The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-06-25

Hstory.-The following from the Johnstown
Tribune recounts so fully the history of the
case OF Alice Heslop as. Mary Heslop, tried
in our Court of Common Pleas last week.
that feel we can do no better than COPY
the story entire:
In the village of BARNARD Castle, Durham
county, England, was born sixty-Hve years ago
Alice Kane, daughter of John Kane linen
later. Alice had reached woman's estate. and
young miner and Iaborer who resided in the
same neighbOrhOOd, the youthful couple were
church of St. Curhbert's, in Darlington, a VIZ
lare near BARNARD Castle, the ceremony being
cording to the formula of the Church of Eng
land, OF which the husband was a member, al
belt the young bride had been reared Catholic.
About one year subsequent to this union a
child was born. which was christened in the
same church by the name of John Paul Hes
lop, hut when a year old it died at the home of
its grandfather. The next child was Il daughter,
abeth.
Seven years after the marriage OF this couple
the husband was compelled to leave home. ow
necessary to mention. He proceeded to q viii
lage in Scotland, called Kipps and which is not
he sent for his wife and dauR hter. and imme-
diately after their arrival commenced house.
employed as miner in that place. There the
family resided for three years, and Mr., ReslOp
aie-house kept BY a man samed Todd, There
were other stories afiOat which connected him
crlnfnaIIy win the Wlfe OF the IaudIOrd. ana
it was even alleged that his spouse eventually
cans ht him In the act of adultery:
The upshot of the matter was that he struck
her down with bottle. and upon her recovery
a few weeks subsequently she discovered that
the guilty pair had fled tO America. The .itu-
alton of the deserted wife was not enviable
one, as she had no means, and was compelled
tn dispose of her personal effects for the pur-
misfortunes the girl Elizabeth, then eight years
of age was taken down with measles, and moth
er and child. being penn:less and rriendIess.
were compelled to make application for admis-
sion into Bowcs Almshouse, i'm the county of
Durham. Upon the recovery OF her daughter
Mrs. Heslop sought employment in cotton fac
tories and I'm managed to get get along pretty com,
some assistance in following the cleaners i'm the
harvest fields. etc.
But at last the mother was again necessitatcd
to enter the Poor House oc her native county,
and there she remained q charge upon the par
49,. When the daughter arrive ! at the age of
l, years she was sought in marriage by Thomas
Davidson, miner, who was employed at Shot
and within two years afterward the husband
concluded to come to America i'm search of his
father-in-law. He knew that the latter was in
Pottsvile, SchuylkilI county, aud thither he
proceeded, and found Joseph Hesiop and Mrs.
but a weeks, when he returned to England, and
four years subsequently, came back to- this
children. They stopped at Pottsvilie long
enough to discover that Heslop and the woman
came to 1ohnstown, and they also proceeded on
to this place.
arrival they stopped at the old Mansion House.
corner of Main and Franklin streets. Next
morning Mr.. DAVIDSON went up to C1nemaugh
comfortable fixed, being in possession Of some
valuable mineral land. in partnership with Mr..
Horrocks, who had accompanied him from
Pottsvile. Mr.. Heslop at once took them to
his home, and the son-in-law Immediately com
menced work for the two partners, 5, veral
weeks afterwards Mrs. Todd tnuntcd Mrs. Da-
wilson with being what she deuominated II
ichancc child, aud the domestic peace VI tie
Household was at once broken. The result was
that Mr. Hcslop rented n tenement on Huber
street, Conemaugh borough. FOR Mr.. Davidson
and his family. HcsioP and his daughter al
ways remained on good terms. and he several
times desired her to cal! Mrs. Todd 10y the name
of mother intimarng that r.wouId be to her
interest to do
In 1855 Mr.. Davidson purchased property in
Prospect boroughi and removed thereto. Six
years ago q lawsuit sprung up among some of
his ne.ghbors. and be was subpcnaed as a wit
ness, rs was Mr.. H"s;op also. While at Ebens-
burg attending the trial OF this CAUSE the latter
proposed adopting two OF Davidson's children,
but was Informed that his own child had been
left in the Poor House in the old country, and
lie did not see what was wanted with the grand
While coming from Ebensburg after the trial
OF this cause, Mr.. Mclaughlin, one of the coun-
sci who had been employed. was acquainted
with the fact of Mr.. Hcsop's hTvinga wife stIll
living in England, and asked his advice i'm re-
His counsel advised the bringing OF Mrs. Alice
Heslop to this country, and several letters were
some time before knowledge OF her where
abouts was learned. The proposed proceedings
she arrived in this place. In the preceding
February Joseph Heslop died, and his rcn,ains
inferred in Sandyvaie cemetery. Pre-
vious to- his demise hc made will, devising to
Mrs. Todd thirteen acres OF coal land and the
alter her deafn it was to revert to her son JOS
eph. The latter was born during her residence
of age. A house and lot contiguous 10 their
mansion was also Revised. to her son absolutely.
1t will be seen that this suit was based upon
an action to recover dover by the platinum
claiming to be tie legal wife OF Joseph Heslop.
deceased II was alleged that the woman
ver then as Mrs. Mary Todd, and Iatterly in this
place as Mrs. Joseph Hesiop, had no lawful
right to bear the name of the man with whom
she had eloped. The preparation of the cause
involved much much ,roa1le 1 and u sxpense and al
1872, it has been dragging its slow length along,
thropgh the M iEtricaeies and delays of !hh lay
her claim ON Thursday last.
During the interval since suit Afs brought
bnt not liking her quarters size returned t,
town here, and during the coolest days of hast
door. begging for food mones. and raiincnt
Shehas lived eventful life. and from tie time
stSSi 5 at the village altar of St: t,n,h!,ert.s
church, in old England. down to; the present
day, she has known buta brief perioa of ffbpi-
the age of 65 years after being scpernted from
Eer husband for hearly-half century. and
coming here two ycars.agO only to find that the
grass of single season had sptung up and
withered over his grave to lind i'm the enjoy:
mcnt OF his estate one who she claims had
previously wrongcd her, and to e<e out
fstence from hand to mouth during these two
years which seemed the climax of II sorrow fu
liec, she being Il stranger in u stfange lane, il
WAS indeed hard. bitter hard.
BHt the hour OF her triumph has come even
II she is old tOttering Woman, wrirklcd and
careworn, for she can proudly justify her claim
now The verdict of the jury does not award
her much money Ocs-only $500 for deten-
tion of dowry. and $50 per year during her 1ift
but il says she w;is really unified III marriage
at Darlington torty-seven years ago TO JOSEPH
Heslop.
WE clip the following from the Pittsburgh
Duiiu Enzctte of the 18th inst:
To THOSE WHO HAVE UNDER CONTENPIA
TON THE PURCHASE or 4 FnisT-CL.sss PIANO
That "Steck" Pianos can he purchased on easy
monthly or quarterly payments s now nm rs
surcd fact. Heretofore il has been an impoSsi.
bility TO first class pd on terms above
mentioned. Cheap, trdsliN pianos have al