Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-08-06
THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD,

NAtN thuo'hHu anu Nv ahOUneF.
st. Louis dispatch of 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
genious 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
compllshments. 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 a
wholesale hardware store. He had been
married scarcely six months when he re-
ceived notice of the death of his father,
and the more pleasing announcement that
fortune had been bequeathed to him.
In a 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 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 ac-
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
1t she found it was from her husbands
uncle in this city. 1t stated that George
Snyder had died in st. Lous from small
pox. The story of her husbands death
was whispered around among her friends,
and 1t 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
fortune. They were married in 1875, and
Mcdonald caught the western fever. sold
out, and meyed 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 wife's 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 a 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 atfidayid 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
upon the affidavit as the result of a CON
spiracy 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. Louis
and run down the affidavit. II was sub
scrlbed before notary named Barnes,
and with this clew she arrived in the CITY
few 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
tectlve 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 a
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.
"'Tis he" she said. "That is George
Snyder; 1 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.
"Where did you come from:" was his
reply, as he raised his head.
George, how did you come to this:
Where is your money!"
Gone" said Snyder, never attempting
| to rise or shake hands, but working away.
Detective Archambaut, in repeating the
1 dialogue. said: Il never saw anything
1 like 1t in my life. That fellow sat there
/ iast as cool as if he had seen his wife yes
/ terday. He never asked where she was
| going or where she had come from, but
| Just kept on at work and answered her
| questions. When she turned to go he
never looked up. Just think of that man
/ there she said to me- L would never
/ have believed It Poor fellow. If had
| money would give If to him. That was
| all She went to her hotel, and last night
/ toek western train for her wrecked home
! in Kansas
She Net George.
/ Sorristo~n herald
did you know / met George last even
| in - said young lady con6dentially to
I to her friend