Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-08-21
ITO Be Continual
A Smart Girl In Easton.

SHE ARRANGES A PRETENDED ENGAGEMENT BE-
TWEEN HER MOTHER AND THEODORE OLIVER.
EAsToN, August 11.-Rumors afoat for
some time to the effect that Councilman
Theodore Oliver, of the firm of Oliver &
| Co., sheet iron manufacturers, had secured
considerable sums of money from Mrs.
| Mann, divorced woman, and had Tilted
the lady after becoming engaged to marry
| her, were effectually set at rest to-day in a
very peculiar manner.
About year since Mr.. Oliver became
widower, and shortly after Mrs. Mann's
daughter, pretty girl Of IA, got to be a
frequent visitor of the Oliver children.
month later the girl handed her mother
letter signed with Mr.. divers name, and
saying that he had become financially en-
barrassed and would like to borrow money.
A long correspondence followed. From
time to time Mrs. Mann gave her daughter
money to be given to Mr.. Oliver, and re-
ceiyed in return, letters that led her to be-
lieye that Mr.. Oliver had fallen deeply in
love with her. Mrs. Mann replied not un-
kindly to the letters, and continued send
ing money through her daughter.
One day the girl came home with gold
ring, placed it on her mothers finger and
said it was from Mr.. Oliver. Mrs Mann
was pleased with this evidence of regard,
and more pleased when subsequent letter
directly proposed marriage. The letter re-
auested Mrs. Mann to consult a clergy
| man, which she did, and arrange
ments were made for wedding.
| Mrs Mann meanwhile ordered bridal
outfit. and learned from another let
| ments for his marriage. Another letter
asked for money, and it was given, and
from time to time Mrs. Mann gave her
daughter small sums in response to alleged
| verbal messages from Mr.. Oliver. Several
| times when the mother returned home af
| ter being absent, the daughter told her that
Mr.. oliver had called. AS yet, however,
Mrs Mann had never received Mr.. Oliver
in her own house. This she had all along
ascribed to the fact of his somewhat re
Gently having become widower.
Meanwhile gossips were busy with the APP
proachine marriage, and with stories of
| Mr.. Oliver borrowing money from the wo-
| man who was to be his wife. These stories
reached the ears of friend of Mr.. divers,
| and the latter was questioned about the
matter. He replied with an absolute de-
NAL that he had ever borrowed penny
| from Mrs Mann or written her line. The
| friend looked surprised and incredulous,
| and Mr. Oliver, annoyed beyond expression,
| insisted that two friends should accompany
him to Mrs. Mann's and hear her denial Of
the correspondence and loans, but Mrs.
Mann made no such denial; on the contrary
she said that she had Mr.. divers letters IN
proof of his duplicity. With feminine pluck
she declared that she wished to have moth
inp further to do with him or his big brick
| honse Int would have her money back.
| The puzzled Oliver, with his half lncred-
| ulous friends, left the angry woman's house
| in great discomfort, and Mr.. Oliver at once
| inf the case in the hands of Detective Sim
mons Armed with Mr.. divers genuine
| SIGNATURE. the detective examined the ar
| dent love letters in Mrs. Manns possession,
questioned the little go. between, and to-day
| eytra cted from the frightened child con-
| fession that she had written all the letters
and manufactured all the messages from
| Mr. oliver to her mother, and thus obtain
Cd for her own use $500 of her mothers
MONEY! With the money thus obtained,
| She had bought the supposed engagement
( ~, on alarm clock, handsome vases and
the like. and persuaded her mother that
thov we're all presents from Mr.. Oliver. The
Iattors from her mother to Mr.. Oliver she
had destroyed.
M divers friends congratulate him
nnon the solution of the mystery, while
Mrs. Mann is deeply chagrined over her
daughters conduct and her own mortify-
inc mistake.-P Philadelphia Press.