St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-14
Brings to Light a Romantic
Story Of a Scion Of the
French Nobility.
A Poverty-Stricken Organ
Grinder, He Lived a Pc
culiap Life.
Fearing Imprisonment for
Crime, the Exiled Aris-
toerat Suicides.
A Railroads Suit Against an
Employe Reacts in Queer
Style.

BOSTON, May ia sensational story
lies behind this mornings news of the
suicide of Charles street Jail inmate,
Pierre Morain, who there committed
suicide that he might escape a long i'm
prisonmeut for his crime, his partner in
which was a young Boston girl. The
girl, Mary Reagan, claimed to be under
fourteen years of age, aid is now in
the House of the Good Shepherd.
Thursday. April 80, complaint was made
to The police that Mary Reagan, adopted
daughter of James Reagan, was miss
ing. Patrolman j. J. DriScoll, after
an extended Investigation, ascer-
tanned the existence of very pc.
culiar condition of affairs in the
house, 55 Oswego street. On the two
upper floors lived Morain, who was the
object of much speculation by the
neighbors. Early in the morning he
used to creep out from his abode. bear
ing on his back dilapidated hand
organ of the style known as the organ
cite, and make his way to prominent
position in front of the Cranberry
burying place, where all day he ground
out wheezy melody. He was the object
OF much attention on the part of
Passing PhiIanthrOpfsts,
and each night, laden with coppers and
larger coins, he returned to his lodg-
ingS. 1t was said at the time that he
had history, and this became noised
around. From the investigation of the
police it appears that he cane to this
country years ago. and belonged to the
celebrated Morain family of France.
His father was count under the
old French aristocracy. From the prom
inent part he took to the oppOsi-
ton to the advance of republicanism
he met the inevitable fate of loss of
title and ruinouS depreciation of prop
erty. At the time of his death in the
Charles street Jail Morain was sixty-five
years old. Although his general APP
pearance indicated much greater age.
Soon after he took the rooms on OsWego
street, where he was known to have led
hermit life, it was alleged that. not
withstanding his humble income, he
was able to stock his room with French
wines, and that many of his visitors
were girls of tender years. Patrolmen
DriScoll and Desmond on the night of
April 80 entered the old mans rooms
after meeting some opposition from the
occupants. MOrain fell on his knees
and with tears implored them not to
take him away. In the rear room was
found the Reagan girl weeping pro-
fusely. The policemen closely queS-
toned them, and the girl said, the po-
lice allege, that she
Loved the Old Man
and did not want to leave. She said she
was sixteen years old. The officers
describe the girl as exceptionally hand
some. The most startling phase of the
case was developed in the municipal
court the next morning. The parents of
the girl testified that she was less than
fourteen years of age and expressed a
desire that the law which the announce
ment of this fact would make operative
should be exercised against the aged
prisoner. The judge, after consultation
with the officers and parents. sentenced
the girl to the House of the Good Shop
herd. The Judge bound Morain over in
the sum of $1,000 to await the action of
| the grand jury. He should have APP
| peared before that body last Monday.
! Sheriff O'Brien said last night that the
old man had become very downcast
over the turn affairs had taken. and
when he became cognizant of the fact
that the crime for which he was held
might involve a sentence of twenty
years or life Imprisonment, he was ut
terly overcome. He wore a skull cap.
under which his head was bound with
handkerchief. This handkerchief
with another furnished the means of
death. The bandana was used as a
moose, and another was torn into pieces
and tied to the cell door.