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

f4XFS"s"t~9V u 1uUTfUyc CRdcf CrCunt-
Stances Such as We're Probably Mcue,
{ Betore Witnessed
#4Judge Myrick has denied the application
i admit to probate the will of Hepsabeth
HarrgaD, an old and incorporate woman
Mho was married to young aud active man,
Iland who bequeathed all her property to him
ahd died. The Judge in his decision tells
the whole story as follows:
@Samuel Fisher, former husband of
Hhpsabeth, died at Stockton in April, 1874.
In the latter part Of that year she removed
70, San Francisco. = Ins1 1S76she purchased
fssadn6te as4 ID b d J8ics I ssssessa q 4 here sbs
fcsfdeu until her death. In May, 1876, she
first met Air. Elarrigan. 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 and consideration, and mar
rlage to him was her prevailing wish She
and Harrigan met at the houses of mutual
acqualntanccs, and passed evenings engaged
IN social amusements, such as card playing
and the like, and then he became a constant
visitor at her house, Her health was fail.
ing, and she had turns of mental and phy
scal prostration.
sin November, 1876, she became en-
gaded to marry larrigan. 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
rage should occur at 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
hDf nj al l. l..
nurse and a 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.
IInrrigan. After returning home she tried
on wedding dress which had been made
for her, aud i'll the evening was dressed and
aided down stairs to the parlor, aud was as
sisted to stand while the ceremony was pro-
ceeding. The clergyman officiating thought
that the circumstances were peculiar, but as
number of reputable people were prcscut,
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 subscr' cd the will
as witnesses. One physician Was called in
to examine her as to soundncss of mind
Ills 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 q
will, and the woman who made it was no
more fit to make Il 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 assented. She
seemed to the persons present. to understand
the business in hand, although she was
very ill and weak. The will was executed
and attcsted in due form.
''Tho story of her remaining days is soon
told She failed rapidly. On February
26, 1877, DIR. Ingersoll was called He
found her in an mbccilc 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 some
time, She (Mrs. Fisher) had been addicted
to drink, which caused restlessncss, 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 a gallon of whiskey week
"Several months before her death she
craved constantly for liquor. Her pbysi-
clans warned her that death would ensue
unless she would cease the use of alcohol,
but without effect. The demijohn had to
be hid from her, and the liquor dealt out to
her in smaller quantities. She would have
it, and tumbler of it was placed on her
table on retiring, for night use. She was
sixty-three years old, he forty y-six; she
wealty, he impecunious she weak in mind
and failing in health, he strong and vigor-
Gus he knowing sho 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"
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