Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-12-11
Ending Of a Remarkable Lawsuit.

'ourts of Kentucky and Indiana, was
lrought TO u termination day or two
igo by the agreement Of the parties to
ne suit TO compromise.
Some years ago German gentle
nan named Gustavus Schurman resid-
ID in Louisville. He was the posses
Or Of considerable amount Of prop
city, lived in good style, drove fine
hrscs, sported footman in livery,
md claimed to be German nobleman
Ee was married to German young
kdy, had a young and interesting
hmily, and to all appearances was
prosperous. and happyy But as in so
macy fumiiies, there was ghost IN
this one, the secret Of whose existence
did not como to light until the death
of the principal actor in this little
social drama.
Gustavus was resident OF Ail.la-
Chapello, little city in Rhenish Prns-
sin, pursued the business of cloth man
utacturer, and was what might be
considered well off, his real and per-
sonal estate being worth about $780,
900. He loved, or thought ho loved,
a lady named Amelia Eberhardine
Coll, daughter of one of the royal
counselors, and in l845 he proposed
marriage, was accepted, and the mar.
riage ceremony was performed in that
year. An ante-nuptial contract was
entered into between the two, accord
ing to the code Napoleon, which was
10 force at Aix-la-Cbapelle, by which
in case of the death OF the husband
before the wife, she became entitled
to one-eighth in fec simple of his en-
tire estate, and one fourth Of tho es-
tate during her life time, besides hav-
ing community Of interest in all ac-
quisitions to the common fund after
marriage, which community Of inter
est would cntitlc her to one half
The two lived happily together for
some time, or apparently so. The
life of the wife, however, was soon
rendered wretchcd by the discovery
that another had supplanted her in
her husbands affections. This how
ever, was not exactly the case it was
she in reality, who had taken the place
which nature had assigned to another.
Schnrman had in his employ q number
of factory girls, one of whom, Gather
inc Bengels was possessed OF more
than ordinary beauty. The impress
siblo young bachelor, was smitten
With her beauty, but the incxorable
laws Of society governing the little
Rhenish province in which he lived
held over him terror of prescription
which prevented him from doing that
which his heart prompted. He loved
Catherine Bengels and his love was
returned, but he married Amelia r.
Col, who brought to him proud
name anu -e.---,--- - n.
for the crime which Schurman had
committed against his nature he was
amply punished.
His married life was unhappy, while
his love for tho lowly Catbarine Ben
gels became more intense, now that
il was impossible for them to be legal
ly united. They met clandestiney
and the intercourse coming to the
Knowledge Of the unhappy wife, she
became depressed beyond mcasure,up
braided her husband with his pcrfdy
ard threatened divorce. This render
ed the husband desperate, and, openly
ayowing his attachment, took Gather
in, Bengels into his domicile. Be
coming discontentcd with this condi
ton of things, Schurman decided upoI
cnigrating to America, and came tc
tlis country. He returned in lSi9
and gathering together what property
he could, departed in 1850 for th,
United States, in company with Cath
crime Bengels. Before his departure
hs wife instituted suit for divorce.
On the arrival Of Schurman in Amer
ica be proceeded to Louisville, whcr
b, took up his residence, and sued 70
divorce from his wife Amelia, wbicl
vas granted when he immediatel,
married the woman who had slopct
With him.
Gustnvus Schurman purchased ren
elthtc in indianapolis and Louisville
and by his tact and business manage
nent increased his wealth to over
million of dollars. At the time of hi
d,ath he had seven children, two b,
lis first wife and FIVE by his socon
vito. In making his will he left hi
russian property to his two Gcrma
heirs and his American property 1
lis American heirs.
The first wife Amelia, learning {
tie doath of her husband, obtaine
possession by legal process of th
russian estate, and sued for her share
q per marriage contract, Of tho Dc
bcendants estate in America. lie
son, Gnstavus Il. Schurman, rcprcsen
ed her with power of attorney, and th
ablcst lawyers in tho city were en-
ployed to prosecute the case. Th
pleadings were voluminous and as
vast amount OF property was involve,
great interest was manifested in III
result. n appeared, however, that I
the case progressed the plaintiff veal
cned somewhatin enforcing her claim
Being in foreign country, and copi'
Of proceedings in foreign courts bein
frequently rendered necessary as te
timony in the American courts, 81
became wearied and finally agreed
a compromise, in lieu Of oil claims, II
the sum of one hundred thousand dc
lars.
The LATEST IN SuIcIDE-Thc late
in novelty in suicides como fro
Cleveland, o., whore an individu
who had drawn q blank in a lottcr
wen. to his death after the followir
T unique and elaborate preparation
lie first procured loaded revolv
, and connected it with clock works,
that IL should be fred off at certa
, limo. lie then got into bed, an
after placing the pistol behind his Q
took a dose Of chloroform. Under I
. influence of the narcotic he then we
|, TO sleep. AT the given time tho cloc
work pressed the trigger, discharg''
the pistol and launching the slumo'
| - L.