Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1912-02-15
Waywardness Of Mrs. Mary
Longwill, Who Died in
Hospital Here, Left Three
Broken Hearts in Wake.
FINAL APPEAL is
MADE TO HUSBAND
Parents, Too Poor to Claim
Body of Woman Deserted
Here by Tetlow, Asked
Him to Bury Her.

Another of the tragedies of life,
bringing broken hearts to loved ones,
has been revealed in the simple but
deeply touching story of Mrs. Minott
Ellis, told in letter to G. T. Sullivan
regarding Mrs. Mary Longwill, whose
death occurred at the Ottumwa hospi-
tai last Thursday. The waywardness
Of headstrong girl, an orphan, reared
as a daughter and loved by her foster
parents, caused this common tragedy
and has left three broken hearts to
pass along the sorrowful way of life.
The aching heart of mother Is barred
in the following letter to Mr.. Sullivan
received this morning:
"Baldwinville, Mass, Feb. -, 1912.
"Mr. Chas. T. Sullivan,
"Ottumwa, Iowa.
Dear Sir:
"Your letter received this morning.
To say am almost heart broken can
not express my feelings. Mrs. Long
will was an adopted child but We loved
her as our own as We were never bles-
sed with children. She was always
very headstrong. She went away from
us when she had reached her maturity
and married very much against our
wishes. She left her husband, Mr..
I4ongwill, several times. But We loved
her and always furnished money, tn
spite of our circumstances, for her re-
turn. A year ago she went away with
a Mr.. Tetlow. Even then We did not
give her up. We sought her and
tried to bring her back, tracing her to
Ohio. But she heard of it and wrote
us not to write to her or try to trace
her again. She did not want to hear
from home She then left Ohio. Eight
months have passed since we have
heard from her. Ny husband Is feeble,
an old soldier, and for the last two
winters has had very severe sickness,
which has left him in a weakened con-
dition He IS II years old and OF
course does not regain his strength as
. young man would. We are not able
to bear the expense OF bringing her
body back to her home. But We have
wired to her husband, Mr.. Longwill.
He may not recognize our request,
which is that of his wife. If you do
not hear from him in a few days, do
with the body as you think best.
1T almost kills me to have it so but
am simply not able to do more.
Thanking you for sending me the
nice letter, am gratefully yours,
Mrs. NJ. Ellis"
Husband Shows Manhood.
But the husband did not ignore the
request of the foster parents. He
showed his manhood. Even though
Mr.. and Mrs. Ellis had vigorously op.
posed his marriage to their daughter
and despite OF the fact that his wife
had left his home for another, Mr..
Longwill allowed his better self and
his love for his wayward wife to
triumph. Immediately upon the re-
receipt of the message from the par
ents, he wired Mr. Sullivan to hold the
body until further instructions. Yes
terday morning came another message,
together with sufficient funds to meet
the expenses of the care Of the body
transportation Last night on Burling-
ton No. the remains were started Oh
their journey to Springfield Mass. the
home of the husband, short distance
from Baldwinville, where the parents
reside,
The Sad Story.
When Mrs. Longwill was a child,
left in this world an orphan, she was
taken into the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
Minott Ellis in Baldwinville, Mass.
She was beautiful little girl, with
wavy dark hair, dark eyes and very
attractive features. Mr.. and Mrs.
Ellis had reached the half century
mark in life's journey and they had
no children of their own. AS daugh-
ter they reared her, giving her every
blessing of parental love. Although
they were not in the best of financial
circumstances, they gave her an edu-
cation, not only in the common
branches but in music. Thus she came
to her womanhood, happy in her home
and the idol of her foster parents.
Finally she fell in love with Mr..
Longwill, when the parents thought
was not fit companion for life's jour.
ney. She would not listen to their
entries and married Mr.. Longwill, with
whom she lived happily until Tetlow
came into her life.
Came to Ottumwa.
It was four months ago when Tet-
low and Mrs. Longwill came to OF.
tumwa. They lived in the east end,
Tetlow being employed in the pack
ing house. No one knew from whence
SContl1ued on Page 81