autal She graduated with
distinction. teaching a portion Of her last
wear, as compensation. She was very in
telligent and talented and taught the Ian
guages When she entered the Mount she
was a protestant, but soon afterward
renowned this faith, became Catholic
was baptised and received the sacrament.
After graduating she came to the city and
entered the convent of st. Joseph as Sister
Mary Gonzales, and now comes the Singu-
lar portion of the story. From Combna-
ton of i'll health and intense religious
fervor, from what could be gathered, she
became slightly derangcd and on this
account Bishop Kahn granted her dispen
Sation OF her vows and she left the convent.
going to John MCtiann0n'S She afterward
desired to enter the convent of the Good
Shepherd, at Cleveland, but this she
could not do, but Mother Bap-
tiste. the Superior, invited her to come up
on visit. Mr.. McGannon furnished the
money and she went After little time
Mother BaptiStc wrote that Bashi was
slightly deranged and they could not keep
her Following closely upon this was u
dispatch, announcing that Bashi had run
away and was then in Jail. When she was
brought to bridgeport, he again opened
his doors to her and she has since remained
there.
Mr.. McGannon has the documentary
evidence to prove all he says about it, and
it is quite evident hr has played the part
of kind friend. He likes the girl and
speaks very highly Of her, saying his doors
are open and she can come and go as she
pleaSes. There was story about her hav-
ing Joined the Fourth street church, which
she denies. For IL while, she said, her
faith wayercd ami she attended that church,
hut now she had firmly re.anChpred it Oa
the rock of CatholiCity,
o., saturday her brother and DR.. Duranl
rame here for her and went to Mr.. MCGan.
non $, but he was at the Fifth ward market.
They started there, and Mrs. McGannOn sent
a message to fOrcwarn her husband, - that
he might he on his guard. Said he, in tell
ing of it: The brother was intoxicated and
besides had no rights over the girl, and aI
long as she don't want to 20 they shan I,
take her. The doctor that was with him
said she was insane, and just told him to
put that down and put his name to it, but
he wouldn't do il. The whole secret of it
j. that he is a Protestant and she Catholic
and he wants to take her. But there is no
law for il and he cant do it. She is the
best one ot the family and as pure as an
angel, and shall stay here rs long as she
wants"
Miss Hughes said her brother was influ-
enCed by some one in this matter and she
preferred not To go with him. She was
not a minor and he had no authority over
her.
The brother had consulted Judge Gram
mcr and Justice Caldwell, and after going
to the market in the afternoon, procured
Constable Bond and went ont i'm the even
ing. hut MCGannOn routed them horse.
foot and Dragons. And 50 it stands al
this time. The brother i still in the city.
but could not he found, last night, 10 give
his version.
WORTHWHILE.
Mr.. Alfred K. Laing, foreman OF the