The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-29
UNDER TWO NAMES.
A Mysterious Death Brings Out
a Sad Story.
WIFE AND YOUNG GIRL wRoNcED
Frank Pierce, Who Died at Providence
Hospital. Had Disappeared
From the East.

The sequel to a sad story of desertion
and the miserable death of the deserter has
just been brought to light by the receipt OF
letter, which, though il does not clear up
the mystery entirely, makes it probable
that the true facts will soon come to light.
About three months agoa man staggered
up the steps leading to the entrance to
Provideace hospital and applied for admis-
sion. He gave his name as Frank Pierce,
and ne was too sick, he said, to go any fur
ther, and he was SO anxious to get in that
the sisters admitted him without the usual
certificate. He had only $40 in his pockets.
few days afterward he died in great pain,
and the doctors were unable to state the
cause of death. As they considered the
case suspicious they held a post-mortem
examination of the body, but the result
has never been given to the public.
As Pierce died without friends, Under
taker Cross was instructed to bury him in
the county potter's field, but as the dead
man appeared TO have been an intelligent
and weil-to-do man, Mr.. Cross undertook
to find some trace of his identity. In some
way Mr.. Cross found out that Pierce came
from Snohomish and had been stopping at
the Hotel Penobscot, run by Joseph NAL
lett. 1t was further stated that Pierce had
lately had large sum of money, and there
was q suspicion that he had been drugged
and robbed and had died from the effect of
the drugging.
The Snohomish people instructed Mr.
Cross to telegraph to Miss Belle Avery,
Marshall, Mo. This he did, and it was
through Miss Avery that the story of the
dead man was finally brought out. She
was Pierce's sweetheart and he had been
keeping company with her for several
years before he came out to Snohomish.
She always understood that he was single
man, but soon after his death she found
out by correspondence with friends whom
he had mentioned that such was not the
case. Pierce real name was Frank Pierce
Goodwin.
The letter which explains Goodwin's OPP
erations, was received by Undertaken Cross
yesterday, and it is from Mrs. Berta M.
Goodwin, Camden, o. In this letter she
says:
! am in receipt of letter that You had writ
ten to Miss Belle NJ. Avery, Marshall Mo-,
telling OF the death and burial OF. my husband
Frank P. Goodwin. cannot realize that such
is the case and cannot express my feelings to
hear the sad end he came toto think that he
unknown and unthought of Little did you all
know who he wasl
Ny husband left home three years ago last
June with drove of cattle, two horses and
buggy, and his two little nephews to help HIM
drive. He took his cattle down to Cincinnati.
sold them to the stockyards men, then he disap-
peared and we never heard OF him since
The Missouri people say that he went by the
name of Frauk Pierce-he never gave his first
name. This young lady had been keeping COM
pany with him for two years, not knowing he
was married man. His mother is almost dis
tracted and my parents have never been the
same, for they always thought that he had been
murdered in Cincinnati for his money, $500.
which he received from the sale OF the cattle.
am confident that he has means somewhere
for he was always saving and good at money
making Ihave written to Mr.. Mallett at sno-
homish several times but have not received an
answer for some reason. wish you would send
me keepsake-some trinket that he had.
presume Mr.. Mallett would know something
about his affairs, and / am sure there is a
mystery somewhere and it should be investi-
gated. am going to write again and If don't
get reply soon shall employ q detective to
look mp the matter.
Mrs. Goodwin says that she cannot see
why her husband deserted her. She does
not blame Miss Avery, but on the contrary
seems to be very grateful to her for her
assistance in bringing out the true facts.