The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-06-17
HE BULLETIN.
A MIXED CASE.
WAS DIR. BERNS DIR. BALDY, AND
WHOM DID HE MARRY?
TWO WIDOWS LOOKING FOR THE
ESTATE U ONE MAN--BOTH
CLAIM Hin AS A
HUSBAND.
From the 81. Louis Globe. |

From the ~. Louis Globc.l
Tha case detailed below, now in pro-
gress in Belleyille, H., 10 said TO DO the
most strange and novel ever known in st.
CLAIR county. DIR. Lepere Berns died in
February Of this year, and Charles Askins
was appointed administrator of his estate.
Now comes before Probate Judge Piepei,
Mrs. Ruth Badly, Of Council Bluffs, Iowa,
and protssts against the appointment and
asks that it be set aside, that she may
have the came, Oh the folio wing state VI
facts detailed IN evidence Ia the probate
court. DR.. Peter Z. Badly married Ruth
5tebbens, October 3, 1853, in Toedo,
Tama county, lows, and lived with her IN
Council Bluffs, Iowa, for nine TO twelve
months, and then left her, and Mrs. Ruth
Badly ha. not seen him since. While he
lived IN Council Bluff he was acquainted
with DR.. Campbell, an oculist, ON Fifth
street, st. Louis; Several witnesses la
Council Bluffs knew DIR. Campbell also
while DR.. Badly was living there. After
DR.. Badly lett Council Bluffs he cores
pended with Mira. Badly through DR..
Campbell, the latter gentleman attending
" the letters from both parties, and par.
ticular instructions wore given that the
letters should not be directed To Dr.. j. G..
Campbell, and that DIR. J. Z. Campbell
had received some Of the letters already.
This correspondence continued until the
latter part OF 1866, and then the evidence
does not show that any more letters were
receiyed until 1869; but there arc indics-
tions that there had been more letters dur
ing this interval, but they do not sppear
in evidence.
In 1909, DIR. Lepete Bern, writes,
through DR.. Campbell, as he says in bis
letter, at the instance Of DIR. Badly, that
her husband has been sick and wants his
wife 10 take boat and como at once TO
ST. Louis and stop at the Everett House,
and tina, he (Dr. Berns) will produce her
husband, but that DR.. Badly Is . wan
derer on the earth. 1his letter purports
TO have been written from Alton, I'll.
DIR. Bsrns seems TO have written more
letters 10 Mrs. Badly, through DR.. Camp
bell, after 1869. The msrrisgo OF Mrs
Badly Wac proven photographs OF herself
and husband, taken in Iowa, were pro.
duced, rs we'll - a photograph of DIR
Berns by MIS-. Ruth Badly. An eIper,
.wears that the photographs OF DIR. Bern'
and DR.. Badly prove them to be one and
the same person. the description Of DR..
Campbell Is held 10 establish the fact ths,
Baby and Besns we're the same person,
and he 10 said to have written to Mrs
| Is ,ldy 10 come 10 Belleville and establish
her claim ~ Administrative.
The above 10 q very brief synopsis OF th'
testimony on the part Of Mrs. Badly and
| her witnesses.
| Per contra Mrs. Lepere Berns swear
that she WAS married 10 DIR. l.epere BERN
| In October, lsG5, that her name befor,
this marriage was Mrs. OLSON, and that b,
came to Centerviiie some fourteen month";
| before, and that she had boarded him con
tinuousiy during this time pievi Ius 4
marriage. She says she was married by
| priest in St. Louis, IN the night but sh'
cannot ssy in what part Of the city, an
sue cannot prodNcs any certificate o
other proof of marriage. except that sh
occupied the position that a wife shoul
occupy, and the law mscifully says that
enough to establish marriage in lllinoi!
The whole case seems TO turn in the eye
Of The defense on two points; First, tha
DR.. Lepere Berns SCENE to have turne'
up in Cen.erville, st. Clair county Hi
nois, in the early part Of 1854. Som
three or four witnesses swear that the
we're acquainted with him then, and Mr.
Badly swears that he WAS living with he
IN Iowa at the same time. Second, ths
DR.. Badly had q hslf-brother, and this
DR.. Pepere Berns was that brother.
The plaintiffs reply that 80 conspicuou
man Is DIR. Berns, in 80 small town n
Centerville, should have been known I
more than three witnesses in the earl
part Of 1864, and that the truth is, thes
three or four witnesses are mistaken sbou
% year in their time, and must by e
means weigh sgains. their strong array @
circumstances and positive proof.
II only remains TO be said that Mrs. ID
Baldy 10 . young woman of about thirty
6 three in appearance, modest and dnishe
in her manners, and seems honestly an
deeply affected by the whole proceeding
never smiling during all the glbes, tria
\ and witticisms Of counsel, while Mr.
Berns 10 a woman Of about fifty, coarse !
feature, with heavy face, fully denotin
great strength. she smiled freGuentl
during the proceeding. The contrast b.
tween the women was most marked, an
wa generally remarked by the by-stand
ers. The decision will come Monday.