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About The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917 | View Entire Issue (March 11, 1898)
A POET’S ROMANCE. STORY OF HARRIET RICHARDY SON AND JAMES T. ELLIS. I'rttinlfM'il to W i*il the Hj.nl When fie ^ ,fJi Whh m t "liege Mtiulent ^lullery of ('tt|>it»l Society Cnilftii tier Affection* ^ to ENTUCKY has long been noted for her romances In real life. The ro mance of Miss Har rlct Bain bridge Richardson and her poet lover, James Tandy Kills, is fully In keeping ,1,^ with Kentucky’s history. The story j, dates back eight years, when the poet s was a stalwart student at the Kentucky f State college In Lexington. He had Just attained his majority when he first met _frMIss Richardson at a party. She was the belle of the evening and he a splen did specimen of the young Kentuckian. It wus a case of love at first sight. Miss Richardson had been in society JL several years, had been petted and toasted by the society dudes until she UM^ was tired of the insipid youngsters, It |t was no wonder, then, that she admired reLs,' handsome young Kills. He is probably pBja| an inch above six feet in height, as I straight a« an Indian and the very per K. Mollification of perfect young manhood. I^Bb Besides, he Is highly accomplished in WK; music and literature—in fact, he is a E genius. He composes music as readily * as a Mozart or a Beethoven, improvises JHBr. on the piano as easily as a Liszt, and Br’ he can write poetry as easily us the average man can write prose. He has a prodigius memory and can recite #all the best poems of the leading poets. He and Miss Richardson were thrown In each other's company a great deal v|*.: during his last years at college and SraE their engagement was soon known to YBfir Intimate friends. It seemed as ilfln ^ the course of their true love would, onnfsnsu In Ilia *.1.1 wlflfZf rtin KlTHinHl ly, but Miss Richardson went to visit her sister, Mrs. Forney, whosp husband was an attache of the Brooklyn navy yard. She was introduced Into Brook lyn society and when her sister visited Washington and Philadelphia she went with her. In both these cities she soon became a social favorite, owing to her greut beauty and many accomplish ments. Naval officers, congressmen, members of legations and other society i men were charmed with her beauty and vivacity and it was not long un til Congressman Bennett of Brooklyn, began to pay her such marked atten tion that it soon became reported that they were engaged to lie married. Young Kills had wondered at the In frequency of her letters and at their brevity, and he was not surprised when the report reached him that his sweet heart was engaged to be married to the Brooklyn congressman. It was a cruel blow to the sensitive young man, but he calmly wrote Miss Richardson to the effect that he would release all claims to her hand. After writing this letter he left Kentucky and wandered aim lessly over several of the western states teaching school, writing poetry and trying to forget his love affnir with the pretty Miss Richardson. He never heard from her except through the society columns of the newspapers, when her name would be mentioned in connection with some brilliant re ception at Washington or Brooklyn or Philadelphia or Boston. Miss Richard son's visit ended and she returned to her home in Lexington. She had been promised by ex-Secretary Herbert the honor of christening the battleship Kentucky. The newspapers from one end (ft the country to the other had JAMBS T. RLL18. printed her picture anti full accounts ' uf how the gallant secretary had be llowed this honor upon her at a din ner party In Washington. Hut no word of t ongratulMluii came to her from her discarded lover. While the shtea so mol bright above her he maintained ■Hence and she really did not buuw whether he was alive or dead. l.«trr on when ILwfeUry Long was about tu wrest the honor uf christening the Kentnchy from Miss ttPhardson. and when Uoverntur Bradley was atxuit tu appoint his own daughter sponsor for lb. war vcwsel named tfUi this mtu nittnwealth there came a time when *t •rented to Miss Mtvhardson as If every trlend had lorsshen her Kv«n tt ho rei.it* of lb* Navy Herbert det tsred that he bed not nlw tel Miss HP hard * sou lo«hris»en th* Kvm . «* It was In this dark bonr thnt her ytsung pwt lover >«n» to her react, hat he <eme without notifying her sad without he# knowledge One day white the *««*tt* was ragtag shout her when the newspapers were full uf artistes u* the •hrlatwntng of the Kentuehy, when she nos Swing rrHUhel b* editors