Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-09-01
DESPAIR AND DEATH.

| shannon IS quiet little village IN fenn-
sylvania Three years ago among its inhab.
itants were the families Of William Ham
mersly and Peter Klein, both much respect
ed Hammersly's family consisted Of his
wife and two children; Klein had wife
and three children, the youngest being a
baby girl eight months old The two fami.
lies were on terms of intimacy. Klein kept
a small shoe store and Hammersly was q
| lawyer. One morning the town wakened
| to find that Hammersly and Mrs. Klein had
Hammersy had collected all the money he
could, and had raised several hundred more
By mortgag ing his home. Mrs. Hammersly
was completely prostrated by the blow, and
for time her life was despaired Of She fl
nally recovered and secured employment
by which to support herself and children.
The strain was too much, and she again
sunk When she recovered she was entire
~ destitute, and her health was gone.
Having no friends, she and her children
were removed to the Allegheny InGrmary,
at Pittsburg, where she yet remains. Dur
ing these years Klein had sought every
| where for his wife, in order to recover his
| baby, TO which he was passionately devoted.
| In his search he has spent nearly all
his money and travelled thousands of
miles He had about given up the
search, when fate threw the couple
in his way. About August l, Il letter ad-
dressed 20 Mrs. Hammersly was received at
Shannon. 1t was forwarded to her at the
| Allegheny Poorhouse The letter was from
Hammersly, and begged his wife to forgive
| him; and asked her to again live with him.
He appointed an out of the way place in
Pennsylvania for their meeting, which was
| fixed for August Is. An attendant at the
iniirmary, who was cognizant of the wo-
mans history, came into possession of the
| letter or its contents. aud Immediately in
| formed Klein. The letter was postmarkcd
at Anderson, w. Va, and was signed A. w.
Yates. Klein at once started for the town.
| At this place he invoked the aid of the
mayor, to whom he told his story The
two then crossed the river and sought
| Yates He was found in the employ of the
| Anderson Fire Brick Company Without
discovering himself, Klein saw tho man
and identified him as Hammersly. He then
| went to the home in which his former wife
| resided with Yates. His appearance at the
| door caused the woman to faint. She quick
| ly recovered and sprapg into klein'~
arms. clingng convulsvely to him.
| He in vain for some time cudeavored
| to loosen her hold. She seemed frantic with
| joy, evidently thinking Klein had come to
| take her away When at last she was made
to understand that he had cast her Off and
had only come for the child, her grief was
terrible. She ravcd and pleaded, but with
out avail. Finally Klein seized the child,
and despite the woman's screams and cling
| ings, carried it Off She appeared daZed for
some time, but AT last picked up ker three
months old baby and walked hurriedly 10
the factory where Yates was employed
On hearing her story nc turned pale, and
hastily Quilted the office, returning with her
to the house. What passed between them
there is unknown, but he left alone on an
evening train, carrying a small bundle
| That night the woman and her babe disap-
peared. The matter created some excite
ment, but died out in day or two. Several
days later the dead bodies of a woman and
baby were found in the woods near Fair
view, w. Va. Not being identified, they
were buried: a rumor of the circumstances
reached Anderson, and it was concluded it
must be Mrs Yates. The body was eX-
humed and identified. 1t is supposed that
the woman attempted te walk to Shannon
| ans, gave out, and died from exposure or
| committed suicide.