Smyrna times., 1876-01-12
The Vinegar Bitters Man.

Twelve years of their married life. the;
cohultion, pecuniarily, did not improve
Four children were born to them. bu
death left only one. In 1862 the husband
with his wife and child started on the over
iand Journey for California, with others. II
tram OF eighty wagons. They were foul
months on the plains, and on the border,
OF the Great American desert. their child
died. AT length they reached Stockton
california, and there son, now living. was
born. AT this point of their lives there
was misunderstanding between them that
eliminated in a separation.
The woman, thus thrown upon bar ovr,,
resources, was forced to labor for the sun.
port OF herself and child She was assisted
oy the Masonic fraternity, by Presby.
terrain church of which she was nap,bor
ana by some of the leading families of
Stockton.
"hlIe thus situated, Mrs. Brenton made
the acquaintance of Joseph Walker. He
proiessed to be physician, and had made
discovery that was to give him princeIv
fortune. 1t was the composition now On
widely known as the Vinegar Bitters. He
soon hired SIX or seven rooms in a brick
dwelling, and began the manufacture of
his "bitters." AT times she visited him
ana when sufficient quantity of the medi.
cine had been made, she took some bottlos
and with basket on her arm peddled the
preparation through thestreets of Stockton
she sold large quantities, and from these
sales Walker realized his firstthousand dol.
lars. He then went to San Francisco. Ieov.
ing Mrs. Brenton in Stockton, and she
managed the business there. Walker at
length sent for Mrs. Brenton, and. on the
5lst OF August, 1868, they were married.
They lived happily until about 1870 At
TINS time Walker had amassed over 81. .OOO..
OOO, and his bitters were yielding net
profit of from $4OO to 5000 per day.
To advance his business interests Wall.or
moved to New York with his wife and
family, taking the house at As Charles
street, and fitting it up magnifcently.
Here he was surrounded by relatives.
anxious to share his fortune. He had been
married twice previously, and both wives
were dead. By these wives he had chill
dren, some of whom were married. with
children and grandchildren. His second
wife left seven children by former hus.
band, and these seven step-children and
numerous step-grandchildren sought to win
bis favor.
Walker was originally charcoal peddler.
dis name appears in the New York
directory from about 1890 to 1850. during
which time he lived at Washington and
Charlton streets. He had unnumbered
troubles with his former wives, and at last |
abandoned his family and became a wan.
derer. He is seventy-two years of age. of
large frame, and streng, robust health, and
OF along-liyed family. He has one child |
by his living wife, son, named Charles
who is at school with his stepbrother.
Willie Brenton Walker, in Jena, Germany.
For the past eighteen months Walkers
business copartners and friends of the
family have, to avoid scandal, urged him
to allow Mrs. Walker 800 week. and in
the fall of 1874 he consented to allow her
$50 a week, and that sum she regularly re-
ceiyed from his cashier until the 9Th of
November last when he ordered payment
stopped. Mrs. Walker has been OBLIGED
by his failure to provide for her, to borrow
money and obtain credit.
On the 18th ult., Mrs. Walker, with her
lawyer, met Walker in his house by an
pointment, to endeavor. and compromise
their difficulties. In the course of the in.
terview he became very much incensed.
and the next day brought one of his sons
10 the house and ordered his wife away.
and then directed his son to bring his
family there and live. Mrs. Walker sought
shelter elsewhere, and since that time has
been living in hotel
Since their separation both have indus.
triously added fuel to the scandal. Mrs.
Walker says that recently her husband has
been shifting his property, real and per.
'onal, in manner hostile to her and her
and has for months been souan.
iering his money at the rate 800 a day. /
On the other hand, Walker says that Mrs.
Walker has brought discredit upon him and
herself in forming alliances with men.
'aking them into his house, and openly ap-
pearing with them IN the streets. He has
begun suit for divorce, charging adultery,
md she has instituted counter action for
iivoree, also charging adultery and cruel
treatment. She demands that Walker .sbe
ordered TO provide her with suitable
house and furniture in this city, Of the
kind to which she has been accustomed,
TO enable her to properly live pending the
suit, and to pay her the sum Of $500 per
week for her support and maintenance
during that time,Y suitable counsel fee. ,
and for final decree she demands that " he
pay her the sum OF $4,000 per annum
Turing her life as permanent alimony, and
that tho same be guarded by decree or
Judgment Of lein, of at least the sum Of /
100000, TO prevent his disposal thereof by