New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-14
ZELLA, THE VANISHING LADY.
SHE MAY BE AT SEA ON THE NOlMAN'lA
MR.. HOWE SAYS SHE is NOT. BUT MAY HAVE
BEEN DEcEIyED-DENIALs THAT HER
SUIT HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.

D'@-'N'-
SUIT HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.
Ever since Mrs. leila Nlcolaus began her su
to recover $4,000 from George J. Gou!d all sort'
Of stories have been afioat, OF which some nave
proved to be true and others have been denied as
| false The main facts of Mrs. Nicolaus's career
and character have been pretty well established
! but there remains the mystery as to the founda
/ ton. IL there be any. which she brought hei
| suit.
A statement was published yesterday that Mrs
! Nicolaus and A. Ruhman. who was appointed hei
guardian ad Item, had sailed for Europe the
Normanna as Mr.. and Mrs Harris. and that the
suit against Mr. Gould had been compromised
and withdrawn. Herald reporter saw Mr.
IIummel, of Howe & Hummel Mrs. Nicolaus';
counsel, accompany the alleged Mr.. and Mrs
Harris on board the Normannia on Tuesday. and
he succeeded in obtaining an interview with the
woman, in which she said that she going away
and had withdrawn her suit
There a distinct feeling of relief when the
story OF Mrs. Ncolauss departure became public
Her antics and hide-and-seek tactics had kept the
public on tiptoe until 1t became tired and 1t was
quite willing to say goodby to her. And then
the public turned to consider its own business.
when. presto came up Mr.. Howe and Mr.. Hum,
mel. saying Dear public, you are mistaken.
leila has not gone away on the Normannia. She
has not withdrawn her suit Her affairs Will con-
tinue to be on exhibition and she will so a.
heretofore playing the part of the vanishing lady.
Information about her can only be obtained from
Mr.. Gould, who says he doesn't know anything
about her, at our office. Howe & Hummel.
Cenre-st, across the street from the Tombs, and
we shall tell you each day only enough to whet
your appetite and keep up your interest"
What, leila. not gone! The public could not be-
eve its own ears and eyes The suit not settled!
Surely there must be some mistake. How could Mr..
Gould have served his country better? Messrs Howe
& Hummcl be mistaken Howe x. Hummel
began the suit in good faith. of course. and per-
haps Mr.. Gould suggested or celia insisted that
these lawyers be not informed until later of the
settlement. After the affair had blown over they
coud stop the proceedings in court with less pro-
fessional chagrln. 1t would be rather hard on
Them 10 cheat them out of good trial and let
kinder TO them to settle up and tell Mr.. Howe and
NJ Mrr Hummel about it later in case zella and
thoughtful, yes, magnanimous, Of leila to SO away
they had not ' been deceived , Mr. Hamme i could
not be seen when Tribune reporter called at his
invited N the seoE pOTteT Into h , Prvas office
lished about her 1t was an affecting scene. The
seDGFsa M wo bu BY he o
quent criminal lawyer. whose legal experience with
ana ha ry he ycea no Hay
been mistaken He said that Mr.. Hummel did go
was positive that the lady was not Mrs Nicoiars
Neither Mrs. Nicolaus nor Mr.. Ruhman her guard
an ad Item. had set foot the Normannia. The
fair plaintiff might be in Canada or in his Office
or on the Vastly deep in some other ship. but she
was not on the Normanna.
Mr.. Howe equally certain that Zela had
not withdrawn her suit. Not one penny had been
received by him as compromise, not penny
mad been offered by Mr. Gould: no suggestion had
come 10 him that the suit would be Withdrawn
or settled out Of court. oh. AS TO the story
that Louis Allen employe OF the firm. had gone
shopping with Mrs Nicolaus. II preposterous.
Allen had been discharged for dishonesty last June.
Mr. Howe seemed to feel II keeny that such utterly
Improbable rumors should have got abroad.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Eowe's emotion. there were
people 10 be found yesterday who firm in
the belief that Mr.. Howe, and perhaps his fellow
partners; had been wlckedy imposed upon. and that
careful watch of the courts during the next four
months would disclose the fact that the suit OF
leila Nicolaus to recover $4,000 from George j.
Gould had been quietly Withdrawn.
George J. Gould when asked By Tribune re-
porter with regard TO the story Of the compromise
said: Il have not read the story and know nothing
about it. 1t Is not that have made settle
ment compromise in the Nicolhus case My
counsel Mr.. Cochran. is expected here next Mon
day. and will consult with him. and be prepared
TO push the case TO fnalty In the regular course
of proceeding"
Police-Supernten1ent Byrnes declared that he did
not know If Mrs. Nicolaus had left the city. file
said: IF there has been any settlement OF her suit
don't know of it,.