The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-01-12
VINEGAR BITT6 RS.
A DOMES TIC DOSE.

n DUNES ilC DOSE.
FROM POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA TO AFFLU-
ENcE IN NEW YohK-A MILLIONAIRE's
SUIT AND MOTION FOR WRIT EUNAIIco
DE INQUIRENDo.
The New York Sun Of Tuesday saws. In
Spencer, Owen county, Indiana, on the 10Th
of June, 1850, James P. Brenton married
Eliza Jane Quick. The bride was IS years of
age. During the first II years of their mar
ried life, their condition, pecuDiarily, did
not improve. Four children were
porn to them but death left
only one. In 1862. the husband. with
his wife and child started on the overland
journey TOR California, with others, in a
| tr7ln o. so wagons They were four months
on the plains, AID, on the borders of the
Great American Desert, their child died. At
length they reached Stockton, Cal. and
| there son, now living, w s born. AT this
point OF their lives there was a misunder-
standing between them that eliminated in q
separation. The woman, thus thrown upon
her own resources, was forced to labor tor
{ he support of herself and child She was
assisted by the Masonic fraternity py a
Presbyterian Church, of which she was
member, and by some of the leading fami-
les Of Stockton. While thus situated, Mrs.
Brenton
MADE TIE ACQUAINTANCE OF JOSEPH
WALKER.
He professed to Do a physician, and had
made discovery that was to give him
princely fortune. 1t YVES the composition
now so widely known as the Vinegar Bit
| ters. he soon hired six or seven rooms in
brick dwelling and began the manufacture
| OF his ''bitters." At times she visited him.
anu when sufficient quantity OF the medi-
cine had been made she took some bottles.
and, with basket on her srm, she peddled
the preparation through the streets of
stockton. She sold large quantities and
| from these sales Walker realized his first
| $1,000. He then went TO San Francisco,
lesving Mrs. Brenton in Stockton, and she
MAJ aged the busIness there Walker
at lie, 9Th sent for Mrs Brenton, and, on
the 3lst of August, 1868, they were mar
ried. They lived happily until about 1870.
| At this time Walker had amsssed over
/ 81, 000, 900, and his bitters were Welding a
net profit of from $500 to 5000 per dsy. To
advances his business interests, Walker
| moved to New York without his wife and
family, taking the house. at As Charles
| street, and ii ting IL no msgnificsntly.
Here hs WAS surrounded by relatives
! anxious to share his fortune. He had been
married twice previously, and both wives
| were dead. By these wives be had chill
| dreD. some OF whom were married, with
children and grandchildren.
HIS sECoND WIFE LEFT SEVEN CHILDREN
| by a former husband, and these seven step
children and numerous tep-grandchildren,
sought to win his favor. Walker was origi-
nsly charcoal 2eddler. His name appears
in the New York directory from about 1880
to 1850, during which time he lived at
Washington and Charlton streets. He had
unnumoered troubles with his former
wives. and at las, abandoned his family
and became waDderer. He is - years
of age, o; large frame and strong, robust
! 1ov.. q.
one child by his living wife, son, named
Charles, who is at school with his step
brother, Willie Brenron Walker,
in Jena. Germany, For the past
eighteen months Walkers business
copartners ard friends OF the family
have, to avoid scandal, urged bin to allow
Mrs. Walker 500 a week, and ia the fall of
1874 he consented TO allow her $50 a week,
and that sum she regularly received from
his cashier until the Sth of November last
when he ordered payment stopped. Mrs.
Walker has been obliged, by his failure to
provide Tor her, to borrow money ard OBJ
tain credit. On the 17th ult. Mrs. Walker,
with her lawyey, met Walker in his house.
by appointment, to eDdeavor and comprom-
Use their difficulties. In the coarse of the
interview he became very much incepsed,
and the next day brought one OF his sons TO,
the house, and
ORDERED HIS WIFE AWAY,
and then directed hisson to bring bis family
tt ere AID live. Mrs. Walker sought shelter
elsewhere, and since that time has been
living in q hotel. Since their separation
both have industrsously added fuel toithe
scandal. Mrs. Walker says that recently
her husband has been shifting his property,
real AID personal in a manner hostile TO her
and her children, and has for months been
squandering his money at the rate OF 500
day. On the otker hand, Walker SAYS that
| Mrs. Walker has brought jiscredit pom him
and herself in forming alliances with men,
taking them into his house, and openly
appearing with them in the streets.
He has begun a suit for divorce,
charging adultery, and she has Insti-
tuted counter action for divorce, also
charging adultery aud cruel treatment. She
demands tbst Walker ''be ordered to pro-
vide her with a suitable house aud furniture
been accustomed, TO enable her TO properly
live pending the suit, and to pay her the
sum o. $50 per week for her support and
maintenance during that time" As suita-
bic counsel tea and for final decree she de-
mands that "he psy her the sum OF $4,000
per snDum during her lite as permanent
| alimoDy, and that the same be guarded by
decree OF judgment of lien, OF at least the
SUN of 500 600. to prevent his disposal
hereof by gill or otherwise" Before Chief
Justice DAILY to-day motion is to be made by
| Mrs. Walkers counsel tor writ OF lunatico
de inquirendo on the affairs OF walker, whos
II IL svefred, has TOR several months mani
y tested Symptoms OF insanity.