The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-20

A Lawyers Secret Marriage to a
New York Hoiress--A Divorced
Woman Married and Then Put Of
On a False Charge Of Adultery-.A
Separation That Does Not Hold In
Now York.
Mrs. Susan A. Baker, an educated LADY
Of high social position, Of about thirty
wears of age, died last summer in Charles
ton. South Carolina, whittier she had
zone with ,he husband to whom she had
been formally, but secretly married, and
left in her will the following clause, rela-
tive to which Surrogate Hutchings rem
dered decision yesterday:
Ibeoueath to my husband, John A. Baker,
and direct my trustees to pay annually to him
81 800 during his life, or until he succeed to
any portion Of my estate as heir to the issue
efmy body.
The testatrix died in hildbirth, leaving
no issue. The validity of the clause was
contested on the ground Of fraud and un-
due influence exercised over the decedent
bv the legatee. 1t was not contended
that marriage ceremony had not been
duly performed by competent authority,
but it was said BY the contestants-the
next of kin Of the decedent-that Baker
was not, at that date of the marriage
ceremony, competent to marry, as he h ad
wife living from whom he had not been
legally divorced; that by specious but
fraudulent representations, he led the de-
eedent to believe that decree Of divorce
which he had obtained in Minnesota from
= former wife was valid decree, and un.
der this belief to consent to marriage
without the knowledge Of her family,
and that it was under the belief that
Baker vas her lawful husband that she
made the bequest named-when she
would neither have consented to the mar
riage nor made him the recipient of her
bounty had she been aware of the real
facts connected with his previous mar
riage and alleged divorce.
THE FIRST MARRIAGE.
The legatee, John A. Baker, is native
Of North Carolina, and about forty-three
years of age. He was educated lawyer.
He married many years since lady who
subsequently died, and who left as the
fruit of their marriage a daughter. In
1867, while widower, on his way to Eu-
rope, he formed the acquaintance of Miss
Letitia Hargin, a resident of Chicago.
Each returned to America at different
times, and in the fall of the same year,
Baker called upon Miss Hargin, who
was residing with her mother in Chicago,
renewed his acquaintance and paid atten-
tions to her with view to marriage. He
subsequently left that city, returned
shout Christmas, and further pressed his
suit. About this time Miss Hargin in.
formed him of previous marriage to one
Horton, from whom she had been di.
vorced, and furnished him with informa-
ton to obtain the full facts Of the case if
he desired, or, if the fact Of her being a
divorced woman was felt by him to be an
objection to pursuing his attentions fur
ther he might withdraw his suit. He
wrote her letter repletc with assurances
Of love an3 affection, and asking her to
sccept him in marriage. An engagement
followed, and in Nov ember of 1868, Baker
and Miss Hargin we're formally married
in Chicago, and thenceforward for nearly
year they lived together, except during
his temporary absences; and meantime
he was wholly supported by his wife's
mother, lady in prosperous business.
IN THE DIVORCE BUSINESS.
After one year he abandoned his wife.
writing her letter from Indiana, in
which he accused her Of gross offences.
Twenty-Five months after this he COM
menced an action for divorce against her
in Minnesota, where he had acquired
domlcile. In the complaint, which was
neither signed nor verified by Baker, but
was signed by his attorneys, it was charg-
ed that his wife had practiced fraud and
deceit upon him at the time of their mar
rage, by concealing from him the fact of
her previous marriage to her first hus-
band, Horton (who it was alleged in the
complaint had deserted her), and on the
discovery Of which fraud on her part he, |
Baker, had abandoned her. Baker also
made affidavit that Lctitia was nom
resident OF Minnesota, and that he did not !
know her residence. The Court granting,
therefore, service Of summons by adver-
tlsement, the summons was published in |
the minnesota temperance Advocate.
At the trial before referee, two witness.
IS testified in brief and general way to
the facts alleged, and in addition, that |
The defendant was disreputable person,
md in January, 1872, Mr.. Baker was
divorced from his second wife, Letitia.
Within few weeks after this decree
the new widower arrived in New York
:lty, with letter Of introduction to the !
tsmily Of Mrs. Lawrence, and there for
The first time he met her daughter, Miss
susan, and in a short time he made her