Huntsville gazette., 1886-01-16
THE MYSTERY SOLVED.
The Missing John F. O'Rourke and
Miss Mary Larned Discovered.
Living as Man and Wife in Absolute Penu.
ry in Detroit, Michigan, O'Rourke
Nearly in Rays and Work.
ing as Porter.

| 'ss~-J - As"yo anu
ing as a Porter.
CHICAGO, ILL, January 12.-Late yes.
terday afternoon disclosure was made
in an evening paper here that lifts the
veil from one of Chicago's numerous mys-
teries, and at the same time provides
food for the gossips that will set all the
tongues wagging. On September 5th
last John F. O'Rourke, a lawyer from St.
Louis, and Miss Mary Larned, daughter
of Albert H Larned, 2546 Dearborn street,
went out in row-boat from the foot of
Twelfth street for row on the lake and
were not heard of afterward O'Rourke
arranged to take Miss Larned for boat
ride in the afternoon and return in time
for supper at Mr.. Larned's at half past
six or seven O'Clock. He hired a boat
from John Fenaux, at the foot of
/ Twelfth street, and started at :25 The
boat was good, well-built rowboat, six
teen feet long and three and half feet
beam, one that would be difficult to cap
size.
There was no sail taken; nothing but
| pair of oars, and O'Rouke and the lady,
it was thought, evidently intended to be
back within an hour. Fernaux and other
boatmen on the shore commented on the
expert manner in which Mr.. O'Rourke
handled the oars. They saw him row
around the Twelfth street pier and head
directly south, and that was the last seen
of the boat or it's occupants. The next
day number of men searched the lake
shore as far south as South Chicago, but
tho hnaf fonnd fbao
were prOpounded to account for the dis
appearance. One was that an oar had
broken and the occupants of the boat
were picked up by vessel bound for the
opposite shore. Another was that Mr..
O'Rourke, who is said to have suffered
from heart affection after severe physical
exercises, may have been overcome when
far out on the lake. Another was that he
lost his way in the fog, for there was
slight fog that evening, and rowed the
wrong way.
There were other theories, all equally
vague and unsatisfactory. Mrs. Larned,
the young woman's mother, was almost
distracted, as she believed both were at
tee. battan-of the lake Excitement he
when the boat with an oar-lock broken,
one oar gone and one end broken in so
that it leaked badly, was driven by the
wind into the South Chicago harbor. The
boat was fully identified, but no trace of
the occupants was found. 1t was the
general opinion that both were drowned,
and for weeks watch was kept along the
shore for the bodies of the unfortunate
couple.
About four weeks ago Mrs. O'Rourke,
at Kirkwood, Mo-, received letter
written in a disguised hand and post
marked Detroit, Mich, asking if she had
ever heard anything from her husband or
if his body was ever found. Mrs.
O'Rourke had mourned her husband as
dead, and was about to answer the letter
when it occurred to her that it could not
have been written by a stranger, as the
curious had forgotten the circumstances
long before that. She accordingly con-
suited friends, and it was decided to en-
ploy detective to look the matter up.
This was done and the officer started for
Detroit, after which decoy
letter was mailed. The officer watched
and discovered that the letter
was received by Miss Larned in person.
He also learned that Mr.. O'Rourke was
living with her and that the two were
passing as man and wife under an as
sumed name. The lawyer was employed
in store as porter and was receiving
only nominal salary. In consequence
the couple were on the verge of starva-
ton, and all the jewelry the couple pos
sessed had been sold. O'Rourke's
clothes were worn and dirty, and he had
no money with which to purchase new
ones The detective kept his eyes on
the guilty couple and communicated
the facts to Mrs. O'Rourke.
That lady was 10th to believe
the news, but informed. Mr.. Larned
here of what she had learned, and that
gentleman went at once to Detroit and
week ago last Saturday returned with
his daughter to this city, and, heavily
yelled, the young woman was returned
to her home and has not since been seen.
A gentleman who saw Miss Larned on the
train kept the secret until yesterday.
Mr.. Larned was seen by reporter at
his office yesterday afternoon. He was
surprised to find that the secret
had become known, but frankly acknowl-
edged that his daughter had been found.
~ did not think it could remBin quiet
this long," he said, "but when week
passed and nothing appeared in the papers
/ began to believe that the scandal could
be avoided"
He said it had been his intention to
send her away to some of his friends for
awhile, as it would be impossible for heI
to remain at home. He was very bitter
against O'Rourke in the few words that
were spoken, but would not say where ne
was.
'T hope he has returned to his heart
broken VIE" he said, "where, were he
to work faithfully for lifetime, he could
not repair the damage he has done his
family. As for me, never want tc see
him, and he knows that should he ever
cross may path again it will not be well
for him.
1t is understood that O'Rourke has re-
turned to Kirkwood and been received by
his wife, but that he has kept shady.
The Flood at Montreal.