The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-18
Her Father Was Certain the Disme en-
bered Body Found at bridgeport
Was that of His Daughter.
4 GRAVE HAD BEEN PREPARED
AND THE REMAINS WE'RE EN ROUTE
FOR INTERMENT,
when the Young Lady and Her Lover
Unexpectedly Apprenticeship Case
still a Deep Mystery.

MIDDLEBORO, Mass, Sept. 1.-THE sup
posed victim of the Bridgeport. Conn. muir
der, Miss Marian Grace Perkins, arrived at
her home this afternoon in perfect health,
to the great joy of the family and the un-
bounded establishment of the entire COM
munity. Her father was not in town, for at
the time Of his daughters arrival. he was
on his way back from Bridgeport with the
grewsome remains which he had identified
as those of Grace. and for which the funeral
arrangements, including the digging of the
grave had already been completed. Miss
Perkins came from Providence, r. l., and
was accompanied by her lover, Charles
Bourne, and at first 1t was stated that the
couple had been married. This was after
wards denied by young Bournes uncle.
So unexpected was the coming of Miss
Perkins and young Bourne, that outside of
Mr.. Thompson and one or two friends who
had been previously notified, there were
very few at the railroad station when the
train came in. The young lady, however,
was Immediately recognized by the by
ISLANDERS at the station and the news spread
around the town with incredible rapidity.
There was large crowd at the gate as the
young lady stepped from the carriage and
ran, into the house Just across the street
from the Perkins house is a little cemetery
and only this morning, in response to the
request of the uncle of Mrs. Perkins, a
grave had been dug by the sexton in the
family lot, and the new earth thrown up
behind it could be plainly seen from the
home. Half an hour after Miss Perkins ar
rived home, a local undertaker's wagon
drove up to the house, and in it was the
coffin which had been ordered by the fam
lily. The funeral arrangements had even
gone so far that the family minister had
been notified and asked to conduct the
services.
AT the Perkins home tonight an uncle Of
the young woman, in the absence of her
father, gave out the following statement:
We think that Grace and Charles Bourne
have been married as they have been off on
frequent trips during the past two or three
months Grace knew nothing of the sensa-
ton until yesterday morning when she read
Of it in the papers. She sent a letter to he
mother only ten days ago, but the latter
never received it,
Later in the evening Miss Perkins herself,
after many opportunities, consented to
speak. but all that she said was: Il am glad
to be here. alive, truly alive, and it is
truly me-"
MT. EerklnS arrived from 1duntOn ABOUT
10 o'clock and drove Immediately to the
Perkins house. The meeting between father
and daughter was affecting. Late tonight
1t was reported that Mr.. Perkins was
very i'll.
The undertaken who brought the body
over from Taunton said tonight that from
the talk he had with Mr.. Perkins he felt
sure that the latter was insane. He also
said that he should hold the remains of the
woman which Mr.. Perkins brought from
Bridgeport until some proper authority as
sumed further charge of them. Frank
Perkins having sworn to the remains said
he, ''as those of his daughter, shall not
feel it my duty to release them until he
withdraws his sworn statement. Judging
from his condition, 1 do not think he will be
able to make the withdrawal for some
time"