The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-12
4 MIRITdL PUZZLE.


Romance In the Court Room-Was she
Wife or ntstress:-A Decision Reached
After the Death OF All Concerned.
A curious case, Involving the title 10 vast
estates in Maryland, has just been decided by
the Supreme Court of the United States In
Washington. The suit has been pending 30
many years in the various courts that all the
original parties to 1t are long since dead, and
many Of their children and grandchildren also.
The estates are in Prince Georges County,
aud were owned many years ago by two
brothers, a Dr. Crawford aud Thomas B. Craw-
ford. The estates joined, and they had sew
eral residences on them, and moved around
among their mansions according TO their
pleasure, living in Que or another as comfort
and convenience dictated. They are both
said to have lived fast l. ""e doctor was
never married; that was cer.an. The case
would never have come before the courts had
It been 30 certain whether or not Thomas B.
Crawford was married man. That question
has puzzled the lawyers and the courts for
many years, and that was the question which
the Supreme Court was called upon to decide.
Thomas B. Crawford became Intimate with
Miss Elizabeth Taylor, a beauty of the neigh
borhood. Betsy Taylor In Time became
his housekeeper, and produced house full OF
children. She sat at the head of his
table, carried the family purse, and
was treated In all respects as his vile. DR..
Crawford did not like Betsy, and kept away
from his brothers house. elnally, Ihomas b:
Crawford died, and twenty-five years alter, the
doctor died and left no will. They had neither
father nor mother, nor brothers nor sisters,
nor uncles nor sunts living. Their only rela-
tiyes were named Blackburn, who were first
cousins, If Betsy Taylor and her children were
ruled out Of the list Of Legitimate relationship.
The children of Betsy Taylor all went by the
name of Crawford, not Taylor. Inc nrst cniid'
who was boy, named George Thomas Craw-
ford was confessedly born out OF wedlock;
but Betsy Taylor claimed that secret mar
rlage subsequently, took place, and the chill
dren and chlldren's children claimed that
their father and mother passed for husband
and vile. The Blackburns and their descen-
dants after them claimed the estate as
the lawful heir5 OF the Crawfords, and 30 all
parties went 10 law to establish their rights.
The testimony 10 the case from lis beginning
makes volumes upon volumes OF manuscript.
Betsy gave under oath her account of her re-
latlons with Thomas, and said that her lntl-
macy with him was not begun under promise
of marriage, but Thomas had often said ne
would like to marry her, but couldn't Just then
on account OF his brother. She went 10 Wash.
Ington 10 have her arst Guild christened, and
the priest talked 10 her severely about her
way of lie. She then talked to Thomas, and
he finally consented TO O secret marriage, and
the same priest who had chrlstened her child
performed the service, In st. Patrlck's Church,
Washington City. When the snt commenced
the priest was gone, and Tue Cnurch RECORDS
could not be found.
As soon as II was found that Dr.. Crawford
had died without making Will The question
arose ITO whom shall the administration OF
the estate be granted!" Blackburn claimet It
on one hand, and George Thomas Crawford,
the only son of the oldest child OF Thomas
Crawford, upon the other. The case was
placed before the jury, and they decided there
wasno marriage. TIE administration was then
granted 10 Blackburn, the first cousin, who
look possession oil the estates. The case then
found its way into the Federal courts,
where IL was shown that before some
persons Crawford called Betsy his vile, and
recognized his children as legitimate, and be-
fore others he called her "Mss Betsy" aud
did not recognize the children as born In wed
lock. EverSthl went TO show that Craw-
fora wes devoledIy attached 10 his children.
He hcsrated at nothing for their Improvement
or happiness, and In every way showed
fathers attachment. The difficulty was 10
disprove or establish the marriage. The evil
dence was very evenly balanced. The case
was before several courts. The Judges were
always divided. Some courts reversed and
some confirmed. At last 1t reached the Su-
preme court. The lower court had decided
that there was a marriage. The supreme
court affirmed the decision. Thus the heirs oil
Thomas Crawford came Into possession oil The
property, and the Backburns were finally de-
teated.
In the list of those who died since the his.
tory CT the case began, are the following: DR..
Crawford, owner of the estate; Thomas Craw-
ford. an only brother and nearest kin; Betsy
Crawford, wife of Thomas aud mother to his
children; the four children of Thomas and
Betsy; the priest who married Thomas and
Betsy; Mrs. Evans, sister TO Betsy; Mrs. Tay'
lor, mother to Betsy; brother 10 Betsy; Mr;
Bowie and the other original attorneys, ana
also Blackburn. The last contestants for the
property were the grandchildren o Thomas
and Betsy, and the distant relatives OF Black
burn.