Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-07-05
SON CAME HOME
AFTER 80 YEARS
Patrick Moran and Family Had a
I Great Surprise Wednesday
John Moran Thought to Have Been
Dead More Than 20 Years-PromIsed
to Come Again at Christmas Time.

John Moran Thought to Have Been
Dead More Than 20 Years-Promsed
to Come Again at Christmas Time.
Although believed to have been dead
more than 20 years and although pray
ers Tor the repose of his soul were Of
fered in st. Michaels Roman Catholic
church here many years ago, John Mo-
ran appeared in the flesh to his father
and stepmother, Mr.. and Mrs. Patrick
Moran and to his sister, Miss Margaret
L. Moran, In their home at Beech street
Wednesday after an absence of go years.
His stay was short, but it was long
enough TO bring happiness to the aged
parents and the sister, and he promised
ITO come again at Christmas time and to
make a longer visit. His father did
not Know him. which is not strange. as
he was but 10 years old when he went
away from home, while now he is 81.
The story of his coming is entitled to
a place alongside the imaginative plots
or the writers of fiction
John Moran is now EMPLOYED in the
Pullman car shops in Dayton, Ohio
Last week he was given a vacation of
~ Gays and he started east to visit
relatives, although he did not know Just
VINO he would find alive. He finally To-
Gated relatives in Holyoke. Mass. and
they told him of others. including the
family in Brattleboro, an uncle. John
Moran of Millers Falls, and an aunt.
Bridget Moran Sullivan of Springfield
Mass, brother and sister of his father
so much of his time had been used
that he could make only brief visit
In Brattleboro He came here on the
lilo train Wednesday and went out
Elliot street with which he was ia
hnN NtKner
years in his boyhood. He met Mrs
Michael Manning and asked if she knew
where Patrick Moran lived. She gave
MN the desired information and then
said; Are you John Moran?" He as
sured her that he was none other than
the long missing son, and then followed
cordial greetings. 1t was but a few
steps TO his fathers home. but his ia
ther had gone to the post office. His
cousin, Miss Helena Moran of Millers
Fails, who was visiting at the home
went to the door. On being told that
his father was away Mr. Moran walked
INTO the house and made himself known
TO Mrs Moran and Miss Margaret. 1t
was as though he had arisen from the
dead.
Patrick Moran soon returned and
thought he recognized in the visitor
relative whom he had not seen in sew
eral years. Don't you know your own
SON.? said his wife, and then there was
reuniting of family ties in a way that
only those who have been similarly
situated can realize. Dinner was pre
pared and served and the guest of honor
was made to feel glad welcome bacl,
to the paternal home. He told the
story of his travels, was told MANY
things of interest, expressed his sorrow
over the death of his sister, Bridget.
which took place five years ago, and at
O'Clock in the afternoon returned to
Hoiyoke after promising to send word
home occasionally and to come again at
Christmas time. He is a fine looking
man, unmarried, and the family wished
that he might stay longer.
Yesterday he went to Springfield to
VISIT his aunt, Mrs. Sullivan, whom he
mad not seen since she left Ireland some
40 years ago, and last night he started
back to remunerative position which
he has in Dayton.
John Moran was the oldest son of Pat
rick Moran by former marriage and
was born in Ireland. When a child his
father came to this country in 1861
and has lived in Brattleboro practically
all of the time since then. When the
boy was 16 or II years years old he
also came to Brattleboro. but he was
mere only about two years and then
went to AIillers Falls and soon after
went to Buffalo, but on account of a
labor strike there he left for Pittsburgh.
While in Buffalo he sent one letter to
his parents, but they afterwards learned
that he was in Pittsburgh
Upwards of 20 years ago q serious
elevator accident happened in Pitts
burgh in which a man named John Mo-
ran was killed. Patrick Moran wrote
to cousin of his on the Pittsburgh po-
lice force and the latter made inquiries
of a man named Griffin. who was one
of two men who accompanied Mr. Mo-
ran there from Buffalo. The informa-
tion came back that the son had died
in a hospital and shortly afterwards the
late Rev. Father Patrick Cunningham
offered prayers for the repose OF his
soul.
Just how the incorrect information
happened TO come as II did probably
never will be known, but that is imma-
teral inasmuch as Mr.. Moran is not
dead He worked in several places, en-
listed in the United States navy, in
which he served four years, visiting the
Philippines and making trip around
the world, and for the past four years
he has had a position with the Pullman