Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-05
"MRS. BUSH"
Turns oaf 70 10 ! winning Mari
land Belle,
AND ONCE "sTUcx" ON THE STAGE
The Heart Of Kes. Virginia Congressmar
Once Entrapped by Her Beauty. but
the Engagement Failed to Gu.
inmate in Marriage. "a

BALTIMORE, July 4.-The identity OF
Mrs. Bush OF the Bush -Sartoris sensation,
has been fully established here and some
interesting facts concerning the now noto-
rious lady were gathered yesterday. Mss
DR.. l.. A. Monmonier, cousin OF Mrs.
Bush, resides at Waverly, Baltimore
county, and is lady Of high standing and
an exceedingly bright conyersationist. She
is connected with some of the best families
in the West. A reporter called at the
country residence Of DR.. Monmonier yes
terday afternoon and found Mrs. Mon
monier greatly agitated, she having only q
few moments prior received Information
that the
Mrs. Bush
was none other than her cousin, Miss
Blanche Melbourne, daughter OF Major
Wilbur +. Melbourne, who served with
distinction in the army of the West, in In
dian wars and also through the war OF the
rebellion, and who since then has been a
prominent politician in Missouri and an
officeholder at Washington. Mrs. Mon
monier related some very interesting facts
concerning Miss Melbourne, or Mrs. Bush.
She said in the spring of last year the lady
called on her in company with her father
and spent the day. 1t was understood that
they were to remain over night, but to-
wards evening Miss Melbourne became un.
easy and insisted upon returning to Wash
inpton at once. Upon Mrs. Monmonier
inGuiring the reason for her desire to leave
so suddenly, she said privately that she
was expecting letter from
Her Intended Husband,
Mr.. Ernest Bell, resident OF st. Louis;
that her father objected 10 her match with
Bell; that their correspondence was clam
destine, and that unless she hurried home
her letters would be intercepted and would
be given to her father, who would not
allow her TO see them. They took their
departure, and Mrs. Monmonier has not
seen her cousin since, though she has fire..
uuently heard from her. Her uncle. Will
liam f.. Schutt, of st. Louis, afterwards
wrote her word that Blanche had gone to
Europe with a Mr. and Mrs. Hoover, stated
TO be friends of the family. Mrs. HOoVsr
was formerly Miss Hicks, of Springfield
III. Practically nothing has been heard
from Miss Melbourne since she left for
England by her friends i'll This section.
Is She OF UnsOund Mind:
1t is said that two years ago she fell from
a second story window at her home in ST.
Louis and was picked up unconscious. An
examination showed that her skull had
been fractured and for se7eral weeks er
life was dispaired of. Through the skill.
full management of one of the most famous
physicians of the West she wss restored
Her father has often made the remark that
blanche was never quite right since she
had the fall The girl was raised in aiitu-
ence and with servants constantly at her
beck and call since childhood. She APP
peared even more imperiouS since the
time of her fall.
Ever since she has been mere Child
Miss Melbourne was
Belle in st. Louis and Washington So.
ciety,
She was rather fast. and even at the age OF
fourteen she had participated in fancy
dances at Governor Hardings balls with all
the spirit of an older beauty. Her social
position was one of the best. Her father
was prominent mnn Mss ss stated ana atn5ansc
ted with some OF the best families of Mis-.
souri,, Kentucky. and Illinois. Her mother
has three brothers-William +. Schutt, ex.
Mayor Of Springfield, Ills, and at present
of the law firm OF Robinson, Schutt &
Palmer of st. Louis; Philip Schutt, all ed
itor of Democratic paper OF Shelbyvllle,
ILL., and another brother now connected
with the 'nited States Geological Survey.
Miss Melbourne was weil'kn0Wn MEMBER
Of the Mccullough Dramatic Association,
of st. Louis. and showed great stage talent.
At the Early Age OF sixteen
she insisted upon going on the stage, but
was prevented. after great difficulty and
several stormy domestic scenes by her pa
rents. She was iavorite in society and
costly and elegant yacht was named in her
honor at st. Louis. A season or two ago
she was reported to be engaged to be mar-
ried to ex.Congressman Wilson, Of West
Virginia She visited the White Sulphur
Springs. where she was recognized as
reigning belle. Last summer she was the
guest Of NiCe-president David Davis at
Washington.
Little known OF Young Green,
1t is not known who the young man
Green is, whoj travelling with Mrs. Bush.
OF rather Miss Melbourne. She claims he
is brother Of hers. but this is impossible,
as the young man is about twenty years OF
age and it is known that Miss Melbourne
has but two brothers, one aged two years
and the other five years, the latter being
named after her cousin, George Alfred
Townsend. Mr.. Ernest Bell, to whom she
said she was engaged to be married, is des-
crihed as a young men, small and we'll
formed. OF clear compile xion and wearing
eve glasses. His father is an eXCongress.
NAV, and at present President of the st.
Louis Street Railway Company. Friends
here have the impression that the young
man tGreen) is none other than Bell, and
that the couple are married.