Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-29
EDGAR MYSTERY.
OS2 OF TEE SIRASeET OLSzS KNOWN TO
EEW YORK.
Death Following Death as Steps in a Conspiracy
Which Began in London, and Whose Dire
Efscs Are Not Yet Endsd-A
Remarkable Story.

~ - gN1A CinOC IL.
Edgar, the English surgeon and physi-
clan, was found dead at the Getty
House at Yonkers. A few months
later a young man, said to be his
nephew, George H. Edgar, was found
dead at the Astor House In New York.
According to the verdict he had COM
mitted suicide. Since the day Of the
Yonkers tragedy, October 81, 1890,
"the Edgar mystery" as it has
been called, has been the subject
Of editorials aud columns of conflicting
stories. Until now it has remained
an unfathomed mystery, the police
being unable to find the first clue to the
case. Now, however, the veil of dark
ness is torn aside by one OF the Edgar
family, who UniOlds one of the Strang-
est chapters Of crime that ever baflled
the police Of two continents. This man
Is no other than John III. Edgar,
brother of George r. Edgar, who was
found dead in tho Getty house, at Yon-
kerS, and an uncle Of George III. Edgar,
the Aston house suicide. He has lived
for years in New York under an assum-
ed name and knew Of the deaths of his
brother and nephew, but could not come
forward and claim them because by so
doing he would cause suffering TO inno-
cent people.
According TO the story OF John II.
Edgar, who at last tells in part tue story
that hes lain hidden behind these two
strange deaths, the greatest tragedy In
the history OF the sO-called Edgar fami-
ly occurred in London in 1856. About
that time one Robert Rowe, alleged alias
tombstone, alleged alias Abrahams, a
relative OF the EdCarS, druggist, a
chemist, diamond expert and nOtori-
OnS Spectator In stocks and financial
paper, was then concerned with one of
the Edgars I'm a colossal transaction with
q London financial man who has been
known 81 Henderson. 1t is said that
Mr. Henderson realized a large sum at
the expense Of the EdgarS, who were
associated with q man named Milton
Kavansgd, alias Lavender. lie became
interested with two Of the Edgars, who
were living In LondOn-GeOrge r., who
died az YOnkers, and George u. Edgar,
who committed suicide ut the AstOr
House, February 3, 1890.
THE ARCH-CoNsPIRAToR
Kavanagh's scheme was TO recover
the alleged lost money. To prepare the |
way 10 accomplish this end, reports |
we're circulated that Mr.. Henderson |
and hiS family were soon to sail for the |
United States TO escape financial diff !
culties in which ne was involved. |
Kavanagh-Or rather the man who has |
passed under his name-took lodgings |
with the HeuderSOns, while some of the
Edgars occupied the house adjoining.
1t was here, In the house Of the Hen
dersons, that the great tragedy oc
Cured. One night Mr.. Henderson and
his wife were drugEed. and 1t is alleged
that, either Intentionally or by acct
dent, an overdose of chlorOfOrm or
some other drug was given. The re-
suit was fatal. The property, consist
ing Of bonds and English money, was
secured by the arch-cOnSpiratOr, Kava-
nagh, and the bodies of Mr.. Henderson
and wife were carried to the adjoining |
house and then temporarily buried In |
the basement.
The daughter Of Mr.. Henderson, who |
has been known as Gabrielle, was a /
beautiful girl, who had been paying a |
visit 70 friends ia the country and knew |
only by reports Of her fathers business |
transactions. One morning Kavanagh |
appeared and told her that through |
financial embarrassment her father and |
mother had Ged the country and gone 10 |
the United States. They had left word |
for Gabrielle 70 follow IN company with |
Kavanagh. The EdgarS, IL is claimed, |
sailed for America first, and were i'm |
mediately followed by the crafty Kava-
nagh and the beautiful Gabrielle Hen
derson. Rowe also came to America. |
On their arrival in New York they
Joined the Edgars, and presently II was
discovered that the chief actor in the
party, Kavanagh, was a master In the
art OF 6lackman and extortlon. He
PLAYED his secret against the secrets OF
the EdgarS, and, they having plenty OF
money, he was in clover, BE had no
difficulty In forcing himself upon the
Edgars with his beautiful charge. They
took fiat on the West Side and Miss
Henderson was installed as hOusekeeper
under the belief that 10 was her fathers
wish, Kavanagh telling her that her
parents were In hiding out West. So
the girl lived on I'm hope and terror
until the tragedy at YOnkers occurred
and the evidences of drugging and rob-
berv appeared In all the newspapers.
This, I'm connection with what Miss
Henderson CHANGED TO Overhear during
secret conversations at the fiat, unveil-
Cd her ewes. The awful truth burst
upon her that her parents had been
murdered by those pretending TO be her
friends. The alleged protector became
revolving, but the girl made no sign and
opietlY set 10 work 10 free herself from
the influence and power Of Kavanagh.
lie still used every art TO maintain his
hold on her and keep her In sight. She
WINS alert, however, and shortly after
ward-that was year agO-diSappear-
ed from the fiat and sought a home in
city not far from New York, prepare
tory to taking steps for Furnishing the
murderers Of her father.
MURDER AND SUICIDE.
These and other facts, which will APP
pear later on, explain n motive FOR the
murder and suicide OF the Edgars.
They had been Swallowed from city TO
CITY by gang of cOnspirators, headed
nv a cold, implacable desperate posing
a. a gentleman OF birth and education.
Jobn II. Edgar hSd reasons for not APP
nearing on the scene wheS his brother
was murdered. He had reasons for not
coming into public notice and establish
ine his identity when his nephew COM
noitted suicide at the Aston House, and
10th were buried without sign frpm
the family. Ii will be remembered
that Perria II. Sumner identified both
men, besides Wright and Ruttinger.
and thereby gained the soorlquet OF
r---so,.,l f1oDffGar Ha SDaDr