of alivgod soviet* Journal* and k| others she picked up a Louisville paper and read a communication criticising her detractors. It was signed with the in itials J. E. T. Miss Richardson recognized the Init ials as those of her poet lover, and she immediately wrote to the newspaper which published the card asking his address. When she discovered It she wYote hint a letter thanking him for his kind interest In her behalf. He an swered the letter and a correspondence sprung up which resulted in a renewal of their engagement and the announce ment thut the wedding will take place next June. Mr. Ellis was born 111 Ghent, Ky., June 18, 1868. His father, f)r. Clarkson Ellis, was a wealthy physician. Young Ellis was educated In the public schools of Carroll county and in the Kentucky State college, lie studied music In the Cincinnati conservatory of music. He bus written many clever verses the best of which Is perhaps the "Golden Rod.” He has also composed a number of catchy pieces of music. The best of these is known as “The Kentucky Colonels." At present he Is engaged III newspaper work in Louisville. His fam ily is one of the oldest and most dis tinguished In the state, and ho traces bis lineage back to King Goorge III. iri a direct line. He lias two brothers, one older and one younger than him self. The former is a practicing phy sician In Carroll county, while the lat ter is studying medicine at Philadel phia college. He has no sisters. Miss Richardson comes from one of the oldest and best families in the state. Her father, John Hall Richard son, was for many years the wealth iest shorthorn breeder in this section. Her grandfather, William Hall Rich ardson, was a revolutionary soldier. Her mother was the noted beauty Jane Shors Stamps. Her uncle. Thomas MISS HARRIET II. RICHARDSON. Stamps, was a soldier In the Mexican war, and when he returned from the sanguinary struggle he gained consid erable notoriety by fighting a big black bear with no weapon save his hands. The fight was a draw. Miss Richard son is radiantly happy over the turn affairs have taken, and she confesses that the christening of the battleship could not afford her half the happi ness that the other ceremony will' bring her. MORE WEDDINCS THAN HUS BANDS. IVnmty Ivan lit Knot'll Arden Kind* the Way I* Clear for Him. Fifteen years ago Mrs. Lemuel Wood bridge of Fairdale, near Susquehanna, Pa., sent her husband to the meat mar ket for a pound of beefsteak for break fast. One day last week he returned with the meat. The intervening years had been a blank to him. Following his disappearance Mrs. Woodbridge went into mourning, then got a divorce and again married. Her second hus band died three years later. What was her surprise when the other day a gray haired man unceremoniously en tered her home, hung his hat upon the rack and put a package upon the table. The woman did not recognize the stran ger at first and the amazed children were about to drive him away when he explained that he was Lemuel Wood bridge. He said that the past, up to two weeks ago, was almost a blank to him. He remembered being in Eng land and Australia, and knows that he sold washing machines in Manchester. He doea not know under what name lie has been sailing, nor how he lias gain ed an existence. I'ntil informed he did not know whether he had beeu ab sent a month or twenty years. He had saved some money. Coming from Liv erpool to Moutroal in a cattle boat it suddenly Hashed upon him who he was and where he used to live. He made haste to reach Pennsylvania, and in Hlnghamptou, X. Y„ a railroad mau told him that Ms former wife and chil dren were still living. Hiding In the railroad coach something told hint to carry '‘home'' the meat, to procure whbh be had left home flfteen years ago. After being convinced that Wood bridge's story was true, be was given shelter. There has since been a complete reconciliation and the wife and widow will soon be married again to the husband of her youth. thus mak ing the curious record of three wed dings to two husbands. Hl|4w| t ..