Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-29
A WOMAN'S ROMANCE.
The Daughter of a Wealthy Oil Oper-
atOr Dying at st. Francis.
HER HUSBAND DABDUCTS HER CHILD
She Travelled All Over the Country and
Found Them in New York.
ILLNESS WRECKS HER MIND AND BODY

On one of the cots in the female ward ol
st. Francis Hospital last night lay q
woman who was laboriously living through
the last throes of dying delirium. Her
face was pale, and in the eyes there was that
CLASSY look which precedes the last pulsa-
ton of the heart. The attendants tripped
about noiselessly, and the physicians in at
tendance stated to q number of friends that
the woman would not 1--we until morning.
The lady has a strange history, and the
good Sisters in charge of the hospital are
trying to solve it. She was admitted to the
institution on the 18th inst, having been
sent there by Alderman Cassidy, of the First
ward, in whose house she, has been living
for the past four or six years. She was in
sane at the time, and had been out of her
mind for several weeks prior to her removal.
For some time previous to this she had been
affected with heart trouble, which made her
insane. She became so violent that she
could no longer be kept within bounds, and
the Squire thought it best to place her in
the hospital.
The young woman's name is Hibbard,
and she is the wife of George Hubbard. who
was manager at Newell's about seven years
ago. She was the daughter of Captain De
q
oil operator. The latter was a Spaniard,
and came from Cuba to this country about
the beginning of the war. He served until
he was honorably discharged, and about the
close of the war went to the oil country. He
located near Oil City, and then went to
Buffalo, where he lived in luxurious style
He had but one daughter, to whom he left a.
good fortune supposed to be in the neigh
borhood of 1000. at his death. His wife
died shortly after the birth Of the daughter,
and the latter was christened Maud.
4 PRACTICAL CAPTAIN.
Captain DeReeves, thinking that some
day his money might take flight and leave
himself and daughter penniless, determined
to give the latter the means of earning a
livelihood. He was an expert cook him.
self, and thought this would be good thing
for his daughter to learn. He accordingly
sent her to the best French cooking school
in the world, where she learned the art of
cookery.
Sometime afterward her father died and
left her his money. She became acquainted
with George Hibbard in this city and mar
ried him. They had several children, all of
whom, with the exception of one, died The
couple lived on Penn avenue, near Seventh
street, and apparently the course of love
ran smooth. This continued for about eight
years, when the neighbors were startled
with the intelligence that Hibbard had de-
serted his wife and abducted his +year-old
boy. The latter occurred on Sunday even
ing. Mr.. Hibbard had asked his wife at
the supper table to dress the child and he
would take it out for a walk. Mrs.
Hibbard did as she was directed
and her husband left the house. They did
not return at the usual hour, and the wife
grew alarmed. No thought of her husband
deserting her had entered her mind, and it
was only by accident that she learned the
truth. Hibbard had sent picture of his
wife to his parents in New York, stating
that he would bring her to see them in
few months. He afterward sent a letter
stating that mistake had been made, and
the picture was that of his wife's cousin,
and asked for its return. He then sent
picture of woman named Simpson, alleg-
ing it was that of his wife. When the first
picture was returned it fell into the hands of
Mrs. Hubbard, who was somewhat surprised
at her husbands parents sending it back.
She said nothing, however, but afterward
heard the reason.
ALMOST BROKE HER HEART.
When Hibbard and the child disap-
peared his wife went almost crazy When
she found that she had been deserted for the |
Simpson woman, she applied to the police
The latter could find no trace |
of him, and as the weeks sped BY Mrs. bib |
bard resolved to find her child. She sold !
her house and furniture, and began to |
travel. She visited all the large cities in the |
West, but could find no trace of her hus- |
band After travelling about the country |
for 10 or II months she located him in New |
York, where she secured possession of the |
boy. She applied to W. G. Moreland, ESQ.,, |
now City Solicitor, for advice, and took the |
steps necessary to secure separation from
her husband.
With the money taken by the husband
and that spent by herself searching for him
she had but little left. At first her dia-
mond jewelry began to find its way to the
pawn shops, until at last she had to apply
for position to support herself and child. |
She secured employment with Alderman
Cassidy, and became so attached to the lat
ter's mother that she would not leave her.
She has been attending to the culinary
wants of the Squire since entering his
service, about four years ago.
It is stated that Hibbard is now working
as clerk in one of the elevated railroad
offices in New York City. : His people live
in Brooklyn, and he has a wealthy aunt.
,he widow Of a sea captain, living on Staten
Island.
When Hibbard presented the Simpson
woman to his parents, he made the child
all her Mamma. The deception was prac-
iced until one day Mrs. Hibbard appeared
N the scene, and the child immediately
ushed into her arms.
Mrs. Hibbard was anointed for death BY
priest from St. Augustine's Church
Wednesday. At 10 o'clock last night it was
tated that she would not live until morn
ng. She has been unconscious for several
ays, the mental strain having completely
her and shattered her mind.