The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-03-19
A SHOCKING TRAGEDY
Which did not HappeniuWheeI'
Ing in Spite Of
/ SENSATIONAL ACCOUNT
Which Comes from Pittsburgh-A
Family Hunting a Man who came
to Hunt his Daughter-was
there a Murder or Suicide?


printed a brief dispatch dated at Wheel
ing on Friday, saying that the bodies o
an unknown woman and u young chile
had been found in Indian creek, q
West Union, Doddrldge county, Mr.
James Mckee, Of Pittsburgh, probably
saw this dispatch, and as Mr., McKee'l
daughter Jennie, with her infant child
had recently left home to come Il
Wheeling, he jumped at the conclusion
that this was her body, He came
here, but as nobody in Wheeling
has seen him, he must have gone
on to West Union. Several kilograms
were received from members OF the Nc.
Kee family by Chief Of Police Delbrugge
last evening, asking II he had any inior.
nation OF James Mckee, The theory
advanced above is the only one anybody
here can suggest to explain the report
printed In yesterdays Times that Jennie
Mckee and her child had either com.
mitted suicide or been murdered in
Wheeling. There Is no truth In that
report, at any rate.
The Times says; Mrs. Mckee, the
grandmother Of the girl, was seen last
night and stated that they had heard
the rumor and that the girls father was
in Wheeling trying 10 learn the truth.
He said he would telegraph as soon as
he could find out her whereabouts, but
up to q late hour last night no intelll.
genCe had been received. "Aly grand
daughter" continued Mrs. Mckee, t'leit
suddenly for Wheeling, saying she was
going there to visit some friends, and we
have not heard anything from her since;
more than that we know she Is not at
tho place she said she was going to.
This news is too much for US, aud we
can't give any further particulars until
We hear from Mr.. McKee,"
A yoGng lady who was very intimate
with Miss Mckee, but who objects to
having her name used, gave the follow.
ing; ~,
ried TO a man named Reed, who was an
iron worker at Brown ( Sons Iron
Works. They were to be married, but
the parents objected 10 the marriage and
Reed suddenly disappeared. Shortly al.
ter his disappearance Miss Mckee gave
birth to a child, which would now be
about eight months old. Since the birth
OF her child Miss Mckee has not gone
out very much, and, in fact, was seldom
seen.
"She, however, made vigorous efforts
TO find tho man named Reed. do not
think that this was his right name, and
| often thought his actions rather shady.
A short time ago she got trace Of him In
Wheeling and theykept up correspond.
enCe for some time. He finally wrote To
her that hewould merry her II she would
meet him in Wheeling on Wednesday
night. She left here Wednesday morn.
ing. l have not heard anything from her
since.
"The only explanation could give for
her death Is that Reed failed To appear,
and, as she could no longer bear the
shame Of being the mother Of an illegiti.
mate child, and being deserted by It's
father, in despair she and her child died
together.n
The lady gave no reason for Miss Nc.
KEGS presence at Indian Greek, other
than that she went to meet Reed. Miss
Mckee had always borne q good name.
1t Is understood that q detective Is to
be sent to Wheeling to-day 10 find some
trace OF Reed.
Last midnight the family received
news that the bodies had been buried,
but Mr.. Mckee had identified them as
his daughter and her child. They will
be brought to Pittsburgh tonight. The
family arc now inclined 10 believe that
II was a double murder instead Of suicide,
and think the woman and child were
taken 10 Indian creek and then mur.
dered.
A further statement is made that Miss
McKee's relatives objected so much TO
her going with Reed that they finally
locked her up In the attic. A short while
before the child was born she tore up
her bedClothes 10 make rope and lot
herself down. This time she stayed away
for several weeks, but was at home when
the child was born. Since that time she
has been almost continually a prisoner
In her home.
An INTELLioENcRR reporter called on
Chief Delbrugge last evening and asked
himif he had any knowledge OF the ai.
fair. He said the receipt of a telegram
inquiring for Mckee was his first init.
nation OF the story. Later he saw the
| Times, He did not think there was any
truth in the account.
Coroner SChultze knew nothing OF
the affair, nor did Health Officer Garri.
son. Nobody could be found who knew
anything about Reed, the detective,
Mckee, Miss Mckee or her baby.
A special dispatch from Pittsburgh re.
Ceiyed early this morning gives the fol.
lowing additional particulars: There is
nothing definite known here tonight
concerning Jennie MCKee's fate, except
a telegram received by her grandmother
from her father, that fle would arrive al
8 o'clock this morning with her body
and that Of her child, He expected Ia
get In over the Pan Handle Railroad. In
order to do so lie would have 10 change
cars at Steubenyille, and II is doubtful
II he could do 80.
The Ninth ward, the vicinity In
which the McKees live, is terribly OK.
cited. Reed, her alleged betrayer, came
10 Pittsburgh three weeks ago, and
offered 10 marry tho girl. The marriage
did not take place because she Is q Pres.
byterian and he Catholic. The story
that she was locked up In the attic d
denied by her grandmother, but Il
abundantly established by the testi
mony Of the neighbors. II 10 altogether
a queer mystery and possibly may DO {
celebrated case,
A CRAZY OLD MAN