—••• la Italy Italy is said u- hav e more bigamists than any other {European country. Thin la made pone lb hr because the church refuse* to revognlae civil mar rmgee. and the state down nut regard a church marriage a* binding The result Is that uaarupuiou* men marry two wlvea one with the san-thm at the church the ether with the cam 11-a of ‘he a* dpmtvstgi—nmiaa ■. os.ee- —» Upm— i u Ism people get w tiled doing noth lag that th«r are never ikh to do any th tag elm The still house warm dee treys more ret a than the cut worm doea. FALLS BY HIS CHARMS SEELEY IS MARTYR TO THE WOMEN. Of Ti*n \II9|C*hI line I'rnamite* Him for ItlKitiiiy- \ Kruiilt, II#* Mnjrii, nf Itflnfc Too Klml to th«* I-air One*. A V* I D SEELEY, whoso present resi dence is the coun ty jail at Kalama zoo. Mich., Is a much abused man. He says the women prosecute him so that he can never free himself from petticoat dominion. According to his harrowing tale there is no town which he has ever visited where some bold ad venturess did not throw herself at him and demand that he marry her on the spot. Neither shortness of acquaint ance nor his plea of other engagement* nor his bashfulne** has availed to save him. “In short," says David Seeley, “there was never a martyr like unto me." Mr. Seeley does not attribute his sufferings entirely to 111* personal beauty nor to the magnetic charms which he exercises on the other sex. He Is not Ignorunt of the fact that he is CS years old, that his eyes blink weakly, and that his manners still hint at the lunatic asylum in which he war. once confined. He think* that Ills wealth has much to do with Ills perse cution. He Is the fortunate possessor of a pension of i-4 a month from the United .States government. True, lie has not diawn any of It. for a number of years. Hut that Is another story. The women Mr. Seeley has known do not look upon his adventures in the same way lie does. In fact, one of them has been unkind enough to prosecute him for bigamy. A little investigation has brought to light a list of ten al leged wives, hut nobody thinks it eom 1 plete. as several counties are yet to lie heard from. The following Is the ] list revised up to date: 1, a woman <1 n e! ■■ i/ I Kn m ilziunnl^ifl soon after; 2, Margaret McCrumb, Ot sego, Mich.; 3, Mrs, Vrooman, Misha ! waka, 1 rid.; 4, Mrs. Patience Burch, Elkhart, Iri<1.; C Mrs. Stanley Sturgis, Mich.; U, Mrs. Allman. Pittsburg, Pa.; 7, Ada Brawl, Joncsvllle, Mich.; 8, Mrs. Johnson, Berrien county; ft, Mrs. Lucy Killam. Kalamazoo; 10, Mrs. Clara Davidson, Gramlville, Mich. All of these women but the first on the list have told their tales of woe. They say that Seeley is not only a gay de reiver of female hearts, but also a pur loiner of females’ wealth. They charge him with selling their chickens, with driving away their cows and with knowing how to turn into cash almost every movable thing on which he could get his hands. They say that, far from his pension bring an attraction In their eyes, It was their live stock and ward robes which were the attractions to him. That is not all that is charged against Seeley by any means. One banker in western Michigan is anxious to punish him for obtaining money un der false pretenses. Somebody else has a charge of forgery against him. He is said to have been in the peni tentiary three times and to deserve to be placed there several times more. Seeley was arrested at Pierson, Mich., on a charge of bigamy sworn out by Mrs. Lucy Killam, the penult in the long matrimonial word which he has coined. She said it was really too bad that within a few weeks after desert ing her he should marry another wo man, and that in a town only a few miles away. So she swore out the war rant and offered a reward of $50 for his arrest. The prize stirred up a con stable who had never made an arrest in ills life before, and the result was the present sad plight of this unfor tunate victim of woman's wiles. Seeley’s matrimonial history has been a rapid one ever since the days * . DAVID SKKl.KY. when be served Ills country during the civil wnr. It was fast enough ut tin start, hut It has been growing steadily faster until of lat' three or four wive., a year do nut stem too many far him. Of hla relations to the wife of his soldier days little U known save that he showed her a dean pair of heels soon after the war was over, lie nest appeared In Leroy. N, Y„ where he married Margaret Md'romb, With her and the family of nine t httdrvn that belonged to the pair he had various wandering* lie la said to have served a two justs sen tent* in liTU In the JsrknuS penitentiary on l <har*< of obtaining money under fan* pr» i»nae« Two other teruta of Imprison meat nr* *- it bed to him during tht* period, one ttetng tu Milwaukee gee lev ; lived with this wife until shunt nine | years ago. Tfcelr home was then si Mlshnuaka lud He says he did hot desert her whan he left her. hut in stead use driven away III* wife rnlled him such awful names as “tummy** and •■»ld Md am) that was more than a man of ftue mast mu*a >ooid stand, lla , bad to leave, so be says, on* evening without any supper. He wandered around