The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-20
MAY YET END IN A TRAGEDY.
The Old Story of Woman's Weak
ness and Mans Perfidy.
The Unfortunate Heroine is Beautiful,
Accomplished and but Seventeen Years
of Age-Deciares She VIII Die Rather
Than Return Home-A Deep Mystery
Surrounds the Whole Affair.

when lovely woman stcops to folly.
they find too late that men betray," is q
truth that perhaps never was more
favorably illustrated than in romant tic
and sad story that came near ending,
and may yet end, in tragedy, which
reached its finale last night in this CITY.
The unhappy and unfortunate heroine
OF the story is Rebekah Clements, the
beautiful seventeen year old daughter
OF Robert Clements, who resides two and
half miles from Lynchburg, in Camp.
bel! county, near Tyrelana Church.
More than month ago the aged
father was informed by married lsdv
that the daughter, Rebekah. and her
husband were unduly intimate. Mr..
Clements accused the girl of this and
reproached her for her conduct. She
bitterly denied 1t all and the affair blew
over. -Four weeks ago the girl went TO
church one night and never returned.
She was as completely missing as if she
had dropped out of existence. INQUIRIES
were made for her everywhere and the
police force OF every city in the State
were on the alert.
Several days ago Chief Terry dis.
covered that there was girl answering
her description going by the name of
Alice May, working as a domestic at
the homo of r. A. Wright, at $40 Salem
avenue. He called to see her, and as
she fairly we'll filed the description of
the missing Rebekah Clements he at
oncs notified the chief of police of
Lynchburg. who gave the letter 70
Robert Clements.
Mr.. Clements came to Roanoke on the
evening train yesterday and was taken
to Mr.. Wright's home. He at once
recognized in Alice May his lost daugh-
ter. The scene between them was
affecting and pitiable The tear drops
rolled down the furrowed cheeks of the
old man, and he could only exclaim:
MY daughter; oh, my daughter!r The
girls conste rnation and misery were
intense She went into Mysteries and
was soon in semi-unconscious state.
but would rally at intervals.
She was firm in her declaration that
she would never, never go home, and
would Kill herself il they persisted in
trying to force her. She said she would
die thousand limos before she would
tell who persuaded her away from the
paths of rectitude. When her father
asked II 1T was the married man in cues
ton she said no and would repeat that
she would kill herself.
Mr.. A. Wright told reporter last
night that the girl came to his house
month ago and wanted employment She
has since that time proved herself TO be
an agreeable and accomplished servant.
she Is pretty, petite and fairly we'll
educated. In speaking her accent shows
That she has been associated with cul-
tured people. No one has called to see
her except once. Last Sunday week q
young man from Lynchburg, who gave
his Dame as May, called on her and
spent about one hour in the parlor with
her. Mr. Clements says she has acknowl-
edged this to be young widower in
Lynchourg, who works in the bank
mills, named Landlord, who sometimes
associated with her before her depar-
ture from home.
1t has also transpired that the girl has
an aunt in this city. Mrs Rosa v.
Critzer, who lives near Crystal spring.
Last night Mr.. Clements, Chief Terry,
Sergeant Griffin, and the girls aunt,
tried to arouse her to take her to LYNCH
burg on the late train, but failing to
AWAKEN her sufficiently they started to
take her to her aunt's home in this city.
but on consultation with DR.. Gale, who
hastily examined her on the street, it
was thought best to carry her to the
Home for the Sick, where she now is.
DR.. Gale said it was more than likely
that the unhappy girl had taken some
opiate, hoping to end her existence, and
advised thatshe be kept awake all night.
deep mystery surrounds the whole
affair and although her father has no
hesitancy in saying that he thinks the
married man mentioned betrayed his
daughter, the visit of the young man
who claimed to BIO he- cousin looks
suspicious and by her strong determine
ton not to go home it may be that She
has lover in Roanoke.
At late hour last night abe was
resting comfort ably at the Home for the
Sick.
SAILED FOR HOME.