The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1870-02-10
BUYING A 100000 HUSBAND.
From the Ellenrille Journal.

Allusion has before been IN ,de to n some
, what curious lawsuit to come on trial al
the next term of the Circuit Court in this
county. The principal thereto are women
the complainant Mrs Susan Crawford, an d
the defendant Mrs Christine Russell.
Mrs. Crawford, the complainant, is about
As or SO years Of age, rather inclined ia
obesity, q widow with four children. She
is q school teacher in Saugerties, and her
actions. style Of speaking, and department
generally, show her to be strong minded
women, shrewd, smart. and calcul atiug.
Previous to her husbands death the family
were in sfiuent circumstances. but owing to
some financial trouble during his last days
much money was lost, and to-day the wid-
ow, though not really wanting the neces.
sties of life. is comparatively poor.
Christine Russel, the defendant, is about
70 years Of age, surrounded by all the com.
forts Of good home, and has money enough
to keep her safe from poverty's intrusion.
Both of the ladies are respected In the hest
circles, and are members of the Rev. Mr..
Barnuln's Methodist Church, in Saugerties
Mrs. Russel's husband. j eremiah Russell, has
been dead nearly tbree years; In 1886 he
was Van Buren Presidential Elector fro m
this State. In ls42. he was sent to Copqre IS
from the Thirteenth District BY Democrats.
He was rsnyninated 10 ls4e, but defeated
He possessed good physical frame, and
to this day 1t is said OF him that he worked
more hours ont Of the twenty.ion than any
one in bis district. In June, 1916. his first
wife died and be became widower. And
now comes . curious story.
Tue next month, July, Mrs. Christine
Crawford (mestioped above as Christine
Russell) who was q sister TO the hnsbadn Of
Susan Crawford, approached the latter and
conversed with her upon the sui jpct Of So
curing the Hon. jeremiah Russell a. her
husband. he then being abont 70 years OF
age. and reputed TO be worth $500. 900. and
she abent 40 years Of age and worth consid.
able less. At the interview with Susan
Crawford, Christine said to her If she
wonld bring about marriage between her
and Jeremiah Russell, and she sh auld snr-
vive him. she would give her 81. 600. a pi-
ano. and a gold watch. and educate ber
child. Susan listened attentively t ethe of.
fer. and finally accepted It. when a written
contract to that effect was drawn nm and
signed by both parties. and that contract
is said to be still in existence.
Soon after this Christine met Jeremiah at
Snsan's house by previous arrangement.
when an Introduction followed. Then visit
\ after visit was made. Mrs. Susan era wfnld
} finding ligh: and fuel for the pair Thus
matters progressed happily until October
ls47. when the two were united in marriage
and lived together happily and mnch re-
spected until 1867, when the Hon. Jeremiah
Russell died without making will. A
short time previous to bis death he seemed
desirous OF drawing mp and finishing such .
document and often consulted Counsellor
winans, of Sangerties, In relation to 1t. but
the will was never completed.
After waiting q proper length of time the
widow Russell claimed the portion OF her
deceased husbands property allowed her by
law, clsiming also that there was an ante.
nuptial agreement bstweeu them in relation
to the disposition off Seeing that ther a
were prospects Of considerable litigation
growing out OF the complication Of the af-
fair, the executor finally compromises with
the widow by paying over to her the snug
sum of $35,000 when she ''signed off, any
further claim on the properly.
As soon as this settlement was effec ted,
Mrs. Susan Cawford demanded the So. 600,
piano, gold watch, and the edu cation of her
child rs the contract price agreed upon in
writing for services rendered the widow in
ebtaiaing the Hon. jeremiah Russell for
her asa husband. She asserted that the
contract has been fulfilled on her part to
the letter, and VA Mrs. Christine Russell
had survived the Hon. jeremiah Jussell, as
especially referred to In the contract, there
WAS nothing for the widow Russell to Dc
but pay over the price. The plaintiff,
through counsel, puts in . general denial,
and also pleads tho Statute of Limitation.
A A new well was siInck on the Central
| Datroisur, C,' S,,c, -, T,o.doy