Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-07-17
Il TRAGEDY OR A HOAX.
DRI6Hf Gl0 nBBIrs CLEARED QUICKLY OF
ACnARGE or MURDER.
Mystery of Montreal and an Ac-
count of That Curious Case.

Montreal has the sensational mystery of
the hour. To explain the matter brief
recapitulation of the strange Mulcahy-
Hasson case is necessary. Miss Mul-
cahy says that I'm May of 1887, she was at
tending mass when she was overcome with
weakness and was assisted home by Ralph
Hasson, who called on her the next day
and they soon become very intimate. lie
said that his father was very wealthy and
lived i'm London and that he himself was
travelling for his health, being threatened
with fatal disease. lie wanted TO marry
her but she refused him. He soon intro
duced friend named Huntley and after
time pressed her to marry Huntley, and
on her again refusing Hasson threatened TO
run away with her, and Huntley repeated
the same threat. In September OF 1881
Hasson went to England and she received
letters from him and finally two from his
father to marry her. She did not answer
the letters. In February of this year
friend of Huntley's called on her and said
that Hasson an his father were ut the lSt.
James hotel IN Montreal, and as he was
dying he wanted to see her. She was
alone in the house and determined 10 grant
this request of a diving man. What hap
pened then makes the mystery.
When | reached the hotel a sleigh, with
four men i'm il, was at the door. One of the
men called my escort and asked, is that
May? went up to the sleigh, when an
elderly gentlemen said, Ralph thought YOU
would not come III time and we were going
to your place, | am his father. Get in with
u.s.
81 did 50 and the sleigh drove on.
Although Ralph was muffled up and
greatly changed ] recognized him. lie
could not speak.
His father said: THE boy is dying.
Surely you will not refuse his last request
Turning to another gentlemen with us he
said That is Father MeCrae,' and, point
ing to another. that is a physician. The
priest can marry you both now
What could | say | consented The
doctor produced this ring"--here Miss
Mulcahy produced massive gold band
bearing the inscription " Ralph and Mary,
married February. lsSg''-" and the mar
rage took place in st. Helen street. into
which we had turned.
Almost Immediately atlcrward | heard
gasp, and the doctor said we were Just in
time. Poor Ralph was dead.
Mr. Husson appeared greatly affected.
He said You are my only child now
Mary. Come with me tn England. ! must
go right back with all that is left of my
poor boy I refused and the priest said
Don't press her against her Will The
sleigh was then stopped and got out and
"Afler that began TO receive threatening
letters, some signed by Huntley, but the
most unsigned. and written by n woman.
In March postal card informed me that
the elder Mr.. Husson was again In Mon
treal, and Oh the night of the 18th was
sitting at my window when | saw him
coming toward the house.
AT that instant a woman stepped ont oi
neighboring porch. spoke to him mo-
ment aud then the peir walked off,"
Now the unfortunate Miss Minnie lib
bits appears upon the scene Less than n
month ago she received the degree of Il. A.
In New Brunswick university, also win
ming the gold medal of the goNernor-gen-
eral in large class of both sexes. She
arrived in Montreal last week Ia spend n
few days with friends priorto visiting rela-
tons IN Duluth.
Miss Mulcahy had lodged information
with the police that she was being threat
ened by an unknown woman and n man
named Huntey with death if she did not
stop mourning for her husband or If she
ever tried To find his father.
On the magistrates advice she swore out
blank warrant for the arrest of those
mysterious people. ON Saturday she was
walking in the street with her mother
when they met Miss Tibbits and Miss
Muicahy at once recognized her as the
mysterious woman, ti5icked her to hcr
boarding house aud had her arrested on the
blank warrant. Miss Tibbits was in Il
cell for two days and night before
her friends learned of her position and
v
bail. Meanwhile the police had kept con
tinualiy plying the prisoner with questions
and exhorting her To confess. ON Tuesday
afternoon the case came up in court with a
great crowd present. Mis-. and Miss Nal
cahy both positively identified the virl
rs the one she saw walk of wit I
the elder Illus on. Then The girls mother
iresident Harrison, of the New Bruins.
>wick university, and the girl herself
speedily proved beyond all shadow OF
doubt that the Mulcahy's were mistaken,
rs she had never before been in Montreal,
and was well known as the brightest
student of the college.
The court and the prosecuting attor-
neys apologized profusely 10 Miss Tib-
bits, and she generously refused u
claim damages for false arrest, though
assured that she could collect them
Father! Martin Cillaghan, Miss Mulcahy's
coniessor was convinced that the marriag,
was simply the bogus work of medical
students, who knowing of Husson's want
ing to marry Miss Mulcahy had drosse,
up a corpse in the sleigh to represent iius-
son. while some of them personated tn,
priest, the father and the doctor No Cath
ollie clergyman could perform the mafriag,
ceremony under such circumstances. Tn,
entire detective force is AT work on th,
case.