The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-11-16
4 Girl with 100000,

Annie Pope, daug liter of the late JOIN
Pope of Bay Ridge, died at the resi-
dcncc Of her mother, Mrs. Hannal
Pope, at Bay Ridge, Friday evening
from the effects of a miscarriage. Miss
Pope had had rather an eventful, and
certainly peculiar life. In 1873, wher
she was about twenty-onc years old, she
was privately married to Patrick Jeffrey
From this point the relatives tell one
story and the neighbors another. JEFF
frey was Catholic, and it was alleged
that il was on this ground that Mrs
Pope desired the marriage annulled
The plea of Amic's insanity was the
one resorted to. Judge Nelson, on De.
cember 27, 1875, annlilled the marriage
on that ground. 1t was proved that
Annie had very violent temper. Short
ly after the divorce was obtained hei
father died. She did not live harmoni
ously with her mother, who, il is said
tanntcd her with her lunacy, as some.
thing jndicially established. Present
ly Mr.. Bei jamin Spraugc, n Hell Gate
pilot, who was living in the neighbour.
hood, became acquainted with Annie
and his attentions were approved by
Mrs. Pope. An engagement was made
and the marriage fastened by Annie.
mother. Meanwhile Annie had takeI
TO drinking and had given Il promisor,
noic of fifty dollars TO a ncighborine
grocer for liquor, which was presented
to Mrs. Pope. The wedding was on
May J. 1877. Soon Sprague, who had
previously in measure had charge OF
Mrs. Pope, business affairs, seemed
anxious 10 have the property turned
over 10 him. Mrs. Pope became alarm.
ed. Deputy Sheriff Thorne of Bay
Ridge was engaged by her as counsel
add Instituted proceedings before a Jury
to have Annie again declared insane
In addition to her violent acts when an.
CRY, it was said she was in the habit OF
walking on the beach as if contemplat.
ing suicide. She herself denied any
thought or purpose of self-,lestruction,
AS evidence that she could read and
write she wrote on a slip, III am lun-
atick,' and handed it TO the LAWYER
However, the majority of the jury voted
her insane on the 2d of August last
though IL was charged that they after.
wards admitted that they voted in this
way TO make sure of their fees. Mrs.
Pope was appointed committee of the
estate. She afterwards resigned, when
John Cowen was appointed in her stead,
Sprague made little effort to prevent the
annulling of his marriage with Annie.
He testified that had she been properly
brought up her mind would have been
sound enough.
Spite of the belief of many who have
known Annie Pope that she is sane, an
order declaring her insane was entered
Thursday in the Kings county clerk 5
office. Her death Friday of course rem
dercd further action in the courts UNI
necessary. Her mother said yesterday
that she had not held her daughter TO be
really lunatic, but merely weak mind
ed-so much so that she did not know
how to take proper care of herself. An.
nic and not she had sought the divorce
from Patrick jeffrey. Jeffrey abused
her so badly she could not live with
him.. Sprague, she said, had induced
Annie within month after they were
married TO sign power of attorney il
his favor, and that she did not know
what she was signing.