for avvhlla, but no evidence has been found about a crop of wives hav I lug been grown by him until he re I turned to Mishawaka, from which town I the McCrumb wife had In the mean ! time removed. Rack In hi* old haunts, ! Seeley wooed and married Mrs. Vroo inan. Kor some time he was unrecog nized. hut Anally (he day of reckon ing came and he had to rtee again. , In the meantime he is credited with I having made way with a fair amount ! of the worldly goods of Mrs. Vrooraan. \ He admits this marriage, as well as the | previous one, hut they are the only i two of all hi* adventures which he j says were really marriages at all. To judge from all reports, his later matrimonial experiences were carried out from a strictly financial point of view, and he seemed to prefer dealings | with confiding widows in the posses I slon of small properties. Mr*. Patience | Burch reports thal he gathered up her I sole cow, drove It away and sold It for $33. and then swiftly departed with the proceeds. Atla I’raw I tells a tale of woe in a similar strain, and Mrs. .Stan ley, of Sturgis, also says that she would be richer in worldly goods had Seeley never crossed her path. Occasionally Seeley turned his prac ticed hand to other things. At St. Joseph, Mich., he secured $800 from a hanker by pretending to have land and giving a mortgage upon the pretense. The hanker wants lilm on account of this little transaction, and forgery Is also charged against him at tlic same place. Tlic Iasi two plunges Into matrimony were the swiftest of all. Last October Seeley met Mrs. Lucy Killarn, of Kala mazoo. In short order he Induced her to discard llu- widow's weeds she had worn for thirty years. Only a few dollars the richer, he deserted her soon at Rattle Creek, anti before long was the husband of Mrs. Davidson, of Grandville. This last wife had consid erable means, hut she proved more than a match for the old man, and the MRS. KIM.AM. two had a lively time for a few hours before he left her a few days since. Seeley sold the woman's store for cash, and pocketed the proceeds. He re ported that he had bought some fur niture, and she went to the store to investigate, hut learned that he had not been there. She went buck 1 ome and expressed her feelings. “You old fool,” said he, "don't you know that the retail department is no place to go, to And out about goods that are going out of town? You should have gone to the shipping department.” While Mrs. Davidson was thinking the matter over Seeley disappeared, and the next thing that happened to him was Ills arrest, on the charges made by Mrs. Klllam. Seeley persists in looking upon him self us a victim of persecution, and says that not only have the women per secuted him by marriage, but also wo men have tried to get his wealth by sending him to the lunatic asylum. He says that three years ago he was thrown Into an asylum in Indiana and a guardian was appointed who has since drawn his entire pension, fie says he has not dared to go hack to claim the money, because he would cer tainly he thrown into a dungeon, and he would rather let his pension go to the winds than be treated like a luna tic again. Seeley is a wreck both mentally and physically, and he ascribes his condi tion entirely to the cruelties and de ceptions practiced upon him by the women he has been so weak as to be friend when they pleaded with him to tunc ' ui v ui tin hi . no 1 viii'i'vw! his hands shook, and his voice trem bled iit> he made his statement. "All my trouble," said be, "has come from women loving me or laving my money. It has driven ine mad and 1 am sorry that 1 have tried to be so good to them. The cruelties to which 1 have been subjected have been more than any man could stand, and 1 am glad 1 am in hero uway from them." Despite bis conspicuous martyrdom, Seeley oreUklolially lapses Into an other tone amt gloats over the con quests which his iiersonal charms have given him. lie is not even averse to hinting that. It be gets out of the pres ent trouble, there are numerous at he* heart* which he ran easily add to his string. t Mystery 1 lyl'isni. Telephone: The strangest telephone mystery yet reported comes front Utae gosr t'ouversation* were either in terrupted altogether or diversified with •ueh strange sounds a* to be unintel ligible. Knglneer* end met hautes tried in vnin tn discover the cause of these trregubgltla*. until they decided to re move the casing through which the wires were conducted taiu the Inatru msat room. A swarm of rats were Immediately (at t«**ae, and tt then be ta at* apparent that the rodent* hot devoured