Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-08-12
THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD.

a OU. Louis d1Spatcn or July Is says:
Chief of Police Huber and Detective
Archambualt concluded yesterday an in
quarry into one of the most remarkable
domestic dramas ever developed in the
city. The story has all the adjuncts of
thrilling effects and powerful dramatic
situations. All that is required is the in
gen1ous weaving of the materials, and the
result is startling. In 1866 there lived in
Alexandria, Va, young man named
George Snyder. His parents were wealthy
and he was handsome, bright, and pop
ular. He made frequent visits to Balti
more, and while on one of these trips
made the acquaince of Miss Aggie Brown,
young girl of good family acd many
accomplishments. He fell in love with
her, and the couple soon became engaged.
Snyder's family opposed the match.
This action of his relatives had no effect
on the young man and on the 22d of Jan
uary he eloped to Washington with Miss
Brown, where they were married.
The young couple went direct to Chica-
go where Snyder found employment in
wholesale hardware store. He had been
married scarcely six months when he re-
celved notice of the death of his father
and the more pleasing announcement that
fortune had been bequeathed to him.
In short time he secured his money and
invested it in a wholesale hardware store.
Chicago was booming at the time, and
Snyder made money fast, so that at the
end of the year, when his wife asked per-
mission to pay her mother visit in Bal
timore, the young husband was very
wealthy. Mrs. Snyder left for Baltimore,
and for a time her letters to her husband
were answered in an affectiOnate strain.
Then his letters grew short and unsatis-
factory, and finally ceased altogether
Hurrying home, she discovered on her ar
rival that Snyder had disposed of his bus
mess and real estate and eloped with a
woman whose acquaintance he had form
ed in Chicago.
Crushed by the blow the young wife,
left almost penniless, returned to her
mother IN Baltimore. She could not &C
count for her husbands action. They
had lived happily together, and he had
always appeared to be affectionate. For
seven years Mrs. Snider did not hear of
her husband. Then one day in the sum-
mer of 1874 she received letter in Balti-
more, pOstmarked st. Louis. On opening
it she found it was from her husbands
uncle in this city. 1t stated that George
pOx. The story of her husbands death
was whispered around among her friends,
and it was not long before man who had
known herself and husband for years be
gan to tender his addresses. The mans
name was Mcdonald, and he was in good
circumstances. He controlled number of
steamboats, and was in way to make a
fortune. They were married in 1875, and
+ no
out, and meved to Salina, Kan. He went
into farming in Kansas, and after several
years experience concluded to rent his
farm and move to Kansas City, where he
had been offered the position of superin-
tendent of the Fort Scott railroad shops.
He had charge of the shops for number
of years, but finally lost his place. He
came to st. Louis about eight months
ago, and while looking around here met
George Snyder, his wifes first husband,
who was supposed to be under the sod.
Time and fortune had played havoc
with the once gay young Virginian. He
was IN that condition technically termed
ION his uppers." The beauty, the dash,
and the spirit were gone, and instead
there was haggard, unkept individual,
With no ambition greater than earning
enough money at odd jobs for his next
meal. Mcdonald Immediately determin-
ed to apply for a divorce. He secured
an affidavid from Snyder setting
forth that he (Snyder) was still alive, and
that the woman known as Mrs. Mcdonald
was his true and lawful wife. The suit
and the production of the affidavit was
another blow to the woman. She did not
believe that Snyder was alive, and looked
of 1Iov
sp1racy to crush her. She had not got
along smoothly with her second husbands
relatives, and she placed the responsible
ty there. She also looked upon the suit
as an attempt to take from her her inter
est IN her husbands property, and deter
mined to combat the suit
Her first move was to come to ST. T,ouis
and run down the affidavit. It was sub
scribed before a notary named Barnes.
and with this clew she arrived in the CITY
a lew weeks ago and registered at
the Hotel Moser. She Immediately
called on Chief of Police Huebler
and explained her case to him, request
ing him to find George Snyder if he
was in the city. The chief detailed De-
tective Arrhambault on the case. and
Archambault went to work. He found his
task not easy, but finally located Snyder
IN the vicinity of Fifth and WASHINGTON
streets. The officer did not know that he
was the genuine Snyder, but he learned
that he was the individual who had signed
the affidavit. The man Snyder made
living by doing odd jobs around, and
when the officer found he was adjusting
an IRON clasp in front of blacksmith's
shop on Washington street. The detec-
tive returned to the hotel and reported to
the lady. She announced her desire
to see the man, and under the escort
OF the officer she walked to the black
smith shop on Thursday. Snyder was
still hammering away at his clasps in
front of the shop. The officer stepped
aside, and the woman waited by, gazing
earnestly at the mans face. When She re-
turned the detectives observed that she
was very pale and excited.
Ills he," she said. "That is George
Snyder; [ can't go without speaking to
him.
She walked back, and Snyder, sill un-
conscious of her presence, was hammering
away with bowed head.
is that you, George?" she asked, step
ping toward him.