Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-01-11
ROMANCE UNCOVERED.
Sensational Sequal to a Mysterious
Assault

New York, Jan. 1.-THE mystery
surrounding the assault upon pretty
May Barrowclifie in Jersey City has
brought to light a mystery in her own
life, I; strange story that it romantic.
even melo-dramatic: 4 story SO i'm
probable that reading it in Il novel or
seeing it upon the stage, one would
smile ut the wild flight Of the author
ina gination Miss Barrowcliffe is 4
beautiful young woman of about II,
and for several Years has been Il favor
ite in Jersey City society, particularly
III that devoted to church work. She
had supposed herself and her friends
supposed her to be an orphan.
Last Saturday morning rs she was
crossing Il vacant lot in the suburbs
she was assaulted by some person as
yet unknown. A few minutes later
she was found lying in a pool of blood.
was taken to the Jersey City hospital,
where she has since lain in comatoSe
condition. 1t is thought that when
she RECEIVERS her powers she will be
able to tell who her assailant is.
Today rather handsome lady of
about 80 years. dressed in an elegant
manner, called at the office of the
warden of the hospital, and in Il most
solicitous manner inquired concerning
! Miss Barrowcliffes condition So
anxious was she that the warden be
| came suspicious, and questioned her
closely, whereupon she told this story
! Mr.. Barrowcliffe, the young lady S
| father, died two years ago; his wife
! the woman May had been taught to
| believe was her mother. died in 1880
| This woman, however, was step
! mother, a fact that none of the young
lady'S friend knew. Her father mar
ried in England, which was his OWL
country, tWenty-SiN years ago, anG
| when he came to America twenty fOul
years ago. he brought wife and his
| girl baby, May. In 1873, when May
was about four years Old, her father
| got 4 divorce from her mother and
with his little Girl went to England
The first Mrs. Barrowcliffe went
away from Jersey City and disap
peared.
Mr.. BarrowcIiffe married again il
England within q year or so and lived
| there for some time. He sent word tC
the wife from whom he was divorced
that her child was dead. The first Mrs
| Barrowclffe thought that this was
true. and. having no claim upon hcl
former husband and no reason fol-
keeping him in view, lost sight of him
! Mr.. Barr Wcliffe came back to Jcr
sey City with his second wife and his
little girl A few people knew the
truth, but almost all who knew Mr.
and Mrs. Barrowcliffe thought thai
May was the child of their marriage
The second Mrs. BarrOWcliffe never
had any children Of her own and grew
to love May and TO think of her as
her own daughter. AS for May, she
forgot all about her own mother an(
never knew that she called the SECOND
Mrs. BarrOwcliffe mother she was call
! ing her by name to which another
woman and she only had a right.
When she comes out of the stupol
into which she has sunk, those who
| seek a revelation of the mystery o.
her aSSailant will have a greater myS
terry to give her i'll return for it, III
unSuSpected romance in her own life
The first Mrs. BarOWclffe never mar
ri6d again. With the money giveT
her by Mr.. BarroWclitfe she made some
real estate Investments which proved
fortunate. Other ventures also result
ed to her gain so that now she says
she is a woman of more than moder
ate means. She has not been allowed
as yet to see her daughter, but she
has given orders that all her wants
be anticipated and that the best OF
nurses and physicians he employed.
1T is thought that Miss Barrowcliffe
will at least partially regain conscious
! ness soon.