Year: 1867

4 Chicago Woman Returns after an Absence


of t,centy yeors-The Former Belle a Ms


cradle OutcaSe


On Saturday afternoon the history of a
strange and evcntful life was developed at
the police headquarters At this time a
mildleaged, worn, haggard and besotted
woman entered the Central station, and in
ouircd for Superintendent Rehm. That wor-
thv individual was pointed out to her; she
silently handed him letter from Wm Beck,
the Superintendent of the Milwaukee police,
the contents of which reveal history so
strange and incredulous as to be almost be-
vond belief. One finds such tales between
yellow covers" but they are seldom re
vealed in real life, even among the annals OF
our police court.


It appears that this degraded outcast of
to-day, was twenty years ago one of the most
courtcd bellies OF Chicago. Her father was a
trader of reputed wealth, and it was his in
tention to marry his daughter to person OF
his choice. and who should be Judged from
a financial standpoint. The young girl was
bitterly opposed to the match. Not that AT
this time she loved some one else, but she
dissented on general principles, and threat
cned open rebellion. At this juncture of af
fairs. an excursion party from milwaukee,
visited this city, Among them was young
well-to-do commission merchant. He was
handsome. generous to fault, and beloved
by many worthy friends At party in this
CITY the two were introduced. Both were
equally impressed with each others appear
ance. and in the course of the evening, their
intimacy ripened to such an extent, that the
young woman made the Milwaukeean her
conffinate in regard to the mercenary designs
of her father, and told him the story. The
narrative had q powerful effect upon the
Young merchant He was already more than
half in love, and this unexpected phase set
tied the question with him. He proposed
on the spot, was accepted, and on the fol-
lowing day license was taken out. and the
couple were secretly married. The old ira
der. on learning the news, swOre, raved, and
finally discarded his daughter altogether
This matter was however, taken philosophi-
calIy by the young couple. They loved each
other for their own sake; the husband had
sufficient of this worlds goods, and few
days afterward the young bride was duly in
stalled in the home of the young merchant
For year all passed off pleasantly, and
there was not happier household in the
"city Of bricks"


About this time financial crisis swept
over the country. Many WHO had previous
ly supposed themselves perfectly secure lost
their all in the crash, and among this num-
Der was the merchant He bore the shock
manfuIly, and Immediately entered another
house as salaried clerk His young wife,
however, fretted continually under the new
order of things, and upbraided him for mar
rying her under false pretenses. This at last
produced change in the man. He took to
drinking, and in less than year was reGu-
ced to q mere wreck of his former SELF The
wife, who had been all her life reared in af-
fluence sought the society of other men,
more able to afford her the luxuries for
which her soul craved, and which her own
home denied her. She was demonstrated
with by friends, but to no effect and one fine
morning she left her husband and the city
altogether. He lived a year or two of miser
able existence after this affair, and then act
ually died in the gutter The young wife,
it appears, went to Washington, and loved
him most who was the wealthiest.


In the course of time she became the mis-
tress of noted Congressman. AS such she
controlled a sumptuous establishment, and
was the particular pet of large circle. Full
OF intrigue, she became on intimate terms
with cabinet minister which coming to the
ears of her Congressional paramour led to
and from this time forward she
passed rapidly downward. For number of
years she was an inmate of upper-ten houses
of ill-repute in Washington, New York and |
Philadelphia Her evil habits, however
soon barred the doors of these establishments, |
and from thence forward she was one of the |
most degraded even of her degraded class.


Some months since, she became possessed |
with an uncomfortable desire to once more |
visit the scenes of her former purity and |!
happiness. 1t was so long ago, and Milwau-
keens and the people of Chicago had forgot
ten her. She passed among them unheeded, |
except to be pitied or despised. Shortly af-
ter her arrival she found herself penniess. |
Ave- even worse. She expected shortly to |
become mother Thus situated, she ap-
piled at the office of the superintendent of
police at Milwaukee, for permission to enter |
the poor-house. Perceiving her to be wo-
man Of more than ordinary intelligence, and
with some still apparent remnant of refine
ment, he questioned her and thus learned
her fearful history. Part of the story was
to him, and knowing that some
wealthy relatives Of the unfortunate creature