Evening journal., 1891-06-17

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Special Correspondence EVENING JOURNAL
NEW CASTLE, June 17--New Castle
people are greatly agitated over one Of
the most sensational elopements that has
ever occurred in Delaware. The affair
Is the sole topic OF conversation TO. day,
and stories are floating In every direction.
John II. Reed, q we'll known Vine
street merchant, and Miss Ann Bartlett,
the pretty young daughter OF Joseph
Bartlett, clerk, are missing, and their
whereabouts are unknown. They have
been gone more than two days, but the
shocking truth of the affair never
dawned upon the unsuspecting families Of
the two until late last night When they
finally becaue convinced their grief knew
no bounds. and no family In this city
ever passed more agonizing night than
did the Bartlett and Reed families last
night. The kind efforts Of friends and
neighbors to console them proved OF little
avail.
who j. H. Reed Is.
John H. Reed Is a natty looking man,
80 years old. He is small in stature, very
active and has black mustache. He
has been In business on Vine street for
several years, and by constant hard work
has acquirsd for himself a good business
and comfortable amount OF real estate.
In one of the houses the Bartlett family,
with whom he was very Intimate, live.
Bis wife Is an intelligent and attractive
looking woman. She Is q sister to
Operator John r. Rittenhouse OF the
Wilmington police signal department,
and Allison Rittenhouse, the we'll known
fruit grower Of State road They haye
but one child, Hattie, q pretty little girl
about 3 years old One ofathe most pitiful
sights last night was that of little Hattie
attempting to console her broken hearted
mother. Reed has long borne an excel
lent reputation, His continued honest
efforts to amass little fortune for him
self and family have frequently aroused
words Of high commendation from his
neighbors.
Mr.. Bartlett and his family have long
been known as honest and industrious
people. They are all connected with the
n. g Church ana are regular ia their at
tendance there. Last night Mr.. Bartlett
offered up more than a few earnest
prayers from his little family altar.
Anna is very attractive girl, though
only Is years old.
She Was Reeds Clerk
About two months age she received
good offer from Reed TO act as clerk for
him in the store, and on the advice of
her parents the offer was accepted She
became efficient In her work and we'll
earned her salary. In q few weeks time
her winsome manners attracted Reed
and be began to devote more time to
conversation with her than was really
required in the transaction Of the
business
Nothing was ever susplcioned by the
families of the two The Bartletts
thought that Anna had good position,
and the Reeds realized that they had
competent clerk. Mrs. Reed never for
moment doubted her husband. She said
in an interview last night, ~ could
never have been more shocked MY hus
band was just as tender toward me, even
on Sunday, the day before he left, as
be alway has been, and ! never dreamed
Of any duplicity on his part.
Their Eyes Are Opened.
The FIRST intimation received by either
family was taken from the following
anonymous letter which was received on
Saturday.
"bEAR MRS. BARTLETT:
The writer is frieud Of yours
"P,ease do not try to trace me.
1T Is the talk OF the Delaware Iron
Works that M. Reed is overly intimste
with your daughter Anna.
1T Is getting to be town talk
he hss been seen by several people,
who go to the store, in the very act OF
hugging Anna.
He hugs her on the street at night
II have seen that several times myself
and have seen the same thing in room
back of store
Two men last night watched the pair
go up an alley.
"The matter has been causing Mrs.
Reed great deal Of anxiety.
For your sake and for the sake Of
your daughter, who is In the clutches of
this unprincipled man, write this.
There Is talk of tar and feathers for
Reed, and il you wish to save yourself
from disgrace, you will take the girl
away from him.
God help you to act rightly and
justly. A FRIRSD {"
Mrs Bartlett was Mortified on reading
the communication She carried 1t TO
Reed at once 10 an embarrassed manner
he denied all knowledge of the affair or
Of such intimacy He was greatly con
fused and said that such thing as that
was enough to make a man shoot or
drown himself. Anna also denied every
charge Indignantly. Mrs BARTLETT
showed the letter TO Mrs Reed, but she
regarded it as falsehOod from begin
ming to end
How They Got Away.
On Cofurdaw auan4,n 49,. - 49,
permission to 60 to Salem, M. j., to visit
than her fare in her purse The visit
was ended on Monday morning. when
Anna left salem on the New Castle
boat to return home. She. however.
stepped from the boat at Delaware Oitv
Meantime Reed had left his home at t3
o'clock on Monday morning, going ont
rather hurriedly. The next seen Of him
was at 4 o'clock, when Arthur r. Kee. a
milkman, noticed him walking RAPIDLY
down the Delaware City road, past the
Kee farm. He met the girl at the wharf
at Delaware City, and the unusual actions
OF the pair we're noticed by several people
there. Reed seemed to be persuadfnp
the girl with great earnestness. They
boarded the train for Newark, and the
girl has not been seen since by anybody
who knew her
Reed left the train at Porter's, and, it
is supposed, sent Miss Bartlett to New
ark. he then returned to this city,
greeted his wife and child. and said he
had been attending to some business at
State Road He ate his dinner little
earlier than usual. and taking an um-
brella, went out, saying that he was
going down to get some river air. He did