The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-12
CAREER OF NINE. RUIZ
Dead Woman Identified as Daughter
of Boiiermaker.

st. Louis, Mo. June 12.-Mme.
Mary Agnes O'Brien Ruiz. who COM
mitted suicide in London recently has
been identified as the daughter of the
late Charles O'Brien, a st. Louis boil
ermaker. She was born here and as
young woman was considered &c
centric.
Nine. Ruiz's first meeting with AL
fred G. Vanderbilt, whom she is said
to have separated from his wife, was
most romantic-it happened in Cen
trail park several years ago. One
morning as she was taking her in
evitable daily gallop through the
park, the groom at her bidding hav-
ing ridden ahead, she suddenly leap
ed from her saddle. She stood a pic
ture of helplessness beside her horse,
appearing with the bright brown
eyes and a half smile, half pout, to
passers-by. The first man responded
politely to her mute appeal. A Sc
, rious faced. full Tipped, smiling eyed
young man, sprang from his horse
and lifted his hat.
May I assist you he ASKED Gag
erly.
1t was Mr.. Vanderbilt.
Thank you so much. I felt my
saddle slipping and jumped off. You
see the stupid thing has turned. My
groom has ridden ahead to try to
find a friend 1 expected to meet this
morning. Oh thank you if you will
be so kind. Thank you. Thank you"
In trice the young man of mil
lions had frightened the saddle, had
assisted the pretty equestrienne to her
seat. and lifting his hat as the groom
returned. had continued his ride.
But shortly afterward Nine. Ruiz had
gone alone to the races at Saratoga.
There also appeared Mr.. Vanderbilt.
The acquaintance. begun SO romantical-
ly, was renewed. 1t continued until Mr..
vanderbilt's departure for Europe Al,
for the other side. In London the
friendship continued.
Almost Immediately after the roman
tic meeting in the park, directly after
the renewed acquaintance at the race
track arose the rumor that Mrs. Van
derblt had practically separated from
her husband. These runors eliminated
when Mr.. Vanderbilt took his long lease
of a London apartment.
Prior to the meeting with Mr.. Van
derbiIt the life of Nine. Ruiz had as
sumed varied aspects
Her Marriage to Ruiz.
The story of her marriage to Antoine
Ruiz is one of a speedy ceremony fol-
lowing a swirt courtship-one to be ex-
act, of three days acquaintance.
His bride told him she was Miss Belle
Hilton. She declared that she was from
one of the good. but impoverished faml-
lies of California. She was-this we'd
ding took place perhaps nine years ago
at that time % years old
Gradually, as the span of their mar
ried life passed into a year, two years,
three years, the young man from Cuba
discovered other facts about his bride
He found that, without the need of a
writing or stage name. for she had
neither of these occupations, she had
been known by various names. Among
these was Belle O'Brien and Belle
Baudoine.
And as her names had been various. SO
had her physical aspects. Those who
knew her first when she arrived in New
York ten years ago, a woman of deter
mined character, subdued by the gentlest
of manners, recall that she weighed nearly
two hundred pounds; This enormous
weight she gradually. by some mysterious
system of banting, reduced to 115 pounds.
From being an Amazon she had become a
sylph. TO d woman of such determina-
ton all things were possible.
Yet. though he had begun to look upon
his wife as a charming protean creature,
more to be admired than trusted. Antoine
Ruiz took her to Havana, where his fam
lily, after d brief, delighted survey, took
her to its bosom.
It was only in New York that she was