National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-20
A STRANGE STORY.
CAN ITS EQUIVALENT BE FOUND 2

There Is an old proverb in the French language
to the effect that It Is always the improbable that
happens, and any one who will give the matter
close study will find that this idea is fully c0rrob-
GRATED by passing events. Dickens, Thnckeray
Hugo and Balzac have been metnphorlcaly
crowned with laurel tho emblem of genius, for
the remarkable talent displayed by each In the
construction OF romnuces that resemble reality
yet any one who will take the trouble to investi-
gato the musty records Of any old public depart
mont will find that the prototypes Of Jean Vatican,
Becky sharp, and Mr.. Pecksniff are in everyday
life, and that the remarkable books Of fiction are
surpas cd In the improbable by sober, stad mon
umental fucts that occasionally come to light and
that cannot be pushed aside. Such is the charao-
ter of case that was recently brought to the
notice of the police department OF tho city, but
was subsequently handed over to the mcrcies Of
private detectives. Several years ago one Of tho
most popular teachers in the Irving School, In
this city, was young lady whose real name II
would not do to publish but who was called Har-
rlot.
SHE WAS HANDSOME,
intelligent, and possessed oil the attributes TINT
20 to make woman attractive. She was invorlte
both with the principal and scholars, and her
brightness and beauty won her many friends
AS was very natural u young lady of such dis
position and accomplishments could not be with
out her admirers @ In the opposite SEX and Miss Miss
sessed her heart, however, and the admirlng
throng gradually lessened until there were but
two, Harriet and her sweetheart, n mutual hd-
mirntion society. He was young. She was young.
He did not have the means TO support her, but
wanted TO marry her; aud thus It came about that
Il secret marriage was proposed, to which she con.
sCntCd. II was cDnsnmmnted, but the twain still
appeared in public as lovers, and she went on
with her teaching as usual and he continued
THE EVEN TENOR OF HIS WAY.
This kont n n rly IA tho tin1p hpinU
passed in stolen visits though the fruit was not
forbidden AT Tho end Of that time the husband
died, Hnd If nm observer would have noticed he
would have discovered that the teachers grief
wns DEEPER than II sweetheart's, though 1t was IN
TINT position that She stood before the world
Neither ever brcathed IL word of the clandystinc
mnrrlngc, aud the young teacher was confident
that the secret rcposed only in her bosom, and that
beyond the thrt shold of the hereafter. She con.
tinncd hcT vocation MS teacher, and everything
appeared to run smoothly. About six mon hs after
the death Of her hus and she was suddenly con-
frontcd one day By an ox.Gdmirer, who politely
Informed her that he was acquainted with the &C.
crot that she was carrying aud. moreover, OF the
TACT that she hud enjoyed all the privileges OF u
wife without being
MARRIED To TIE MAN
whom she believed was her husband. The young
woman insisted that she had been married, aud
he dclled her to prove 1t. She did not have the
certificate TINT was given to hcr dead husband,
and she did not know the name of the justice of
the peace who performed the ceremony, The
marry him the whole matter would be made pub.
lie. She resisted his coercion for long time, but
finally, rather Than have her name banded from
mouth to mouth she consented TO the performance
of the ceremony. She Immediately gave up tench-
ing and started with her husband ON a wedding
trip. They made a tour of ali the Eastern water
ing places, aud finally wunnd up in Chicago.
| There they lived for short time, when suddenly
| the second husband took sick and died. The
widow returned to ST. Louis atured in the deepest
mourning, and when questioned by her husbands
family as to the nature of the disease that carried
| NJ hau ali
short season of mourning she
LAID ASIDE THE soMBRE WEEDS
| and was once again transformed inlo belle, She
evinced no disposition to 50 into society, but was
the same intelligent demure creature as before
| the secret marriage. Her natural destinations
were irresistible, and suitorS again thronged hel
home. Meanwhile the family of her second hus
band, but publicly known as her first, became
suspicious for some reason regarding the manne,
ofhts death. They reported the matter TO Chief o.
Police McDonoueh, and requested him to send q
detective 10 Chicago to investigate. The detective
was sent, but the Chief advised the parents to turn
the matter over 10 the hands Of the Plnkertons OF
was done, and the St. Louis man was recalled
| Pinkertou placed one of the shrewdest men on the
case, and little by little evidence accumulated
that placed the wife in anything but an enviablC
light.
IT WAS DISCOVERED
that they had lived in one of the palace hotels o
the Garden City, and that extravaganza ran riot
Although living well they did not live happily, fol
the husband continually informed the wife thu
|
for convenience. People who met the couple a
the hotel and elsewhere testified that the man ap
psaESd exceedingly healthy, and tie night befoT' ,
he died the proprietor stated that he played bill
iards until late hour, and appeared TO he In tn,
best Of spirits. Bellboys and walters testified Il
the quarrels between the two aud the violen
temper of the man. The detective found that tn,
burial certificate was marked heart disease, anC
that the body was buried in Calvary Cemetery
lie went to the city of the dead and inquired, anC
was informed that a week ailer burial two mel
came with an, order for the body, saying that !
was going to be sent home. 1t was dug up ant
handed over to the men, and then all trace of /
was lost.
THE WIFE WAS ASKED
concerning the order, and denied making out an
such document. The detective was bafled. II
inserted personals in tho newspapers for the mel
who removed the body, offering large rewards TO
were fruitleSs. The men never came forward
He reported his investigations to his superors,
tho family then received tho information, and a
further discovery seemed to be suddenly stopped
the case was allowed TO stop. Meanwhile tn
handsome young teacher had created socla
fnrore II this city, and eight months after u
son Of a wealthy family in this city. The marriag
was happy one, the two being Of congenial TEN
the marriage in this city
A vAGRANT WAS ARRESTED
by the Chicago police, who, before going to III
workhouse, related tho story of the removal {
who was locked up with him. This man ma
seen the notices in the papers, and informed til
police, who came down ana applied the pump I
the X-dodger. His story was that lnau la
met HIM OH North Wells street one morning AM
asked him If he wanted job He stated that h
did, and the man stated That he had just hud
talk with woman who wanted the body of
friend removed from Calvary Cemetery TO tn
corner of Prairie avenue and Thirty first street
where carriage would be in waiting to receiv
1t. They went up one evening about six O'Clock
but the man who had charge OF the grave var
protested against its removal ut such an unseeml
hour, and asked them to come around in tn
morning.
THEY ONLY GOT HIM TO CONSENT
by stating that the body would have to be place
on board the outgoing train that evening. The
carried the coffin III u spring wagon and drove
Prairie avenue and Thrty-trst street. when the
turned II over to colOred man in an expires
wagon. lie received $40 and did not know wha
: his companion got. The mystery Of the body ha
never been unrnveled. Tho man whom tn
world never knew as the handsome teachers hus
band, Is now sleeping meath tho sod and dew
Bellefontaine; the secret of the mans death VIII
forced himself upon her. is buried forever. Tn
woman is now living happily with her third hus
band, though not yet thirty, and this is all sobe
solid truth. Search Dumas for It's equivalent /
1iction.-FrOm Il 81. Louis letter.
| -S
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.