HIDDEN WOMAN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13299, 7 February 1914, Page 9

HIDDEN WOMAN.

♦ - 15 YEARS' SECRET OF AN OFFICE. , NEW YORK, Dec. 20. The sudden death of a Monticello (Virginia) lav/yer, Mr Melvin W. Couch, has disclosed tho fact that m a secret room at the rear of his office, tho closed door of Avhich was 'always a mystery to his clients and friends, he had kept bidden a Avoman named Josephine M. Brance for 15 years. Tho revelation came Avhen Mrs Cornell called to tho office by the . police, asked for the forbidden door to bo burst open. Crouching m the corner was a Avildeyed, frightened Avoman Avith tangled hair falling- about her pal 6 face. She pleaded that she knew nothing of Mi Couch's death, and stated that on going to call him she found bun dead on the lounge, Avhere he often slept. Tho secret room Avas fitted out as a combined bed-aitting-cookihg apartment The Avoman confessed that she mevei went out during the day, and only occa sionally at night. She seemed ns thougl her intelligence Avas dulled by .her mode -"if 4"*''lPlK , K___"_CG Mr Couch was a grave, much-rcspectee lawyer associated Avith many notable cases. An autopsy showed that his death Avas caused by tho rnptjgre of ; blood-vessel nea? t,he heart..