, 1891-04-18
Denrh FinnIIy separated Them.

ANSOSIA, Conn, April l7.-hemOrse
less death in the shape of a railroad train,
has separated one of tie most picturesque
and widely known couples IN the state Of
Connecticut. Next to the Old Leather
Man, no one was better known here than
odd Bill Dean and his wife Margery,
or Maggie" as he called her. For
twenty five years the aged couple have
tranped from the New York state line to
the Rhode Island boundary, and from the
Berkshire Hills to Long Island Sound.
They carried with them a stock OF soap.
pins and needles, combs. and other small
wares, which they peddled from door to
door. They were ~graY-naIred and decrepIt,
but they chung together and are o
known TO have been separated for more
than an hour or two at any time since
they first started out together on the
road. They had but one good eye between
them, and that belonged to Bill. Maggie's
sight had nearly gone, and Bill lost one
of his eyes several years ago 10 defending
his partner from alvicious bull they en-
countered up in Litchfield county. Every
city station house knew them, and IN
every Jail in the state have they served
time for drunkenness. That. in fact, was
their one besetring sin. They had never
been known to steal unless it was corn
from the farmers field or turnips from
the roadside patch, or fruit from the
orchard. And there were few farmers
who b~egrudged the old couple these few
things.
1t was generally Bill who fell the victim
to the stale beer key, and Bill was gencr-
alu arraafaH Uban ha yuaa fnund Ipfpvf-
Gated, for in his cups he turned upon his
aged wife and beat her. But MaRgie's
love for her old man was stronger than
her anger, and often has she pleaded with
the officers when they were arresting Bill
to be taken along with him. They re-
fused, but soon one OF them was sent out
to arrest an old woman for breaking a
window, and they always found Maggie to
be the culprit. Sometimes she would be
the first one to be pulled in, and then Bill
would straightway get drunk in order to
join his idol 10 the cooler. When they
were brought before the court they would
plead for the same sentence in jail that
they might resume their journey together.
They generally got it.
In the summer they carried their food
with them, Maggie acting as cOmmissary
and cook, while Bill carried their stock in
trade. They built little fires In the woods
and cooked their meals, sleeping outdoors
wherever night overlook them. 10 the
winter thew sought the station houses IN
the cities and the barns in the country.
But their journey through the highways
Of Connecticut is now ended. Thursday
morning they left Milford bright and early
to walk to Branford. They reached New
Haven in the afternoon and at about 5
O'Clock left that city for the last stage OF
their journey. They took the Shore Line
railroad track. On the outskirts of the
city they were Overtaken by an express
train on a Highway bridge. Bill tried to
pull Maggie off tie track but be was not
quick enough. The engine struck her,
cutting her body in two. Bill was also
hit and thrown down to the road below
where he was found unconscious. He
was taken to the hospital, where it, was
found he had sustained severe internal in
%juries. Maggie's body was taken care of
and buried by the authorizes. In a pack
which they had was found d loaf of bread,
a large piece of bologna sausage, a pack
age OF teaspoons, knives. forks, aud sew
eral pairs OF stockings. Old Bill doesn't
know of his wife, death, nor will he I'M
til he recoyers