The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-22
DEMANDING HER BOWER.
The Widow sPtces's suit In tho Brosk-
lyn City CouSt-A Claim for 34o,000-A
Romantic Life. s

Tho Widow spiess's suit In tho Brosk-
lyn City Coust-A Claim for 340,000-A
Romantic Life. 4s
case Of more than ordinary Interest," present
ing many romantic phases was before the Brook
lyn City Court yesterday. Mrs. Elizabeth Spicer. q
weIl-preserved and nne-looking woman Of nifty
years. appeared az plaintiff In suit against
George spieer to recover $4,000 under the follow
ing circumstances The PLAINTIFFS story is that on
the I'd OF June, 1862. she was married to John
Spicer, q well-known sporting man. Ivy Rev. Spen-
Ger H. Cone, Of the Oliver street tNew York; Bap-
fist church, the ceremony taking place at the pas
tors house. Previous to this she had been he'd
into marriage ceremony with ono Jarrett Ben,
who proved to be alreaay q married man, and for
that reason her marriage with Sptcer
was q private one, there being no wit
nesses present or certificate given, neither was
there any record made on the PASTORS books
Bell was subsequently convicted Of higamy. The
Rev. Mr.. Cone had married her to tAs Bell, and
Spicer was aware Of all these circumstances Mr.
Cone died In 1864 Both John EpiOer and his
brother George were connected with the Union
Race Course and owned horse farms In Jamaics,
and In the course Of his business John accumulated
considerable real estate including two buildings
In West Fifty-nrse street, three on Fast Fifty
second street, and the house ~ West Eleventh
street, New York. During an Illness Of John
Spicer, on the nth Of July. 1862 IL being expected
s' that s tSe cs xs s LIQUID
deed all the real estate TO him, the understanding
being that the deed should not be recorded unless
pay to the widow the amount Of her dover
right in the consideration oppressed IN the deed
intended to VIM all kis properly to hcr. but no &C.
is ss az
John died on the sssh q jsly, lsss :na the deeds
once The plaintiff, however, never received any
thing from the administration Of the estate, and
is emitted 70. the real estate having largely
increased in value. 60
Mrs; spicer was subjected to severe Cross $.
facts. She fs . native Of FYevhurg, Me-, where
she lived until she attained her dxteenth year.
Boston millinery store, and while there married
one Henry Miller, on the S1st July, 1S40 Winnie
living at jamaica Plains Miller abandoned her. Her
next place OF residence was New York, whittier
she came In vain search Of her fugitive husband.
subsequently she lived In the family Of Jarrett W.
with him as his wife before their marriage. She
discovered that Bell had another whe living about
prosecuted him for 1samy. This was IL II. Fail
Of 1851, the year prior TO her marriage with 6pcer.
II Is admitted by the defence that the plaintiff
It Is denied that they were ever married. Az to
the property In question George Spicer alleges that
It was purchased with hts money. and the deed was
confined In Q lunatic asylum. Tue object Of the
use OF Johns name was convenience In transfer.
George also admits that he has given the plaintiff
here considerable money since nis brothers. death.
and as q reason, therefore, says that he supposed
she was Johns lawful wife. A furthor defence is
that all the questions raised In the present action
were settled In decision In previous action
brought by plainttf IN the Nav York Supreme
Court.
The court room was crowded yesterday until the
hour of adournment.a The trial villa probably oc-
cupy several days. -