South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-24
Strange Woman Whose Wierd
History Was Revealed BY
Lawyers Death May Be Un-
balanced.
COUCH HAD A ROLL
WHICH IS MISSING
NeighbOring Lawyer Says He
Never Saw Woman There
Though Often in Adjoining
Rooms.

MONTICELLO, n. Y, Dec. "a
That her life Of bondage and seclu-
sion in q tiny room opening from the
office of Melvin II. Couch. former
district attorney Of Sullivan county,
has impaired the mind of Mis- Adel-
aide F'ranch, the love hermit, whose
presence was revealed by COUGHS
tragic death is believed now
Her strange mannerisms, her nerv-
Gus outbreaks and her wild petitions
for death because her soul husband"
is dead, have convinced many persons
that Miss Branch should be closely
watched TO prevent her from taking
her own life when she is liberated.
Sheriff Kinney kept Miss Branch
under close guard despite her protests
that she wanted no one TO see her in
her grief
Freed from the servitude I'm which
her Illicit love for Couch bound her,
Miss Branch IS childishly dependent.
Her clandestine companion, master
fuI and clear minded, for years did
the thinking for both and the woman
had become absolutely dependent up
on his Will She is now a pitiful fig
ure.
II do not want TO eat" cried the
prisoner in voice half a whisper,
when breakfast was set before her.
Can't Speak Aloud.
Through the long days when the
woman. in her cubbyhOle home, re-
manned silent and during her commu-
nication with Couch when both spoke
in whispers TO avoid detection, the
wOman's .-oice became affected, and
She now cannot speak in full, nor
NAL tones.
What a sad Christmas this will be
for me without my Mel" exclaimed
the woman in a fit OF dreariness. When
j think OF the surprising sweetness
or my cOmpanionship with Mr..
Couch, my sorrow is intensified.
There IS a bitter sweetness in mans
cruelty il you love a man with all
your heart. But no. Mel was never
cruel to me. He could not be-"
The haggard unkempt prisoner
stared through the barred windows
OF the matrOn's department of the
jail. mumbling 10 herself. At times
she murmUred and wept and at other
times she threw herself upon her bed
and refused to speak.
The county officials believe that
some OF Miss Branch's relatives may
come to her aid.
Roll Is Missing.
Search was begun today for a roll
Of money which is believed TO have
been in COUGHS possession when he
died
According TO Judge Smith. who
lived along in offices adjoining those
occupied by Couch and Miss Branch
the dead lawyer always carried
large amount sof currency hi
pocket.
When learned or the presence Of
Miss Branch in Couchs office, l re-
called that the lawyer had received
a letter last Saturday night containing
checks for S135." said Smith. ''I told
Mrs Couch about the checks and she
found them on his desk. but ] can
not account for the absence OF money
on COuch's person, for he always car
ried a roll.
There is no truth in reports that
Couch was on unfrienedly terms with
his wife. He always spoke kinCly OF
her and usually ate sunday dinner at
home.
II lived I'm Offices adjoining those
occupied by Couch for years, and
never dreamed that there was a wOm-
an in the building. Frequently I
walked unexpectedly into Mr.. COUGHS
office but never saw any trace OF the
hidden woman"
Miss Brance gave the first hint as
% her antecedents late Tuesday.
'T was born in Hardwick. near
Cocperstown. y. Y, where my broth
er now is employed in the postOfice."
she said MY father and mother are
dead. But that is all I propose to
tell OF my family history. What hap
pened TO me before I came 10 Monti-
cello. 10 years ago. concerns no
body