Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-09-12
DEVELOPMENTS AT CHICAGO.
The Missing Woman Thought To Be Ann
O'Delia Diss DeBar.

O'Deha Diss DeBar.
CHICAGO, Sept. LIT is now claimed
by the Chicago police authorities that
Vera Ava, the woman who disappeared
from the Church of the Holy Family so
mysteriously Wednesday night, is none
other than Nine. Diss DeBar. the notori-
Gus New York medium" and confidence
woman. Advices from New York
strengthen this opinion, "Niss \ va as
she called herself here, answers the de-
scription of Diss De Bar very closely, and
her methods are somewhat the same. A
dispatch received from New York tends to
confirm the belief.
Disappearance of the Spook Priestess.
The dispatch is as follows: Several
months ago number of prominent news
paper men received letters from Anna
O'Delia Diss Debar announcing that she
was about to commit suicide. The letters
were dated Taylor's hotel in Jersey City,
but when the reporters reached that
place the high priestess of spookdom had
departed. She had left her baggage mot
valuable) behind her, and also an unpaid
hotel bill. Diligent inquiry has since
failed to bring to light any trace of her.
She had not jumped off of any ferry boat,
and if she departed this life by any other
route, what she did with her 2O0-pound
body is still an undeveloped problem. AT
one time it was reported that she was liv-
ing in Roman Catholic institution in
Boston, but the report was never
verified"
Gotham Reporters Opinion.
A New York newspaper woman who is
here on secret mission, says Miss Ava is
none other than Miss Diss DeBar. She
met Miss Ava on the street few DAYS
ago and was so impressed with the resem-
blance between the two women that she
called on Lieutenant Shea Yesterday and
informed him of her fancied discovery.
The description Of the lady who duped
Lawyer Luther Marsh with pictures from
the spirit land comes pretty close to that
of Miss Ava. Diss DeBar has also been
engaged in "good work." and has been in
the habit of travelling with goodly as
sortment OF wigs and other theatrical
accessories.
Lieutenant Shea Convinced.
After thinking the matter over for some
time she called at police headquarters and
informed Lieutenant Shea of her suspi-
cons. The lieutenant was not surprised,
but questioned her closely as to the per-
sonal appearance of Nine. Diss DeBar.
As a result he became convinced that the
dealer in spirit portraits and the alleged
English philanthropist were the same
persons. Lieutenant Shea soon discov-
cred that Nine Diss DeBar left New
York about the middle of July. 1t was
reported that she had gone to Boston, but
as she has never made her arrival in that
city a matter Of publicity, as she certain
ly would have done, it is thought more
than likely that she came to Chicago
The Descriptions Agree Well
While the reporter who, by the way. is
Mrs Elizabeth Bingham, of The New
York World was talking to Lieutenant
O'Shea, Rev. Mr.. Wright, rector
of the chlrch of Saints Peter and
Paul, entered the office Rev. Mr..
Wright was fairly well acquainted with
Miss Ava, as it was his church that she
first expressed desire of joining. At
Lieutenant Shea's request Rev Mr.
Wright described Miss Ava's appearance.
AS he enumerated the many peculiar
physical characteristics of the missing
woman Mrs. Bingham calculated: That's
shell That's Nine. Diss DeBarl"
A Number of simiIarities.
"Mme. Diss DeBar," said Mrs. Bing-
ham, "was little below the medium
height and weighed about 200 pounds.
She frequently wore wig and was usu
ally dressed in semi-clerical costume. Sic
also had two moles on her chin from
which hair grew, just as was the case
with Miss Ava. Besides this, Miss Ava
and Mme Diss DeBar were great deal
alike in their actions. Nine Diss DeBsr
claimed to have been a nun and frequent
ly denounced the Catholic religion as too
'narrow-minded for her. This cor re-
,snopds with Miss Aya's talk
Fat Ann O'Della in Tights.
What cause could have led Mime. Diss
DeBar to masquerade as Miss Ava is
myster. But Mime. Diss DeBar never was
actuated by ordinary motives, or, if she