Evening journal., 1894-12-15
A MARRIAGE MYSTERY.
The Bridegroom Insane, and the
Bride Is Missing.
MINISTER PLEDGED TO SECRECY.

William A. coutant Of Newburg, n. Y, Was
Welded to an Unknown Woman, Left Her
After the Ceremony and the Next Day
Became Violently Insane.
NEwBURG, n. ", Dec. 15.-wiriam A.
Coutant, Jr., Of the firm Of w. A. Coutant
a Son, grocers In this city, who is intor-
ested In real estate speoulations In Boston.
went TO Poughkeopsie on Wednesday and
registered at the Nelson House. A short
time afterward he left the hotel In a cab.
returning little later with a handsome
and stylishly dressed young woman and
another couple.
The Rov. @. II. Snodeker, pastor of tho
Methodist church Of Poughkeepsie. arrived
In few minutes and wooded Mr.. Coutant
and the young woman. The name Of the
bride was not made public, and the clergy
man was requested not to publish the
usual wedding announcement. The bride
was said not to be resident Of Pough-
keepsle
When reporter called upon Mr.. Will
liam A. Coutant, the father OF the young
man. and asked him the name Of his son q
bride, he said he did not know 1t. 1t has
since come 70 light that she wns Miss Min
ME Vaughan.
Miss Maud Coutant's face saddenod, and
it was with difficulty that she repressed
tears whom speaking OF tho affair. She
said that William was violently i'll at tho
house Of their father, under whose personal
care he was. She understood that William
had been married, but did not know the
name of his bride, ns even In his dclirium
he had not mentioned It,
Kept His Secret Wen.
Miss Coutant said that the members OF
her family did not know that William In
tended to get married, or that ho had
kept company" with any young woman.
After the ceremony on Wednesday evening
he and his bride came TO this city. They
were driven in a cab TO tho home OF the
Coutants. William left the cab and enter
ed the house, but the young woman was
driven away again.
He remained at the house all night. and
the other members OF the family noticed
that he acted strangely before retiring. It
appeared 20 them that his mind was affect
Cd Thursday morning when he arose he
said he was going to New York. He start
ed for that city on morning train, with
the apparent intention of joining his bride.
Miss Coutant added that Friday morn
ing In response TO request from her ia
ther, DR. E. H. Borst of this city started
for New York to bring her brother home,
as word had been received that he was
there insane. AT noon the physician
brought him home Miss Coutant did not
know whore the doctor had found her
brother, but was under tho impression
that It was on train between NewburR
and New York She did not know the
whereabouts Of her brothers. wife, nor did
sho know the identity Of the young man
and young woman who were present at
the ceroNony.
Who Is Minnie Vaughan?
A man who is to tako care Of the strlck-
en- bridegroom has arrived at the Coutant
homo The young man is violent and Is
restrained by force. II his condition does
not soon improve, steps will ho taken to
have him cared for In an institution.
No such person as Minnie Vaughan is
known TO have lived in this city There Is
a mystery back Of the whole affair, and
only the appearance Of tho bride will tend
to clear II up. The patient frequently calls
out for Shorty, which is believed to bo
used as an endearing term for her.
II is not known that William A. Cou-
tant, Jr., has lost money in his Boston
Land company speculations, but it is fear
ed that no has lie is handsome young
man, 20 years old, of fine figure and pres
ence He has long been member Of
Trinity Methodist Episcopal church Of this
city in which he has also been an usher.
He was for several years an active worker
in the Ncwburg Y. NJ. G. A., but recently
had ceased participation in its work.