the gutta per* ha casing of me wires, and twisted up tbs utter tutu a state of hopeless rewfuatua. Money la useful aa a aarvaar. bat ta ■ wnatcai aa a master, | WRECKED IN SLI MS.] PITIFUL STORY OF A ONCE COOD WOMAN. I'.i*ronili’t ICr«-elw«l iii DiiiiikcIUCii 11 «»»■■•* i oollv Urn tin If \ictlni mid s« If Com l«*t« il of I imupirucy to Kill llu»huml. KLIGION. mission work, infatuation and fall. Such Is the history of Mrs. Catherine Meyer of Chicago, whose strange experi ences and associa tions with Corydon Millard placed her before a bar of Justice to answer to a criminal charge. Safely ensconced ln a comfortable home, with naught to disturb but the household duties, this heroine of one of the strangest tales that was ever chronicled from the facile pen of novelist grew Inter ested in the mission work performed by her husband and entered into the duties attendant on a crusade In the slums with all the ardor of an en thusiastic disposition. While thus en gaged she made the acquaintance of Corydon Millard, who had Just been made a convert to the faith of the mission, and whose prepossessing ap pearance made hint a favorite with all connected with the work. Mr. Meyer invited Millard to his home, and It was through his instruemntallty that Millard's appearance, which was in dicative of a vagabond life, experi enced u startling transformation. The evangelist readily sympathized with Millard, who told pitiful talcs of a good home lost through love of liquor, and at the suggestion of his wife ha sup plied funds to clothe uud feed Ilia con vert. Millard soon proved a valuable adjunct to the mission. lieing pos sessed of a melodious baritone voice, he was delegated to lead the singing. Hefore many days the wife of his bene factor became Infatuated with him. Daily lie called at the Meyer home and nightly escorted Its mistress to the So constant were their attentions, one to the other, that neighbors soon be gan to whisper "that Meyer hatl hoHt let his convert go." Hut this he re fused to do, alleging that Millard was a true Christian anil deserving of help and sympathy. About the first week In May. 1897, Mrs. Meyer left her home for the pur pose of visiting friends, and Millard also disappeared from the Meyer fire side. The absence of both a) that time has remained a mystery until the oth er day, when Mrs. Kate Conltn, house keeper at the Haight hotel, 12 Loomis street, was called to the stand by the attorneys engaged In prosecuting the couple and testified that In the first week of May, 1897, Millard came to the hotel on i/oomls street and rented a room for himself and wife, giving the name of Gray. She testified that they remained at the place until June 22, living together constantly, and then left as mysteriously as they came. She positively identified Gray as Millard and the woman whom he railed his wife as Mrs. Katherine Meyer, then In court. She supple mented her remarks with the state ment that Mrs. Meyer came to her sev eral weeks before the trial and asked her to answer any Inquiries relative to her residence at the place in the nega tive, and to tell anyone who called that she, Mrs. Meyer, had resided there Hone. The long summer evenings were tedious to the couple. Soon they fell away from the mission work and It was alleged that they spent the ma jority of their evenings on the back CORYDON MILLARD. iiTiTchTIf the Meyer home, busily HI Kugeil In the consumption uf Urge luanUtlcs of heer, while the husband "omlnueil hla labor in the slums It « » on one of then.cusimix that Meyer alleged that hla wife and Mil- j lard had been overheard planning a i conspiracy to deprive him of hla life I One day In the spring of last ynar Mr*. Meyer learned of the arrest of i Millard on iho • barge of stealing a | { pair of shoe*. Then ensued a great j llffii-ulty. Hhu went t« the home of , Attorney I’hilltpa and, according to ’ i Hr. Phillips' story, she wanted to sign ; bonds for the partner uf her platonic 1 friendship, do h* went with her to j ; he Last t'hlcagu avenue station and. | i waving her In n drug slur* near the | nation, he went to the desh sergeant j , m learn of the- start condition of af I I aim While there he said he Aral heard af | he conspiracy charge against Mm dvjer and Millard llaslealng back to | he pharmacy he railed her While •alhing ap la dalle avenue he la form I cd her of the chargee preferred against , A**. and she dropped to the pavomaht j In a faint. Phillips alleged that shat came to his house that night and beg ged permission to stay until she eouldl arrange bonds, meanwhile asking that he negotiate a