Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-11-07
A ROMANTIC LIFE.
A Lawyers Death Recalls the
"vsiIed Murderess"
And tie Part She Acted in Terrible Irag'
edy Long Years Ago-A Missing
Handkerchief and ;he
Part il Played.

Troy, November 6.-Yesterday afternoon
the remains OF John Brien, the veteran
member of the bar, who died on Sunday At
the Marshall lntirmsry in this city, were
consigned TO eartn in tine old st. Mary's
cemetery.
The old lawyer had very mysterious
and romantic lie history. He was born
siIty.three years ego in ireland his father
being priest, whose
LiaisOn With Lady or High Rank
created much excitement at the time. His
mother, who was a Protestant, kept his
birth secret, though he was tenderly
cared for and provided with all the Injuries
OF life and when he was nineteen years old
was sent 10 this country.
He was sent 10 Cszenovia College, in the
central part OF the state, and received
monthly remittance OF S25. Ii was intended
that he should enter the ministry, out he
refused TO do so. as he had strong leaning
toward the atLo!ic church. lie left the
college and went 20 Utica, and as
The Remittance from Home Ceased
at about the same time he concluded that
his mother, whom he had seen several
times. and for wmom he had a strong ai'ec.
ton, was dead. While in ltica he fell in
love with beautiful young girl, but broke
the engagement because she wanted TO be
mari. in a Protestant church. After.
wards he greatly regretted this step, and II
cast shadow Of sadness over his whole
bachelor life.
lie !cft rtica and came TO this city, where
he WAS admitted To tue bar. One evening
in winter, while sitting in his office. on the
southeast corner Of Third and Congress
streets. he was
Surprised 90 Find n woman
standing before him dressed in black. she
told him that she, like him, was born oil
noble Parents but had been cast adritt, anu
wanted to hear the details Of his own birtn
He refused TO tell her and the woman ielI
About three weeks afterwards the cotn
urni,y was startled by a terrible traGeuy
in which a woman known as the Nehe,
murderess" performed prominent part.
few days after the woman ;1 han peed apd sbowin, S
him a handkerchief marked with the In
;,isIs Il. O'H." asked him whether IT WA
| bis The constable stated that he had ioun'
| il in the possession OF
The VciIed Murderess. =,
= Mr. o. ssrisn ,sssufea hsvfnr e~
l bsn.ik -rchief. but, after the constable wa
gone, examined his wardrobe and lound IL
fact that one Of his handkerchiefs SC
that his clothes had come from the laun.
dry on the night OF the visit OF the mysts.
rious woman in black. He had no doubt
that she had taken the handkerchief from
the oprn bundle which WAS close to where
She had been sitting and that she was no
other than the "veiled murderess.' Fear
full OF being
Mixed mp In the Trial.
he kept the fact secret until long alter
wards.
For many years he was regular attend
ant at the Police Court. He was always at.
tired in back broadcloth. with a coat but
toned to his chin, and his peculiar manner
OF dress more than anything else attracted
the attention OF the curious, who saw in
the man character OF the extraordinary
kind. Although in later years he was re-
duced to extremes, he was nevertheless
proud to the last and when his friends in
timated that collection among the
Members of the Bar
could be easily obtained he exclaimed:
"For heavens sake don't do that. ]
wouldn't want them 10 know anything
about it,"