Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-09-16
THE RICHEY MYSTERY
Ceases TO be a Mystery.

ty the friends of T. B. Richey, as
well as the community in which be
lived, have been startled and amazed
by the developments which have ex-
posed to public view the conduct Ct
ono who for months has been leading
a double life.
Ills own letters giving the partic-
alsrs Of his whereabouts and explain
ing fully his conduct has proved that
all the theories of Washington detec-
tives, who have been dragging rivers,
searching sewers and piping houses,
were more flimsy than thin air. The
facts as developed are that T. B.
Richey left New York with the ex-
pectation Ofmeeting by previous ap-
pointm,n mt young woman, from this
place, in Washington. From causes
which be did not understand she
failed to meet him. He then left
Washington by c. & o. train and
has been since that time in the neigh
borhood of Lexington, Ky.
The fact that he bas been leading
r double life was suspected by many,
but was not fully exposed until his
own declarations made the fact evil
dent. Few men stood higher than
he in this community. He had the
high esteem of his church. His
credit was second TO none. He had
command of all the money that he
needed. He was doing a good bus
mess and enjoyed the full confidence
of his customers. His home was con-
sidered by all OF his acquaintance
as one Of comfort and happiness. His
wife was affectionate and attentive to
every want. His sisters depended
upon him for counsel and advice. They
looked to him as Children look TO
their parents and were ever soicitous
of his health and welfare. If any one
had been seeking man surrounded
by everything calculated to make life
cheerful he would have been selected
~ the man.
But what a sad transition has been
brought about! He discarded wife,
home, sisters, brothers, church, bust
ness, in fact everything that is cal2u-
lated to make life attractive and hap.
Ply, in order TO yield to the fascina-
tons of one upon whom lie had no
legal claim. In doing so he haS wreck
ed happy homes. He has cast a dark
shadow over the life ola true and low
ing wife. He has wrung with anguish
the hearts of sisters who would have
chung to him as only sisters can. He
has robbed the aged mother and
father of the child of their old age.
He did not succeed in enticing her to
some distant land as had been intend
cd, but he has brought to their homes
a grief and sorrow that will darken
the evening of their lives. They with
implicit confidence trusted her in
his hands. They believed that she
was safe; they loved to hear him tell
how well she was succeeding; they
were glad TO receive him at
their home; for they loved and re-
spected him as a Christian gentleman.
Today he is homeless wanderer, not
knowing what dangers environ him.
He dare not return to the home that
was once the dearest spot on earth
to him. That happiness is gone for
ever. There is no gentle hand TO
soothe bis aching brow. There are
no loving ears into which he can pour
the recital of his hearts sorrows.
His only refuge is among strangers in
a strange land, where he dare not
whisper the name that descended to
him from an honored parentage.
The remembrance of the pleasures of
past life can give no consolation;
they only remind him of what lie has
lost. The anticipations of happy
future may fit before his disordersd
vision as some ig'ais tdt'tots, but 1t
can only momentarily draw his at
tention from the dark and cherries
present which now chills his soul.
There il a constant dread of an ex-
nosure which means ruin. There is no
peace, no rest.
Our heart is sad as we write
these lines. 1t is deeply inn
messed with the fact that we do not
know ourselves. We do not know
how we would act under circum-
stances under which we may never
have been placed. We will only add
that all parties, who are suffering on
account of this unforttnat affair,
have our sincere and deepest SYM
pathy.
CJrRANS WILLING TO DISARM.