The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-25
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ATLANTA. Ca. July 29.-In q grave In Oak
land Cemetery In this city arc the rem aims OF q
woman whose identity will prob IDLY forever
remain n mystery. She was buried there on the
day after the battle OF July 90. 1864. when the
Confcderates lost Gen. w. II. II. Walker aud
the Fedorals the gallant MacPh rson. On tho
day Of tn baltic she was found murdered In her
room. and because OF the prevailing excitement
and confusion no inquiry was ever made as to
the identity OF her murderer.
The woman arrive | in Atlanta one morning
in July, 1864, and engaged 10 ,rd with Mrs.
McGhoc. She gave her name AS Miss valland.
ingham. had plenty of money, was well dressed.
and displayed a COOL deal OF fine jcwclry. She
claimei TO be a refugee from another section OF
the state. but those who were hest acquainted
with her believed that she was a female spy
sent In advance OF Gen. Shorman's army. She
made friends among the officers OF Gen. Hoods
arm-, and was invited In all sorts OF entertain.
ments. such rs were common during the unset
tod days Immediately prcce ling tho fall Of
Atlanta. The superior officers encouraged tho
mcrrymaking of those under their command, so
as to keep up their spirits, and the result was
that tn ,rc was a ball or a frolic OF some sort
every night.
On the evening Of July 81. iu spite Of tho fact
mat every, one knew that a collision between
the Officers, g rave a big ball Mt the old Southern
Medical building, which was the largest hall or
tainnble in the city. Ab0ut 3 o'clock in the
evening q young officer who was a stranger TO
the M.Ghees called ut their house and asked
for Miss Nallan bingham. She appeared TO be
expecting hun. lor she soon CaIne down dressed
for the ball and they went away together. Miss
Vallandinghum had n latch KEY to her room
and came and went as she pleased, so that none
OF the family knew ut what time she returned.
Sne did not rome down to brrakf st the next
morning. and when the door was broken open II
WIS found that she had been stranRled. The
prints OF a mans fingers were on her throat.
which wns very much disco'oroh. Other than
those marks there WAS no indication OF q strug-
gle. The woman was lying at full length on tho
bod clad In the ball lress that she had worn the
evening before. and her jewelry was still on her.
The motive. OF the crime was AZ much n mystery
as her own identity.
On the same day tho battle began. Tho Nc
Ghecs intended to inform the Coroner and have
an Investigation. but when the battle ended in
lie eat an disaster for the Confederate forces,
nobody stopped 10 think OF tho dead, but all
hurried away in search Of some hi ing place
until the storm should have blown over. Tho
body was removed from the house and buried In
n corner OF the Gem terry, n simple pine board
marking tho spot. After the war closed some
sight effort was made to establish the identity
OF the young woman. but without avail. II she
was emp Dyed as a spy no one seemed to know
anything about 1t.
The election of Il new sexton this year brought
about the cleaning up of the dark corners OF tho
old cemetery and tho grave OF the stranger was
found in the portion which was set apart for tho
burial OF unknown and unidentified bodies.