The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-09-04
Wife Of J. ID. Donovan Failed 10
Recognize Him After Two
Years Absence In California.
He WAS CHASED AND ARRESTED
Altered by Illness so That He
Was Mistaken for Bur
glar When lie Went
Home.

I
ia this city Friday night. after a tNo-yesrs'
abzence in California, expecting a fond wei
come from the wife whom he had left be
hind. he received. instead. a heart-chiliing
| reception that for the time soured MIN and
| almost started him back Ia disgust TO the
| Pacific s!Dpe
! Instead Of getting the cordial greeting Of
/ his imaginings he was chased eight blocks
I by excited citzens who suspected him Of
I being burglar. and when he was ready 20
/ drop from exhaustion a policeman grabbed
! him. His dreams Of the fatted calf 10 be
provided In token OF his homecoming gave
way 10 anticIpa lions Of the noldy sausage
| and rye bresg Of the -Four Courts hOldoyer.
All this humiliation might have been
spared Donovan IL he had not neglected 10
! Inform his vile Of the exact time of his
homecoming. and further. II he mad not
! been 30 anxious 10 see her that he failed
10 take time 20 remove the stains Of travel
from hIs person.
As IL was. he had a strenuous time con-
vincing thd policeman and the excited popu-
lace which had assisted IN chasing MIN
through the streets that he was an honest.
| laW-abiding Citizen, with no designs upon
the HOUSE from which the chase had begun.
tave laudable desire TO see his vile, from
whom he had been 80 iong separated.
LEFT HOME TWO YEARS AGO.
Donovan Is a railroad man. His wife con-
Ducts a roomlng-ho at No. zoo Locust
street. About two years ago Donovan took
"a fancy TO visit California. and he disap-
peared without npprisng his wife Of his in
tentioD. She Inserted u personal adyer-
Information OF him. but did not learn OF his
whereabouts until Ehe received a letter from
a short time ago Donovan began 10 pine
for the comforts OF home. He wrote his
wife about a month ago. saying he was
Donovan shipped his trunk containing his
good clothing ahead OF him and made his
way overland Oh freight trains In his work
ions helping him along In a fraternal spirit.
He reached East 81. Louis Monday night.
traVel-Etalned. RHunt and haggard from the
long. fatiguing trip. and as he had been I'll
On the Pacific Coast his appearance was
greatly altered.
SO eager was he 10 see his wife that he
went directly across the bridge and out TO
the Locust street house. With sense OF
pride, however. he refrained from appear
Ing In such gulse before the eyes Of his
wife's roomers II was nearly o'clock
when he reached there. and he sneaked
kitchen window. He saw his wife there.
and the sight satisfied him for while. He
decided 10 hang about the neighborhood un-
I'll the roomers, who were seated on the
steps in front, had retired.
One OF Mrs. D0n0vans daughters by
former marriage. however. had noticed the
stranger peeping into the window. and, be-
coming alarmed. notified her mother. Mrs.
Donovan mentioned IL to some OF her ropm-
ers. They had noticed "A man hanging
about the vicinity and peering about the
corner OF the building. and their snspicions
glary.
They told Mrs. Donovan 10 keep an eye
open for him and II sho noticed him making
any Suspicious move TO call them.
WIFE THINKS HB Is A BURGLAR.
About 10 o'clock the last of the roomers
went into the house. Donovan. who had
kept n Watchful eye on them. decided that
this wns his time 10 see his wife, and enter
the house without being observed
lie NAKED up 1hs on5 s'sPs and
CHANGED "A
once recognize her husband. but saw IA the
caller only the suspected burglar.
why. i want 10 see you" he replied
airily. never dreaming that she had not
wei. / don't know you.' she retorted.
her fears aroused at his nippant tone.
why. ril show you" replied Donovan.
enjoying the joke. as ne reached into his
pocket for one OF bis cards.
When he showed his hand into his pocket.
Mrs. Donovan. her mind full Of burglars.
believed he was reaching for a weapon. and
she screamed for her roomers. Donovan:
h ing inst ma M @ q, a9 ee n9' sny 81 her
roomcrs In the cordition he was in. turned
and walked hurriedly down Beaumont
II was his intention. he said. 10 send
message from the telegraph office on JEFF
ferson avenue. npprising his wife Of his
identity. and have her arrange TO let MIN
In the house secretly.
BoARDERS OFF IN PURSUIT.
J. A. Gordon. one OF Mrs. Donovan's |
roumeis was one of the first TO respond TO |
her screams She told him OF her encounter |
with the suspicious stranger. and Gordon
Immediately went In pursuit. OF him. fol-
lowed by Mr.. Childs and Mr.. Wainert. 1
other roomers.
Donovan seeing himself followed. broke |
into a run and In a few minutes he was
being pursued down Olive street by an /
ever-lncreasng crowd. few OF whom knew
the object of the pursuit. At Washington
avenue policeman. seeing the crowd. 4
Joined In the chase and overhauled Demo
van just Gordon got a grip on his nying /
coat tails.
Donovan was forced, TO avoid being /
locked up as a thief. to confess his Identity. |
vans house. followed by the still-increasing
crowd. When Mrs. Donovan got good 4
look at her husband she recognized him
and nearly tainted. The crowd dispersed Il
and the policeman felt inclined TO lock up /
Mr. Gordon the chief pursuer, for giving
him 80 much trouble.
Dohoyan was mad ard dlsSusted. He re-
fused 90 be solaced by the explanations OF
hts wife and the roomers.
ITO think" he said to his wife. that I Il
came all the way from California. suffering
untold misery on freight trains across the
alkaii deserts. Just for the purpose OF seeing
you. and then 10 be taken for n burglar and
held by y policeman for nothing at all!
That's the limit. Me for the Golden Cato
again"
Mrs Donovan. however; after iong eoas-
ing succeeded in placnting her husband.
and re accepted the explanations offered by
her and the roomers. and decided to re- |
main. He is now at work In the Terminal
wards His wife says he has satisfactorily
for his disappearance OF two
years ago. 1