St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-14
IS GAINSFORD ALIVE :?
A Strange Story Of a Man
Long Since Thought to
Be Dead.
The Story Of the Escapade Of
May Ogburn Vividly Re-
called.
L. w. Davidson, Of Cincinnati,
Claims to Have Met Gains
ford in indianapolis.
A Yarn Which at Least Has
the Merit Of Being Very
Readable.

Newspaper readers will remember the
sensation which was occaSioned in Gin
cinnati seven years ago by the incidents
which followed the supposed death of
Arthur GainsfOrd, wealthy carriage
manufacturer of that city. He had, as
the story went at that time, been for
some wears enamored by May Ogburn,
whom he met in Minneapolis, subse-
quently taking her to Cincinnati, where
he installed her in regal style in the
house of Josephine Woods. Ho was eX-
tremely jealous of her, and went into a
rage whenever he heard that she was
bestowlng her smiles and favors on any
other men. The rich lover finally de-
cided to 20 to Europe and take May
with him, and thus get her out of the
reach of the Establishments of the young
fellows in this city.
The couple went to England and there
for several weeks lived at the top of the
heap. From there they moved to Glas-
gov, living at fashionable hotel as
man and wife. Under the peculiar
laws of that country man and woman
who live together as man and wife and
hold themselves out as such are cOnSid-
cred so, just as though they were
legally married by a minister OF the
publication of bans. So it came about
that when he died May set up the claim
that she was his widow, and finally
secured from the estate $12, 200 in settle
ment.
Was 1t His COrpsea
When Gainsford died the relatives
telegraphed to have the body sent home,
and it came to this country in a sealed
casket. 1t was remarked at the time as
singular thing that no one saw the
corpse. The coffin was never opened,
ana tue supposed corpse was Inferred
i'll Spring Grove cemetery i'll November,
1855. Now, six years after, Arthur
Gainsford Is supposed to be quietly
sleeping in his grave, the charge is
made that he is alive and living in In
dianapolis. He was man of peculiar
habits and manners. He was nervous,
wiry, active fellow, who, once seen
would never be forgotten. The story OF
the reappearance and recognition is told
in following special dispatch to the
Cincinnati Enquirer from Indianapolis.
The story in brief is that l.. w. David
son. of Cincinnati, met man In res
taurant who so resembled Galnsford
that Davidson SAID to him:
Are you no. MIR. Gainsford-Arthur
GainsfOrd, OF CINCINNATI"
The patty addressed drawled out:
"What is the matter?"
elf Arthur Gainsford is not dead, you
are that man," was The response, as Mr..
Davidson looked him sQuarely in the
face.
There was another pause, possibly
not so long, and then the stranger
equally as slowly answered:
My name is Gainsford. Let us sit
down. When did you come to this
city?"
Mr.. Davidson, who is in the employ
of the Consumers Gas Trust company,
replied to his questlOnings, and then
again said to him:
You do not deny that you are Arthur
Gainsford?"
For reply Mr.. Gainsford said:
Ibid you ever know this Gainsford?
Are you sure he is dead? Did you ever
see his body?"
Eventually the stranger rose to his
feet abruptly and said:
''rell them in Cincinnati you saw the
finest, liveliest corpse of Anrthur Gals
ferd ever known. Tell them that Ar
thur is alive and has got plenty OF
money"
With that he abruptly closed the con.
versation and stalked out of the door
His manner indicated that he would
submit to no further questioning, and
MIR. Davidson was too much startled by
the meeting to think of following him
until he was lost in the crowd. How
ever, Mr.. Davidson is convinced beyond
all possible mistake that he saw ano
talked with Mr. Gainsford, whose dis
appearance seven years ago caused 6
profound sensation in Cincinnati.