Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-28
INTEREsFIzG sEQEEL.
An Evident Duplication Of the
interesting Female PeriS ic
the COnlract-A Much Wanted
Amelia .. Royae.



The sequel 10 the lately published
story Of the marriage, at Erie, Pa, Of
Amelia A. Royse to a wandering
tramp is as strange IS the story itself,
fhe wide publicity given to the mar
riAge at the brides request. she hav-
ing given the names OF several papers
in which she wished reports 10 appear,
has brought inquiries from four
widely separated points for four miss
ing young ladies, each named Amelia
A. Royse, each having disappeared
during the last week in November,
and the description Of each agreeing
fairly with that OF the eccentric bride.
On Tuesday morning last j ustice
Freeman, who performed the oeremo
ny, received . letter from Henry
Pugh, OF Cutter street, Cincinnati,
stating that Amelia A. Royse had
rented suite Of rooms OF him and had
mysteriously disappeared on Friday.
the day preceding the marrisge 10
Erie. Mr.. Pugh said she was a highly
educated young lady, OF an excellent
family. and fully capable OF commit
ting the eccentriciiy r ported lie
describ, d her IS possess sing wealth
Of auburn b .ir, but the Amelia who
married Fraynor was brunette vi b
short black curls. This Sc med to
settle the question OF the Cincinnati
Amelia A. Royse.
That same evening the Justice re
ceived a telegram from Mrs. Margaret
Royse, Of Washington, stating that
Amelia A. Royse had disappeared
from that city a few days before,
and that il was feared she was
the "veiled lady" of Erie. The
telegram was followed by a letter Civ
ing description Of the Washington
Amelia, and informing the magistrate
that she was insane on the subject Of
marriage. But the description OF the
Erie bride does NOT ftthe Washington
beauty, and the magistrate began 10
ponder upon the remarkable coinci-
dence OF three Ameias disappearing
about the same time.
His perplexity was increased ysster.
day by another letter. 1t was dated
Austin, Cook county, Ill and con-
tanned an urgent request for the fullest
informatiog Of Amelia A Royse. who
departed clandestinely last week, and
who was just the high strung, heroic
girl to sacrifice herself to save the
man she loved from marrying her.
Before the Justice had fully reoov-
cred from this latest surprise, another
letter came to Erie, begging in the
name OF God and the saints to detain
the young lady until friends arrived to
take her home. This letter Is dated
from BEAUFORT, Quebec, and tells a
touching story Of Amelia Royse (no
middle A in this instance) who dis
appeared from her friends while stay
| ing in Montreal three months ago.
This fifth Amelia comes nearer the
description of the one married, but a
French accent and two gray eyes are
wanting 20 complete the identifcationi
also about ten years Of life. This
Amelia Royse is thirty>one years old
and for ten years has been engaged "a
be married to Victor Bsilascbe, q
French anadian merchant. She had
put off the marriage year after year
although admitting that he was
dearer to her than any mar
on earth. The reason of hel
repeated postponements was to as.
certain if she had Inherited leprosy
from her mother, who died OF thai
loathsome disease at the leper settle
ment. Four members Of her family
have also persisted after years Of suf
fering from leprosy, and until she wal
satisfied that.her blood was not tainted
she would not consent TO marry, auC
perhaps perpetuate the disease in 9th
ers. Although earnestly pressed Il
say yes, she heroicAlly resisted TIL
temptation to marry the man shl
loved.
Six months ago she discovered seye
raj dark encrusted spots upon her arm
and believing these TO be leprous spot
she shut herself up and finally left he
friends without sign or clue as t
where she was going.
The Quebec Amelia was not 40
quainted in the cities Of Washington
Baltimore and Denver, to which thu
Erie Amelia directed papers to be sent
It is just probable that all the return
OF absent AmeliAs are not yet in.