The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-08-23
BOMANCEIN REAL LIFE.
The Good Fortune of a Murderer and
Suicides Widow.

Suicides Widow.
A strange romance OF low life-one that
would have deli GIFTED the heart OF Dickens
having woven in its plot the absorbing ele-
ments OF love, suicide, murder, desertlon
and the final triumph of the good over the
bad has lust come to light in this city. The
persons concerned have ALREADY acquired
notoriety in one shape or another, through
the medium ofthe public prints, Last sat
Denver, Colorado, Mrs. Cody, sister OF
Secretary of the Interior Teller, venerable
lady with white hair. Mrs. Cody's mission
was to find the wife OF a certain John scan
lon, who died last year ir'Denver, leaving
property valued at $4,000. The only clue
the lady possessed as to their identity was
that Scanlon had murdered his
mother and afterward killed him
self while awaiting trial. Search was made
through the records of the court without
revealing The name of Scanlon. Mrs. Cody
went to the county Jail where she learned
that a man named Davidson had murdered
his mother and afterward, in June, lSS2
killed himself while awaiting his trial.
Davidson was none other than Scanlon,
David Scanlon was born ia this country
and thirty-six years ago went to County
| Donegal, Ireland, where he married a
pretty lass with blooming cheeks. The
happy couple sailed for this country during
the honeymoon. Reaching New YORK,
they stopped at cheap boarding house.
A short time after landing, Scanlon
deserted his young wife and left New York.
! He had no settled trade or occupation, but
took to peddliug suspeuders and like arti-
Giles, and, little by little, IN his wanderings
drifted west hating in the cities by the
way, and finally settling in Denver.
THE PEDDLER BECOMES RICH.
| Here he flourished, by dint Of strict econ
omy and constant application 10 business,
and acquired a snug fortune. After Scan
| lon deserted his wife she came TO Philadel-
phIa, likewise turned to peddling small
wares g, and, after waiting for years Tor news
from her husband, concluded that he was
dead and married q man named DAVIDSON;
Davidson in his turn was pedoleri ana
after his death his wife took charge OF the
! little business which he left. John scan
| lon, the son OF her first husband, born after
| he deserted her, grew up TO be a simple,
| balf-witted lad He drank heavily and
worked only when compelled TO do 50. ii
married some years ago young woman IN
his own station in life and lived happily
with old Mrs. Scanlon, or Davidson, as she
was now called. Although gohifs
right name was Scanlon be got the
name Of Davidson and went by II until his
death. He grew ouarrelsome and frequent
ly beat his aged mother, his vile and his
two children, both boys. John sold pea
nuts and huckstered when not of on a
spree. The old woman bore a reputation
| for industry and sobriety.
MES. DAVIDSON MURDERED.
On the 4th day Of May, 1852, the elder
folks and the children were living huddled
together in a miserably furnished attic. ct
No. us Swanson street. Young bcanlon
had been drinking heavily 10 the morning
and the neighbors heard him quarreling
with his mother. He went home 20 dinner
and Their ont again TOR more whisky. lie
was in an unusual ugly frame OF mind
when be returned 20 the garrett shortly pc
re dark. He picked up q quarrel with
ths female occupant Of the room below that
occupied BY the family upon tdfiiug pre-
tense, and. after his evil passions bad
/ been thoroughly excited turned upon his
mother and struck Der in the lace
with his fist. The old lady picked Up
chsir to defend berself, bat before she co 1ld
use Il scanlon hsd snatched mp hatcher,
and running ct her, bit her terrible bloE
with the butt end on the top Of the head.
She fell 10 the floor insensiDie. frenzieo,
Scaulon Jumped upon the prOstrate fOrrn,
and literally beat the hesdt 10 Jelly. he
vas crested by two Of the nsighbors and
taken By the police 20 the Second Distfict
sfation-bouse. He knew nothing OF the
murder, and lay All thai niEni N oes.l.t
state Of fnt0xicafinn. 10 due tine, be vas
given a preliminary hearing. and commit
led without bail 20 Moyamersing prison 20
swsit a trial for murder. He appeared %
tsre 10 his confinement cheerfully, snd BE
-uiride in his ell. Which occurred On the
,fre~noon Of Monday. guly 10. lssz, ere
sfed the Trrstest surprise arnong ne pri.on
oairisls. He chose the method Of hls
Sesfh nth singular deiiberztion, Afisr
having firsf removed sl bis clottinf. ne
S-r,s hirnsslf bT hh red flannel shirt run
fhs Iorrer bar Of his eel window.
/ F~Dru fbefirle 81 tbe death ~ her hus-
herT ~, John Scsnlon rssloec VIII M
Vrrrifcbe1. q trend, e Ih-f1 sno fiDe
rfreffs. One Of be- bcTs yas put N -
r-rfrr asrlurn. Whsn Mr. Cody - lncE-
- -l---~T RI ~ t-r 81 l. 80 ~ o.