The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-05
1t Brings to Light an Extraordinary
Romance.
From the New York World.

FROM the NelO YORK WoTtG.
CHICAGO, April 27.-The theft Of little
old gold looket with small pearl in the
centre which was stolen from William
Watterson st. Leonard, an aristocratic
young Englishman, in the depot of the
Northwestern railroad last Saturday night,
brought to light one Of the most romantic
and strangest of stories.
Nine years ago the families of John
Klrby st. Leonard and John Fornby lived
in adjoining mansions in Kensington, West
London. Both families were aFistocratio
and moved in high society. The two men
were partners in a banking business, and
the members of their families were on the
closest terms of intimacy.
Young st. Leonard declared his love for
Mr.. Fornby's daughter, Mabel, about ten
years ago, and the two became engaged to
be married. The Young lovers had two
little looSets made, each with pearl in the
center. Each swore to keep the trinkeu
until death.
About six months before the wedding was
to take place the firm failed. Mr.. st. Leon
ard, half wild with excitement, attributed
the failure to his partners bad speculati1ns,
and, ticking all the money that remained,
about $40, 900, disappeared, leaving his wife
and only son. The same day, Fornby, with
only few dollars in his pocket, aCcompan-
led by his motherless daughter, also disap-
peared. By strange coincidence all three
engaged passage on a sailing vessel which
was bound for New York.
The vessel was well under way before st.
Leonard discovered chat his former partner
and daughter were his fellow passengers
a stormy scene ensued. The next day it
was reported that old st. Leonard in some
mysterious way had fallen overheard No
one suspected that a crime had been COM
mitted.
Arrived in America Fornby commenced
to speculate, and in a short time he found
himself penniless. He deserted his daugh-
ter, who drifted from one city TO another,
dong whatever she could to earn living.
Fornby gradually sank lower and lower
until he became almost a beggar, and was
compelled to seek Bowery lodging houses
for shelter. II was in one of
these places that his life ended.
Watched by young Irishman named
Barnard O'Brien, who occupied an adioln-
ing cot, his life passed away. Before
be died he told the young Irishman the
story of his life and how he murdered his
old partner and threw him into the sea. His
daughter was the only witness OF the crime.
Shortly after the disappearance of the
elderly st. Leonard his wife died, and the
son, left alone started for America to search
for his father and Mabel Fornby. He had
ulatlons made him the possessor of a snug
fortune. One day he advertised for valet.
Among the applicants for the place was
Barnard O'Brien, and he was engaged.
A little over year ago, while with his
master In Hamilton, Bermuda, the young
Irishman died On his deathbed he related
to ST. Leonard the strange story told to him
by the dying man in the BJwery lodging
house. This was the first Information young
ST TnoDard had laaT-pad of his fatb Ha
had never ceased to search for Mabel Fornby,
and now he determined to find her. He ad-
vertised far and wide, and a few days ago
the efforts of nine years were crowned with
success. He learned that she was lying very
i'll i'll a pOverty-stricken abode in the town
of Elgin, III. He fastened to Chicago, and
shortly before o'clock last Saturday night,
while he was waiting for train in the depot
of the Northwestern railroad, thief
snatched his locket from his watch chain
and ran.
st. Leonard arrived in Elgn not min
ute too soon, for whe I he reached the house
where Mabel Fornby lay she was near TO
death. With much difficulty he obtained
permission TO SEQ her. She did not recog-
nize him. and when he told her who he was
she feebly asked to see the mate to her
locket. She refused to believe his story of
the theft, and died shortly afterward The
loss of the little locket made his search of
nine long years fruitless.
st. Leonard returned to Chicago early last
evening and went to the Northwestern
depot to see if the employees had heard any
thing of his stolen locket. He also inquired
at the Central station and the Harrison
street station, but the police had not cap
tured the thief or recovered the little gold
locket. He left Chicago for his home in
New York city last night.