loan on some iiropertyi that she possessed. In this refuge she* remained for a period of three weeks,; and during the trial she accused Attor ney Phillips with unlawfully detaining1 her there. Home time after she warn arrested and with Millard, arraigned' before Judge Baker to answer to a; charge of conspiracy against the life of Meyer. But the experiences had; been too much for the delicate woman, and her system began to break down under the strain. The case was railed many times, but each time was post poned on account of her Illness. Fln ully Judge Baker, growing weary of Hire continued deluy, ordered that the case) proceed. The disclosures were start ling. The man who had imposed oui the simple evangelist proved to be an; old jailbird, with a history well knowtij to the police. He was the son of -tj minister, 42 years of age, and during; the course of his existence had served) many terms in the state and county! institutions for burglary and larceny. Millard's voice made him many! friends. During one of his terms in the. Joliet penitentiary Ills religious air, and splendid singing abilities brought; to him the post of leader of the prison. I'holr. He appeared utterly Indifferent, of the woman whose ruin he had caused! during the days of the trial. When ever she was able to he present In the, court room he would not deign to| vouchsafe her a look. For four days, (he Jury listened to the evidence Itij the case and returned a verdict of penl-j tentlary for Millard and $100 line for; Mrs. Meyer, Throughout the last day of the trial, the wonmii had arisen from a sick lied to lie In attendance and remained prop-* ped up In a chair iu the ante room. When Hie Judge called for her to he, brought to the bar of Justice it was necessary to carry her. It had been suspected that the woman was shunt-; I CATHERINE MEYER. mlng, but her wan face and fever parched lips on that day turned a tido of sympathy in her favor, it was ion ceded by all present in the court room that the days of Katherine Meyer were numbered and that, her appearance be fore the higher tribunal to answer to the crime of conspiracy to murder would he in an Interval of a few months. She still clings with vigor to the man who lias wrecked her formerly peace-, ful existence and avers that the trial) is but the part of a gigantic scheme on the part of her husband to have her Incarcerated in sonic asylum or cause her deatli through the excitement, at tendant on the trial and thereby obtain possession of the property that is re corded in her name. ATTEMPTED MURDER. A Woman Shoot* o St. £.otil* Pol t<-« mail an«l 1Ii«ii llerMelf. Richard .1. Halloran. a policeman on the St. Louis force, was fatally shot with his own pistol the other night by Miss Nellie Mangan, who then turned the pistol on herself and put a bullet in her brain. The attempted murder ami suicide was the result of disap pointed love. The shooting followed a quarrel, during which Miss Mangan begged Halloran to marry her. He re fused, and she, in mad desperation, be-i gun shooting. For several months it has been understood ill the neighbor hood of the girl's home that Halloran’ ami Miss Mangan were engaged. Thai patrolman walked the heat on which! the girl lived. Recently it becanuv noised that there had been a quarrel and Halloran had broken off the en gagement. Both are dead. A i ouriuc**<*'•• "«*«»»»».i. At Pengs police station last evening. In the presence of the local detachment of the P division, Mrs. Jane flower, of Arthur road. Heekenham, was present, sd with a silver leapot and purse of mousy for having rendered assistance to Police Constable ileorge Hamblin on Dec. 28, The constable was endeavor* ing to arrest (wo prisoners and was violently attacked. Heveral men looked on and refused to help. Mrs. Cower went to the constable's assistance She took his whistle from his tunic and blew It till auother policeman .ante to his aid. When tin- men were brought before the bench the magistrate to® mended Mrs. tlower for her plucky ac tion London Telegraph. t in • "««to >1.... IcMotno, ttsMtu'ituilt, In ItrUtsh North %mer|. ra. is the only plate In the ItrUtsh empire. *>'.ordtng tu a recent dim,it*, log Vat report, that sgesed* lautdon tu cloudiness. Pmju.umU Is also the dampest pU»* In Ih* empire, white Adelaide, In Australia. Is the dryest. I'ey Ion Is the hot’eet sad Northwest t*tta>U the coldest posswsstoa that the Hag of kins Una NmMa aver. Pur use In pta e of toe clips wu a hi cycle a plats Is attached to the shoe, having a races* in which n projection an the pedal (h» la hold the rider • loot In place