Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-24
A LIKELY VICTIM.
Davenport Interested in the
Holmes Murders.
JULIA C0NNOR LIVED THERE.

Afterward Moved to Muscatine-Her
Early Life and Associations-Asserti
and Contradictions Concerning Her G se
aad Circumstances.
Julia L. Connor, of Davenport,
was probably one of the innocent
number who was murdered by that
arch insurance swindler and murder
er. H. H. Holmes. She was the
daughter of MIR. and Mrs. A. Smythe,
who reside at 1918 LeClaire street,
that city. She was reared in Daven-
port, and years ago lived in Rock
Island; attended the city schools.
and for few years kept the books
in the grocery store run by her
father at the corner of Locust aud
Brady there. About thirteen years
ago she was married to F. l.. Con-
nor, Of Muscatine, and the couple
for time resided in that city. They
afterward moved to Columbus juno
ton, then TO Bradford, ILL.,. and fin
ally back to Muscatine. They occa-
sionally made visits to Davenport to
visit her parents and friends there
and on this side of the river. Their
married life, however, was not pleas
ant from the start. Common treated
his wife shamefully at times, and
but for the Intervention of his folk s
in Muscatine they would doubtless
have separated in that city. The
couple moved to Chicago and they
became acquainted with II. H.
Holmes, who was running a jewelry
and drug store combined. Holmes
gave Conner employment as gen.
eral clerk. and his wife, Julia, was
soon after employed in the store as
book-keeper. They worked for
Holmes about year, when he got
into trouble. Most of his stock was
unpaid for and he turned the bust
ness of the store over to Connor.
Holmes creditors finally succeeded
in getting the stock. Such was the
termination of the business dealings
Of Julia Connor and her husband so
far as any of her relatives here know.
The last time Julia Connor was in
Davenport, says the Democrat, was
about five years ago. She had left
her husband because of ill-treat-
ment, and had come to visit her par
ents and sisters for the last time.
She had q beautiful little daughter
aged about seven years, and she
stated that Common had been trying
to get the child away from her, and
the matter was causing her much
anxiety. She evidently felt sad over
the outcome of her marriage. and her
child she worshipped with mothers
devotion. The fear that Connor
would come and steal the child from
her caused her much unrest, and it
was wearing on her. She left her
folks, telling them as she went
away that she would hear from them,
but they would only hear from her
through others. 1t will be four
years next December since she wrote
to her parents, and neither they nor
her other relatives have heard any,
thing of her since. 1t is known that
after she left Davenport she located
in Englewood and kept a boarding
house. Connor got divorce on the
grounds, as he afterward told some
Muscatine friends, of desertion. This
is the story of Julia Connor, so far as
Davenport relatives and friends been
have able to trace it directly.
Mrs. Lyman b. Miner. Mrs. Abra-
ham MINER, of Davenport. and Mrs.
whose husband works in the
Moline Plow works, are sisters of the
supposed murdered woman. A.
MINER, of Chicago, who swore out
warrant charging Holmes with the
of his aunt, is a son of Abra-
ham Miner.
Watched With Intense Interest.
The Democrat of this morning
says: Tho developments in the
case will be watched with eager in
terest. The confession of Holmes in
regard to what has become of Mrs.
Conner will not be fully believed
until all efforts to find out whether
he murdered the woman have been
given up. tits apparent to one who
has talked with her mother here in
Davenport that Julia Conner was a
beloved daughter, and
that her absence and the matter of
her whereabouts. since Holmes ca
reer has become partially known,
have been the source of unceasin"
painful anguish to both her aged
father and mother"
The report that appeared in some
OF the papers short time ago that
Miss Conner, of Muscatine, who died
n year ago. may have been brought
to her death by Holmes. was entirely
wrong. for the young lady had been
employed in Holmes office only n
few weeks, and she had been home
and sick for several weeks before she
lied. Miss Conner was a sister of
Julia Connor' husband.