The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-10-04
Romance In Real Life.

Romance In Real Life.
A strange 70 nance of low life-one
that would have delighted the heart of
Dickens-having woven in its plot the
absorbing element of love, suicide, MUIR
der, desertion and the final triumph OF
the good over the bad, has just come to
light in this city. The persons con-
cerned have already acquired notoriety
in one shape or another through the
medium OF the public prints. Recently
there came to Philadelphia from
Denver, Colorado, Mrs. Cody, sister Of
Secretary of the Interior Teller, q venera-
BILE lady with white hair. Mrs. Cody's
mission was to find the wife and children
of q certain John Scanlon, the son of
David Scanlon, who died last year in
Denver, leaving property valued at $685.
600. The only clue which the lady pos
sessed as to their identity was that Scan
Ion murdered his mother and afterwsrd
killed himself while awaiting trial. A
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 man named
Davidson had murdered his mother, and
sfterward, in June, 1882. killed himself
while awaiting his trial. Davidson was
none other than Scanlon. David Soanlon
was born in this country, and thirty
six years ago went to the
County Donegal, Ireland, where he
married pretty lass with
blooming cheeks the happy couple sailed
for this country during the honeymoon.
Reaching New York, they stopped at
cheap clearinghouse. A short time after
landing Scanlon deserted his young wife
and left New York. He had no settled
trade or occupation, but took to, ped
ding suspenders and like articles, and,
little by little, in his wanderings drifted
west, hating in the cities by the way,
and finally settling in Denver.
Here he fourished by dint of strict
economy and constant application OF bust
ness, and acquired q snug fortune.
After Scanlon deserted his wife, she
came to Philadelphia, likewise turned to
peddling small wares, and, after waiting
for years for news from her husband, she
married man named Davidson. David
son in his turn was peddler, and after
his death his wife took charge Of the lit
tie business which he left. John Scan
Ion, the son of her first husband, born
after he deserted her, grew up to be
simple, half witted lad. He drank heav-
lily and worked only when compelled to
do so. He married some years ago, q
young woman in his own station in life
and lived happily with old Mrs. Scanlon,
or Davidson, as she was now called. AL
though Johns right name was Scanlon
he got the name Of Davidson and went
by it until his death. He grew quarrel.
some and frequently beat his aged
mother, his wife and his two children,
both boys. John sold peanuts and buck
stored when not off on spree. The old
woman bore reputation for industry
and sobriety.
On May 1, 1882, the elder folks and
the children we're living huddled to-
qether in q miserably furnished attic at
No. 718 Swanson street. Young Scanlon
had been drinking heavily in the morn
ing. and the neighbors heard him quar-
reling with his mother. He went home
to dinner, and then out again for more
whisky. He was in an unusually ugly
frame of mind when he returned to the
garnet shortly before dark. He picked
mp quarrel with the female occupant of
the room below that occupied by the
family on trihing pretense, and after
his evil passions had been thoroughly
excited, turned upon his mother and
struck her In the face with his fist. The
old lady picked up q chair to defend
herself, but before she could nse it Scan
Ion had snatched up Ratchet, and
rushing at her hit her aterrible blow
with the butt end on the top of the head.
She fell to the floor insensible. Fren-
zied, Scanlon jumped upon the PROSTATE
form and literally beat the head to
jelly. He was arrested by two of the
neighbors and taken by the police to the
Second District police station. He knew
nothing OF the murder and lay all that
night in q beastly state Of iLtoxication.
In due time he was given preliminary
hearing and committed without bail
to Moyamensing prison to await q
trial for murder. He appeared to take
to his confinement cheerfully, and his
suicide in his cell. which occurred on
the afternoon of Monday, July 10, 1882,
created the greatest surprise among
the prison officials. He chose the
method of his death with singular delib-
GRAFTON. After having first removed all
his clothing, he hung himself by his red
flannel shirt from the lower bar Of his
cell window.
From the time Of the death Of her hus-
band Mrs. John Scanlon resided with
Mrs. MacMitchell. friend. at Third and
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