The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-11-09
MARRYING FOR MONEY.

fs-t& g6 MARRYING FOR MONEY.
lentnising a Marriage Under Crcum,
stances Such as We're Probably Ncue,
Z &Before Witnessed
B $Judge Myrick has denied the application
admit to probate the will of Hepsabeth
Harrigan, an old aud incorporate woman
Who was married to young aud active man,
| and d'who bequeathed all her property to him
and died. The Judge in his decision tells
the whole story as follows
eSamuel Fisher, former husband OF
Hspsabeth, died at Stockton in April, 1874.
In the latter part of that year she removed
To- San Francisco, in1 1913 she purchased
- fssidsrce as':t ~ Jones stseets akheresshe
rcsfded hntllher death. In May, 1876, she
first met Mr. Etarrgan. Prior to that she
had met two or three men nearly of her
own age, but from the time she and Harri-
gan became acquainted he was the object
of her thought aud consideration, and mar
riagc to him was her prevailing wish. She
and Harrigan met at the houses of mutual
acquaintanccs, and passed evenings engaged
In social amuSements, such as card playing
and the like, and then he became constant
visitor at her house, Her health was fail
ing, and she had turns of mental and phy.
steal prostration.
SIN November, 1876, she became en-.
Saded to marry Harri gan. About that time
she was unable to leave the house, and was
thereafter mostly confined to her bed 1t
was arranged between them that their mar
riage should occur ut Christmas, 1876, but
she being then sick in bed it Was postponed.
On the 11th day Of January, 1877, the
marriage ceremony was prctormcd between
them. That afternoon, accompanied By her
nurse and friend, she rode to the Office Of
the Safe Deposit Company, she being boil
stored up with pillows and taking stimulants
during the ride. She gave directions that
her funds and property in the vaults of the
company should be subject To access by Mr..
Uarrigan. After returning home she tried
on a wedding dress which had been made
for her, aud i'll the evening was dressed and
aided down stairs to the parlor, and was as
sisted to stand while the ceremony was pro-
cceding The clergyman officiating thou ght
that the circumstances were peculiar, but as
a number of reputable people were present.,
he did not deem it necessary for him to in.
stitute Special inquiries. She sat in the
parlor in an easy chair during the evening,
receiving stimulants from her nurse
Two days after that the will in question
was made. Prior to the marriage ceremony
she had sent for an attorney who had for
mcrly transacted business for her. and she
advised with him in reference to a will, and
he prepared the will in question, and was
present at its execution. Two physicians
were also present, and suhscri cd the will
as witnesses. One physician was called in
to examine her as to soundncss OF mind
His interview did not exceed thirty minutes,
but he declared her of sound mind. Anoth-
or physician who had before attended upon
her, did not upon the trial express dcci-
ded opinion upon that subject, but on the
evening Of the execution Of the will after
leaving the house, did declare that he had
that evening witnessed the execution of
will and the woman who made it was no
more fit to make will than boy Of four
years. The attorney read the will to her,
section by section, and asked her if that
was her wish, to which she asscntcd. She
seemed to the persons present to understand
the business in hand, although she was
very i'll and weak. The will was executed
and attcstcd in due form
''Tho story of her remaining days is soon
told. She failed rapidly. On February
26, 1877, DR.. Ingcrsoll was called. lie
found her in an imbccilc condition. On
March 10 her mind was entirely gone. She
was then weak and sick, helpless and sense
less, in which condition she fingered until
the 9Th of April and then the end Dur.
ing the lifetime of Fisher, at least for somr'
time, she (Nlrs. Fishcr) had been addicted
to dripk, which caused restlcssncss, loss of
sleep and frequent walking at night. After
his death she drank more. and during the
past year or two of her life she drank on
an average gallon Of whskcy week.
Several months before her death she
craved constantly for liquor. Her pbysi-
clans warned her that death would cnsuc
unless she would cease the use of alcohol,
but without effect. The dcmijohn had to
be hid from her, and the liquor dealt out to
her in smaller quantities. She would have
it, and a tumblcr Of it was placed on her
table on retiring, for night use. She was
sixty-three years DID, he forty-six; she
wcaty, he impccunious she weak in mind
and failing in health, he strong and vigor.
GUS he knowing she could live only short
time, that she was drinking herself to death;
that thoughts Of love or associations were
absurd he took her for her money"
:. Under this. decission,, the .bs,sbaRa Eill
take half thc property, PROVIDE lijs, IS,
marriage is sustained, and the other half
will 90 to the daughter. If the marriage
should eventually be declared null all the