The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-10
THE STORY OF KATIE'S JOE.
Mrs. King Identifies the Picture Of Her
Hdlf-SSter.
HER "SPELL" WAS PUT ON, SHE SAYS.
Solution of the Jessie Miller" Mystery
Sweetheart In the West-Enect Of the
GirIs's Walk.

Jessie Miller's identity is now proved con-
clusively as is the fact that she has no
claim to any other name than that Of Katie
O'Keele.
Knowing the interest felt in this young
womans history and that there were
many conflicting reports as 10 whom she
really is a TIMES reporter started out
yesterday morning armed with the photo
graph from which the cut in TIE TINES Of
faiday was made, determined to leave moth
ing undone towards a solution Of the mystery
which seemed 10 surround her. II was known
that there was a woman in GOOchland county
"a Mrs King-who claimed 10 be her halt-
sister, but many doubted the assertion, as IL
necessarily made the girls statement untrue.
WITH Mrs. Kings house as the destnau0n'
the O'Clock tram on the Richmond and Alle-
ghany railroad was boarded.
Soon after the train pulled out the photo
graph was shown % the conductor, captain
Goodman, who recognized ii at oT 'e without
knowing that 1t was Jessie, or rather halle.
lie SAID that she was put on his tram al
Clifton Forge several weeks ago Dy
Captain Kilgore of the Chesapeake ana
Ohio. who asked him TO watch
marked Charity and read from st. Louis,
Mo, 10 Irwin. Va When that station was
reached he helped her of and had not
thought Of her since, never having connected
her with the name of Jessie Miller. Inc
brakeman also recognized the picture. Az
Irwin the picture was recognized at once ny
the station agent, who called her hattie hlhS.
MISS srRANGE's STORY.
There were two young ladies sitting in the
depot, whom the reporter ascertained TO DO
Misses Effie and Kate Strange The photo
was shown them and they exclaimed almost
simultaneously, Why, it's Katie Oheehe.'
Miss Efie said 81 would know her any
where, for she used to nurse for my aunt, and
always slept in the room with me. 1t las
been a long time ago, but remember what
lovely black hair she had and which was
always tied at the back with bright rib
bon. She wore 1t that way
and looked real pretty the night that she was
baptized into the Baptist church. She had a
sister named Louie, who was the prettiest OF
the two. but oh. the Kings used 10 treat them
so dreadfully Jessie did not like 70 stay there
at all. Their step-father, MIR. Hopper TOOK
them both away about three years ago. Inc
girls went on the train and the old man walk
ed. They said they were going 10 1t. LOUIS.
They did not stand very well sOclally-that
is. they did not mingle with the best people,
but Katie certainly was good little Christian.
and never day went by that she dld not
read her Bible, and she would read 1t 70 US
children every time we missed Sunday school.
She did not talk about anything hardly but
the Bible and Joe Who was Joe; Why,
when she lived in St. Louis, long time be-
fore she ever come TO Virginia, she had a
sweetheart there named Joe Barton, and 1t
used 10 grieye her awfully because he dld not
write TO her Oftener.
TO MRS. KINGS.
After talking at some length The TIMEs
man started to Mrs Kings residence, which
was about five miles away.
En- route at the village OF Dogtown-
one store and a blacksmith shop Judge
A. X. Leake was encountered, who, with sew
eral other men. recognized the picture at once
As Katie O'Keeffe. The residence OF Mr..
George w. King was finally reached. The
entrance had 10 be made from the rear.
through several sheds and through the
kitchen to the sitting-room: Signs OF pow
erty were everywhere. Inc mouse con
of the heaviest sort. When the reporter en-
tered Mrs. King was scrubbing the kitchen
floor. As soon as she saw the picture she
said why. that is my half-sster, Katie
O'Keefe.n She then called her baby to her
and asked him who il was. AS soon as he
looked at it he clapped his hands and said,
Oats my aunt Katie"
TWENTY YEARS.
At drst Mrs King was quite reucent, put
finally became quite laxative. She turned TO
the family Bible in which was written TINS,
Katie was born May a. 1871: ms makes
her lust twenty. She said she was quite
musician and played the organ while nurse at
the insane asylum in Kansas City hates
father she declared, was a painter and that
Katie never saw him. Said Katie was IN the
habit of termlng herself the cOmlcal duck
When speaking of her half-slster. Mrs hlng
used considerable sarcasm, and insisted that
her spell" was all put on. lou can Just
bet all YOU are worth she SAID she would
not be crazy around me-"
She showed the reporter several letters
which went strongly 10 bear out her state
ment. One signed Aunt Mamie" contained
no. Idon't think Katie feels lonesome. She
makes friends Whereyes she is. hne mas not
answered Lulies letter written 10 her Iully
month ago Kansas City Hospital, 2 Cherry
erect il the address. ] don't know what name
She goes by at the hospital ana insane asylum.
Here She gave her name as Jessie Miller, so she
NAV there. ! don know, but the head physl-
clan there is DR.. Allen. She was kaue Hopper
when she was there year ago last june
This was dated September 9, 1890. There
was a letter from 5. \. COnnally, attorney-at-
law. Atlanta. Ga, July 4, 1880, directed to
Miss Katie O'Keefe, dated Kansas City Here
it is
Mr.. Bishop, of this city, died june Z 1890. lie
was my warm personal friend ana client; MS
death was unexpected. You were, IememDeIeu
i'm ms will Let me know if he left father or
mother. brother or sister, or nepheWs ana
nieces outside of your family write al you
know concerning his relations giving uauoS
and addresses and ages as nearly as possible
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