The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-04-25

KNOWN. "A ulllgent sedrcn was kept up
for some time, but no trace of him
could be found. We will follow him,
however Immediately after his escape
he proceeded to New York, where he
took passage for Dublin, and arrived
there five weeks later, this being the
time it took i'm those days to sail across
the Atlantic. His arrival was greeted
warmly by his many friends and rela-
tons, as they were completely ignorant
of his past career. Communication
with his wife and family was necessarily
cut off, as such action might possibly
lead to his discovery and capture. We
next find him employed in an extensive
linen factory on Sackville street, hold
ing the responsible position of foreman
of the entire establishment. His integ-
rity, ambition of furtherIng his en-
plOyer's business interests and honesty
in discharge of his duties in that po-
sition gained for him the confidence of
his employers, and he was soon made
general manager of the concern at an
enormous salary. The announcement
of his marriage to the daughter of the
senior member of the firm in question
created quite sensation, as they were,
socially speaking, not suited for each
other, she being of very high social
standing in the metropolis of the great
but little island, while on the other hand
he was comparatively ignorant and OBJ
scure in that respect. This was the
primary, if not the principal cause of
frequent quarrels thereafter. Time
passed, and two children were born to
them.
We will now take trip back to his
former, or American, wife and children,
from whom he was forced to part sew
eral years previous. After his escape
from prison the news spread rapidly
over the wires that a man answering
his description was killed at Lancaster,
Pa. This news was received as official
by the authorities, although the body
had not been identified as the escaped
convict. The poor woman also re-
ceived the news as positive proof of her
husbands terrible fate. Herself and
family accordingly remained in mourn
for over year for aman who was then
alive and who was to be untrue to his
devoted wife and children. The expi-
ration of several years of supposed
widowed life brought back to light the
great mystery and an awful tale.
On a cold December evening a tat
tered but intelligent looking boy, APP
parently of sixteen summers. appeared
at the door of her residence and po-
litely asked for some eatables, saying
he was on long, fatiguing journey,
and without money. The request was
readily granted, and after politely
thanking her for her kindness and tell
ing where he was from he took his
leave. No more was heard of him or
seen of him there.
The summer of IS witnessed a
grand steamboat excursion on the Miss
issippi from st. Louis. Among the
large number aboard was the boy who
appeared in Dubuque as an outcast, but
who had now grown to respectable
manhood under the rays of Southern
sun. As fate would have it, the gener-
Gus old lady who had befriended him
when he was destitute was also aboard,
accompanied by her daughter. He i'm
mediately recognized her, introduced
himself. and an interesting CONVERSE
ton followed, in the course of which a
pressing invitation was extended to him
to pay them visit in their Dubuque
home. The invitation was accepted and
short time afterward fulfilled. 1t may,
perhaps, seem strange, but it is never
theless a fact, that the names of both
parties remained a secret until the day
OF his visit. Imagine their position and
the friendship that arose when the facts
became known and the inquiry which
followed may be termed the "key" to
the deep mystery existing, the circum-
stances of which are already known to
the reader. The scene following the
young mans story of his early life, his
parents, etc., beggars description, as it
was now settled beyond particle of
doubt that the supposed dead husband
and father was no other than the man
before alluded to, and what is still more
remarkable, the mysterious acquaint-
ance proved to be his son, born to his
illegal wife. He said that he left home
because of his fathers brutal treatment
of his mother. A secret correspondence
between the wronged woman in Dublin
and her son in Dubuque ensued, when
for the first time did her terrible po-
sition as an illegal wife become known
to her. A pen picture of his grief and
CONSERVATION on receipt of the news of
this startling disclosure is beyond the
writer's ability; it can be better i'm
agined than described. Suffice it to say,
the meeting of herself and husband was
by no means affectionate. The crisis
comes at later stage.
The correspondence was uninter-
ruptedly carried on until the actual
situation of all concerned was revealed,
and in some unaccountable manner the
United States authorities were made
cognizant of the fact that an American
convict and murderer had been discov-
cred in Dublin. The Secretary of State
made a prudent investigation of the
case which resulted in establishing the
true identity of the man in question,
but for some reason or other his arrest
was not demanded, consequently we
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