The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-27
SENSATIONAL STORY
OF the Desertion of a Bride by a
Fairmont Lawyer.
HESAYSTaE TALEgFALsE lND0LI
Tho story as Prlnted in St. Louis and
his Denial.--A Missouri Girl tho Al
legged VICTIM OF his Peculiar Com
duot-..It may be . Nero Sensational
Version.

penred IN the Oh LOUIE GWVe-0eHtVSFut
one day last week:
A story Of a pretty bride, deserted al
most Mt the altar By man who had
won her love, is now in circulation
here. 1t is remarkable not only on ae-
count Of the prominence Of the, parties
involved aud the apparent heartless-
ness of the groon's act, but also of the
mystery With which tho affair is en-.
shrouded.
The girl in tho caseiu the handsome
and accomplished niece Of Mrs. 8. ].
Edwards, an ex,sehool teacher Of Kirk
wood, and the man who has wantonly
caused her SO much grief gave his name
as "Lee P. Watson OF Fairmont, W..
Va. The family Of that name living in
Fairmont Ia ono Of fine social standing
in the community, the father Of Lee P.
Watson being a man OF considerable
wealth and prominence. Lee P. Wat
son is related BY marriage 10 Gov. A.
Brooks Fleming. IL is possible that
some one may have personated young
NHIHpuN WIZ I'D q hAdIAAGA bhb Az
defense Of that kind Is set mp.
The man who successfully wooed the
Kirkwood girl frat met her in the East
at one Of the watering places while abe
was yet q student at Vassar. She had
already. graduated from the University
ofMisseurt They became great irienda
and kept up o regular correspondence,
and he FINELY proposed marriage and
was accepted. Mrs. Edwards niece had
in tho meantime graduated from Vassar
and accepted q position las teacher Of
physical culture at Washington, Mo.
Watson represented himself to be an
attorney for the Baltimore & Ohio
railroad, IN elder OF the Presbyterian
Church at Fairmont, w. Va, and an ex-
Judge OF the supreme court. He was
about 3S years old and said he was a
man of means, and apparently his state
ments were accepted without question,
for preparations were made for the mar
rage, which was to come off June l.
The young lady's brothers sent her
money for her trousseau. and quite an
elaborate outfit was prepared at Van
deryoores.
In due time a letter came announcing
the time he was expected TO arrive in
st. Louis, and making an appointment
to meet her at the Union depot on May
IA, where, everything being in readt-
ness, they were to DO driven to the
nearest clergyman, get married and
start at once on their wedding tour.
When the day for her lovers arrival
came the young lady was on the ground
promptly at the appointed hour, but
the train was not, There had been
some >.elay and the train was several
hours late. She waited patiently until
II arrived and was rewarded by the ap-
pearance Of her aftianced. He appeared
somewhat excited and embarrassed,
however, and acted rather strangely
until he found courage to speak out
boldly and explain the cause oil his en-
bartassment to his intended bride. It
appears from the story related by tho
would-be bridegroom that he had been
the victim OF . series Of misfortunes
while en- route to the place whore he
waa to meet the future partner Of his
Joys. BE had experienced some diff
Guilty in collecting a fee OF 5000 which
he had recently earned, and had drawn
heavily ON bis bank account in Fair
mont, W. Va, and hurried on to keep his
engagement hero. lie stopped over
night in Cincinnati, where he had in
his haste to catch an early train got up
and left his gold watch and all his
money under tho pillow Of the bed in
the hotel, arriving here entirely out OF
funds. The explanation was per-
fectly satisfactory TO the lady. who
being we'll supplied with means,
forced upon him loan Of $50, which he
reluctantly accepted, giving in exchange
his check for the amount on the
National Bank Of Fairmount. Appar-
emily this has been honored. He pro-
posed m immediate marriage, as he
said he had to return 10 Fairmount but
the marriage license Office was closed
for the day He then urged that they
take the train East and marry on tho
way, but she refused TO do that and
went to the house Of friends in this
city, Two days later he left the city,
after bidding her good-by, saying he
had GONE very pressing legal business
that required his immediate presenCeat
Fairmont, but promised 70 return June
and get married,
On the day before the day fixed for
the wedding, the young lady received 9
letter from hor lover, dated at tho Metro
poIitan Hotel, New York. May rs, stat
ing that he was there very III. and
that he would not be able TO come west
ut the appointed time. The young lady
became frantic with grief, and would
have gone to him, believing him to be
dangerously III, but her friends, who
were lees credulous, interpoSed their
objections and prevented what appear.
cd to them a very rash proceeding. The
gentlemnn's actions had aroused their
suDpiCions "a to his sincerity, and In
vesiiRalion proceedings were instituted
to ascertain his real character and pur-
poses A telegram was sent to the
clerk Of the Metropolitan Hotel, inquir-
ing about Mr.. Watson, and an imme-
date reply received stating that he was
not, and had not been, at that hotel
and was not known there. Since then
nothing has been hoard from Mr.. Wat
son, and the young lady, whose alice
tons have been 40 cruellytrifed with, is
still with her friends hero, almost bro
kenhearted with despair.
Ar. Edwards autographed to tho Pres
byterian minister at Fairmont, who an
swered that Watson was not an elder,
and that he was q married man with
several children.
The only word received by the Globe
Democrat from Fairmont in answer to
frequent requests for information was
the following peculiar dispatch:
Special Dispatch 70 ne Globs Democrat
FAIRMoxr, W. VA, June lS-Mr.
Watson was asked about the st. Louis
chor,n nr.oi,,,t ki,, and so;d. HTha