The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-02-28

but insisted that his wife was "alone"
now. He was afraid to reveal the mat
ter to the police, partly because he
did not like to betray his wife, and
| partly because in a letter she wrote
| him she appeared to admit having left
her alleged lover under strange cir
cumstances.
Stafford finding that it was impossi
BILE to conceal the facts from the Of
fcials longer, due to his recognition
| by the state dry officers, produced a
letter received from his wife and
postmarked "Kenosha February 21st"
| In the letter Mrs. Stafford, who signs
herself Eliza, repeatedly declares her
love and trust in her husband and
inserts the following strange SEN
tence:
81 quarreled with him and nearly
killed him / think. I didn't stay. to
find out. l left him and came here so
don't know where he is and if he
lives or is dead and don't care"
This meager explanation which in
sc e 'deepens the mystery, at&least.
explains why Mrs. Stafford did not
leave an address and why, if she is
still in Kenosha, she does not make
her whereabouts known, fearing to fall
into the hands of the police on some
charge.
| Meanwhile Lee Stafford, backwoods
man in white overshoes, and ex-moon-
sinner, still haunts the police office
| in the hope that some clue will be
found. The police have called up
every physician and hospital in the
vicinity but in vain. Not a trace of
Mrs. Eliza Stafford, who signed her
name to telegram "Elsie" and to her
letter ELIZA" can be found.
Stafford, when he is not decorating
bench in the police office, strolls
about town in the hope that his wife
will meet him somewhere. The great
err part O. his time, when not on
bench in the police office or walking
the streets is spent hanging on the
corner of the First National bank,
scanning the figures and faces of the
passersby, evidently believing that one
of them will eventually prove to be
his wife.
! One of the strange features of the
story is Satford's apparent devotion to
his wife, which has lead him on the
wild-goose chase, and keeps him upon
the trail though his forty-acrc patch
up north goes unhusbanded and his
children from four to fourteen are
still in the hands of bachelor
neighbor."
Part of the letter from Mrs. Stafford
reads as follows:
Envelope dated Kenosha, Wis, Feb.
81, 1924.
Postscript at top "don't worry,
am with tip-top people, but will leave
for GAINESVILLE maybe today.
Dearest, Dearest Husband, am
writing you again as it is cheaper to
write than to telegraph so much and
| l have been unconscious for nearly
two days but am better again. l have
strictly refused to take any more
morphine though it nearly kills me to
go without. l am here with very nice
people who have done so much for
me. You see went to this place look
ing for work, housework and they have
really worked for me. l have been
sick most of the time, not able to do
much at any time, and these Chris
tians pray every night and they have
helped me to believe God is really
good. have been all alone you under
stand for some time now. l quarreled
with him and nearly killed him
think. l didn't stay to find out.
! left him and came here so don't know
where he is and if he lives or is dead
and don't care. Anyway 1 am square
and will stay square as long as l
/ last for that won't be so long and it
pays to be square. You know have
always been square you big darling
love. You are a prince Lee and 1
know it. You are the only one that
can mean life and love to me for my
| life is blank and empty now. Ny life
/ is blank and empty now but doctor
4 told me write to your husband, tell
| him you love him, for / called for
you when delirious. Tell him to mold
your babies for you are going home.
But the doctors say not yet, my lung
! is terrible Lee, he is afraid to let me
go. 1t is such a long way up there.
1t is the family doctor of the people
where 1 stay. Why they even paid
out money for me 1 know. More of
same)
l was afraid to say anything on ac-