The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-22
A SINGULAR STORY.
Marriage, Murder, Desortion and
miraculous Detection.
A Girl in Male Attire Crosses the Ocean
20 Find IiCr EatIcr-SuccCss of Her
1.issioa-A Romance in
Real Life


20 Find Eior EatLcr-Succcas of Her
2!issioa-A Romance in
Real Life.
Perhaps the most romantic and start
ling story OF facts that has ever come tc
light in iowa was related to your cor
respondent to-day, and which is Ger
rainly unknown to the citizens OF
Dubuque. Ny informant is one of the
oldest and most influential citizens OF
this city. In answer to the well-known
reporters query, What's new" he
said: a have = long and Interesting
story TO tell you, and You will be the
first newspaper man to whom it has
ever been told b. me" Leaning back
IN bis cushioned chair and placing his
heels ca al old-fashioned looking desk.
he til he following story: Away back
l. ,Ise early days Of Dubuque family.
consisting Of man and wife and one
daughter, came here from St. Louis.
Their names viii lie withheld for the
present, but nay be gwen LATER. The
husband ard father engaged IN the bust
ness OF Il miner, and for time was
quite successful. He was rather shabb;lv
dressed, bat showed signs OF refinement
and education in youth He was 4
FTenchman. After while he lost what
little money he had in the mining bust
ness, and became almost destitute. Du-
bugue in those Gays was a drearv will
derness, built mainly of frame shanties,
and populated for the most part by In
dams. lie, without any prospects
OF making a living for himself and
family. became 4 wreck, bordering upon
insanity. the sequel of which was his
being found dangling from a rope in his
own room. cold in death, having COM
mitted suicide. Hs poor widow and
orphan girl were Frustrated with grief:
the former tainted ut the ghastly sight
aud remained III 4 cOm&tosc condition
for more than two days. At the end OF
which time preparations We're COM
plcted for the interment OF the supposed
dead body. 1t was even inclo>ed in a
casket, when the startling discovery
WAS made that the person was only in
swOon. 1t Is needless to say that the
supposed lifcleSs form was immediately
removed. and such reStorativeS as were
irocurablc were quickly administered
by willing hands. She rapidly recoy-
cred, and was soon IN her former state
OF health, but, as have made known.
in a very destitute condition. and how
10 exc out Il living for herself and child
added much TO her distress. Eventually
She obtained 4 situation as ''maid of all
work. In addition To this she taught
her child how to read. write. etc Years
rolled b. and the child grew TO be a
young lady, earning her OWN living.
Dubuque was Il this time rapidly grow
ing. Immigrants poured in from all
directions, enlarging Dubuque TO quite
a village
AMONG the new arrivals was Il boy
who cmi2rated from Europe at the age
of eighteen to seek 4 livelihood in the
great West. lie possessed remarka-
BILE ambition TO rise in the world. He
commenced on Il starvation Salarv, and
was afterward employed in little GRO
Gerry store, where he soon became a
partner in the business. About this
time he met and fell in love with the
Young lady | have just referred to.
Though poorly clad she was exception
ally pretty and quite intelligent. This
brief acquaintance was only an intro
duction to long and clandeStine court
ship which followed, a description of
which Is unnecessary. Suffice it to say
1t did not deviate much from the rules
in use at the present time. 1t was of
fourteen months duration and ended.
as the average play does, in happy
marriage, though this happiness. it must
be said, was short-lived. Five wears
swiftly passed-the mother-in-law dur
ing this time died-and three briuht
little children were the fruits of that
period of conjural life. Two were bows /
and one a girl. When the Youngest !!
was only three months old the father |
became engaged in a quarrel with his |
partner in business, during which he, |
unintentionally, it is said. dealt him a |
blow on the forehead. wounding him in |
such manner as TO cause his death a /,
few weeks after. He was held for trial |
for murder-the trial lasting fourteen |
dayS-and convicted of manSlaurhter. |
and was accordingly sentenced to life /
at hard labor. This was !
a terrible blUrS to the young wife and
and for time fears OF her be-
coming insane were entertained. but
she braved the billowy sea of grief and
soon landed safe on the shores of GOOD
health. The imprisoned life was soon
changed to free one, for after life
and death struggle he succeeded in re-
leasing himself from the prison walls.
bis escape was not detected for several
days, and his whereabouts was I'M
known. A diligent search was kept I'D
for some time, but no trace OF him
could be found. We viii follow him.
however. Immediately after his escape
ne proceeded TO New York, where he
took passage for Dublin, and arrived
here five weeks later, this being the
time it took in those days to sail across
he Atlantic. His arrival was greeted
warmly by his many friends aud rela-
ions, as they were completely ignorant
If his past career. Communication
With his wife and family was necessarily
;ut of, as such action might possibly .
cad to his discovery and capture. We !
lext find him employed in an extensive .