The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-07-30
Almost q Fatal Case of Mistaken Iden-
tifY.

CHICAGO, July lo.-hecently JUN y
DeGaris, well known young busines;
man of Milwaukee, registered with hi
bride at the fremont house here. One
day they attended the Washington narl
races, returning somewhat late to the
hotel and retiring at once to their room
Without the slightest suspicion or
their part private detective had follow
ed them from the race track. Of the
elevator.man the spy inquired to what
room the couple had gone and learned
that they had gotten off at the third floor
This meager information he at once
communicated to his employer, who was
no other than John ]. Coughlin, the vel
known owner of string Of horses which
is now at Washington Park, and the pro-
prietor of the Turkish bath establishment
under the Brevoort house. Presently
Coughlin appeared at the hotel, and with
visible embarrassment, but with an all
of candor that commanded sympathy told
his story.
at the races, he said, he had seen hi.
wife in the company of stranger, with
whom she appeared to be decidedly init
mate, and even affectionate. a detective
whom he had employed located them al
the fremont. Would the hotel people
help him to find them?
They would, and they did. The third
floor was carefully searched for the
guilty couple. Every room with light
in it was entered, but the people wanted
were not found.
As Mr.. Coughlin was excitedly pacing
up and down the hotel rotunda, at his
wits end to know what to do next, Mr..
De Garis descended the stairway to the
Office.
"There's the man. What's the scoun-
drel's namef ?" whispered Coughlin to the
clerk.
He was told.
"You are Mr.. De Garis, believe"
said Coughlin to the Milwaukean as be
came up to the desk.
~ am"
"Well, sir, you have my wife in your
room, and I insist upon seeing her at
once"
Mr.. DeGaris was for a moment struck
dumb with astonishment. Then be
opened his mouth to deny the. charge,
but was not allowed to proceed.
81 know what I am talking about, "
exclaimed Mr.. Ccughlin. II saw you
with your arm around her waist at the
races, and detective has followed you
to this house. Great God, man, don't
you suppose I know my own wife? l
stood within ten feet Of you this after
noon, and there is no hope of mistake.
I tell you I will not leave this house
without her."
Mr.. De Garis maintained his compos-
ure. He insisted that Mr.. Coughlin was
mistaken, and asked if the latter's wife
had been at home the night before.
Coughlin admitted that she had. De
Garis then called the entire Office force
to prove that he and his companion had
been at the hotel for the three previous
nights. Still Mr.. Coughlin WAS far from
satisfied.
"I'd take you up, and by introducing
you to my wife prove that she isn't
yours" said Mr.. De Garis. pathetically,
"But the trouble is I've only been mar
ried four days, and don't want to spring
this sort of a thing on her just at the
start. Now, isn't there some one you
could call in who knows your wife and
could tell whether or not this is she OF
not"
There we're many such persons, and
Mr. Coughlin agreed to leave the ques-
tion TO such a settlement.
A boy at Coughlin's place was sent for
On his arrival it was decided that he
should impersonate bell boy and carry
up pitcher of ice water to Mr.. De Ga
ris's room, where be would take care
full look at its occupant.
The plan was carried out, and the boy
returned with the positive statement
that the woman was Mrs. Coughlin. He
saw her every day, aud could not be
mistaken.
at this stage of the proceedings Mr.
Eden and his employees were in great
fear lest Mr.. Coughlin, who was evident
ly laboring under great though fairly
well suppressed agitation, should draw q
revolver and kill the suppressed Lotha-
rio. Happily this denouement was
aYerted.
It was presently decided to send the
boy again to the room and allow him to
enter into conversation with its occu.
pant, who was unconscious all this time
of the excitement she was causing below
On his return the second time the boy
said that he had been mistaken. The
face vas the same in every feature and
the dress was identical, but the voice was
not that of Mrs. Coughlin.
This report only served to increase
Ooughlin's indignation. He insisted
that the boy had been bribed. 1t vas
suggested that perhaps his wife was ell
this time retiring quietly at home, and
that he had better 60 there and discover
if this was not the case.
Coughlin, however, looked upon this
as a trap, believing that the woman
up stairs would be smuggled into cat
and arrive home before he could reach
there. He agreed, however, to an ar
rangement by which he should guard the
door to see that his wife did not leave
while the detective should visit his resi-
dence.
Tho dotaot;1o nraoont1y rofurno5 fror,