Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-08-28

property. living at No. - Laurel street.
For vears he was connected with the firm
Of Poland q Henry, and ne was a member
Of many Catholic organizations. Miss
Murphy was about twenty-five years Of
age, and all at once she left home,
and that was the last seen or heard Of
her. Not a line did she leave tell
ing of her intentions, or the cause
OF her flight, nor did she take any
clothing with her, beyond that which she
she wore. She had over 1000 dollars to
her credit at one of the banks, yet she did
not draw a single cent OF it, nor, as far as
could be seen, had the least preparation
been made for a journey.
OF course, as soon as she was missed
search was made ior her, and nothing was
left undone in the effort to discover her
whereabouts. 1t was finally found that on
the day she disappeared she had gone to
Riverside to visit a relative, 80 she said,
but she had not carried out her original
intention. At some place she sold her
paTasOl for = dollars, and she borrowed
fifty cents Of a grocer with whom she was
acquainted. Beyond that not the least
trace Of her could be discovered. Skilled
detectives were called in, but their ser
vices were Of no avail.
Mr. Murphy had an idea that his daugh-
ter, stricken with grief over the death OF
a loved brother, had fled for seclusion 10
some convent. He was strengthened in
this idea by the fact that Miss Murphy
was of a very devout disposition, and had
often talked OF becoming nun. Acting
upon this suppositiOn he inspected every
nunncry in the country, but all in vain
The missing young lady was not to be
found. At one time one of the detectives
engaged in the case thought that he had
tracked her to an almshOuse in Western
Iowa, and her father went there to bring
her home, only to find that the officer had
made a mistake.
Anxiety and worry on his daughters ac.
count nearly drove the father mad. He
was continually talking about her disap,
pearance, and finally he settled down in the
| opinion that she had drowned herself II
was only by this method of suicide, he
| thought, that she could have so completely
made away with her body. Up to within
a few days ago, Mr.. Murphy has continued
/ TO live ut No. 10 Laurel street, but as he is
Il widower without family, the greater par
OF the house was occupied by Mr.. Brand
stader. About two weeks ago Mr.. Murphy
4 concluded to change his residence, and ac
| cordingly he went to NOgels boarding
| house, on Elm street, opposite Music Hall
/ Last Thursday afternoon Mrs. Brand
stader was startled by a hack driving W
and stopping in front Of the house The
driver jumped down from the seat, opened
| the door and lady dressed in deep blacl
/ descended. The lady of the house wa.
not acquainted with Miss Murphy, bu
| she had often heard the story of her dis
/ appearance which is fruitful topic o
| gossip and conjecture in the neighbor
| hood, and she instinctively felt that tn,
woman before her was the missing one
! The stranger, however, inquired if Mr.
Murphy still lived there, and on being an
swered i'll the negative, she took a seat anC
for several moments appeared lost il
sorrowful meditation. Then she askeC
where she could find the gentleman, anC
on receiving the desired information sht
thanked Mrs. Brandstader, entered tn,
hack and was driven away. But she di,
not 20 until several of the old resident
had seen her, and they all united in sayin;
that it was none other than the long-lo
Miss Murphy.
They are not mistaken, and at presen
she is once more living with her father
He was seen last night by Commercial
Gazette reporter, and questioned concern
ing the matter, but he absolutely decline,
to say anything of importance. M
daughter" he remarked, "was in the East
visiting friends in Boston and New York
and that was all he could be induced t
say. In the vicinity of Laurel and JOIN
streets the matter is in the mouth of every
one, but not soul knows more than tn
superficial, visible facts. Miss Murphy aI
pears to be very sad ;is though she was a
: t1icted with chronic fit of melancholy
but. otherwise there is nothing unusual i
her behavior.