Year: 1869

In Chicago, that unhealthy hot-bed Of
marital misery and disagreement, a trag-
edy has transpired less revolving in de-
tails of crime than most, and with strange
elements of romance. Rose Welden, the
luckless heroine of the story, was, some
three years since, beautiful, inexperi-
enced, easily influenced young girl. Her
father was superintendent of the horse
railway stables in the West division, and
David Walsh, the other actor in the
tragedy, was at that time driver in the
same company's employ. Walsh gained
the confidence of his overseer, and visited
at his house, where he saw Rose, and
soon advanced to close intimacy with
her. Her father only awoke to realiz-
ing sense of the situation when this inti-
macy had resulted in an engagement.
Then he forbade Walsh his house, and
exacted from his daughter pledge nev-
er to receive the man again. The sepa-
ration was complete for months, but on
an unfortunate evening they met by
chance at a fair, and their former rela-
tions were established though the pa
rents knew nothing of this On Sun
day in February. 1868, the affair culmi-
mated in marriage in the Catholic
church, which was meant to be secret
but there were present those who knew
Mr.. Weldon and his opposition to the
matter, and who hastened to acquaint
him with the secret. The resolute old
man lost no time, and ere night his
daughter was fetched home again, unwed
save by words. And as, few days af-
ter, it was found that Walsh had left
wife in the State of New York, from
whom he had not been divorced, that
fact, to all intents and purposes, annulled
the ceremony. Walsh never seriously
pressed his case, owing to the fact that a
number of reletives of his first wife re-
side in Chicago, and it seemed best for
him to keep as much in the background
as possible. The couple often met, but
always sustained the appearance of mere
acquaintances. and the youny woman
has since been employed in a millinery
store. Walsh, two weeks ago, appeared
in the store and asked for Miss Rose
Weldon she having resumed her maiden
name. When the young woman discov-
cred who is was that desired to see her,
she returned word that she was not in
the store. On leaving the establishment,
half an hour later, she was considerably
startled to find Walsh in front of the
place. The. frightened girl did not dare
do otherwise than accept his invitation
to ride home in an omnibus. She acci-
dentally touched his breast pocket, and
felt the outlines of revolver. Fright
ened yet more, she asked Walsh why he
carried weapons, and he answered"
always do" Noticing her agitation he
inquired if she were frightened. She
answered in the Affirmative, and remark
ed, am afraid you want to shoot me-"
He laughed at her fears, protested that
she was very dear to him, and that he
would not harm hair of her head for
the world. On reaching the neighbor-
borhood Of her home, both alighted from
the conveyance, and walked side by side
toward the house. Walsh constantly
holding his wife of an hour by her dress.
Fearful of impending evil, she had no
sooner reached the gate than she bound
ed into the house, but not without having
Walsh at her heels. She hastened up
stairs, to her sisters room, crying loudly
for help, and when about to close the
door upon herself. Walsh had reached
the head Of the stairs, and fired the fatal
bullet. The report Of the shot attract
ed the people of the house, and Miss
Weldon's brother caught hold of the
murderer, and held him until the police
came. While held down to the floor he
begged of his captors to kill him, or al
low him to accomplish the desired end
himself-which he had undoubtedly in
tended to do. But he was arraigned for
willful murder, and lies bail-less in Jail,
while his hapless victim, Rose Weldon,
died after ten days of mental as we'll as
physical suffering.