Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-24
TWO WIVES AND ONE WILL.
New York Star. |

New York Star.
The general term of the supreme court in
the second judicial district has now under
consideration an interesting question in con-
nection with the estate of the late Henry
Shields, the story of whose life contains
many remarkable and romantic incidents.
Mr.. Shields, at the time of his death, a few
years ago, was a millionaire in this city, and
was once president of the produce exchange.
He owned fine residence in Second avenue,
in which he died. He left will bequeath-
ing all his property to his children, without,
however, mentioning their names, John
Gelston, Thomas Dougherty, and Catherine
Shields, his wife, were made his executors,
and they began to settle the estate in the in
terest of the seven or eight children.
A few months subsequent to MIR. Shields
death poor widow in South Tenth street,
Williamsburg, who had been known by the
name of Jane Valentine, declared that her
real name was Shields, and that she WIS the
lawful wife of Henry Shields, she having
been married to him thirty years previous,
when he was employed as a cartman by a
firm of grain merchants. She became the
mother of two children, she said, both OF
whom are still living.
Her story was that Mr.. Shields became
York society, while his wife, being unculti-
waited, could not accompany him, and at
length he persuaded her to live apart from
him, promising to support her well. She
consented to this arrangement, and he gave
her house in Graham avenue, Williams
burg. Having settled her there, he married
New York lady. He kept his secret well.
although he occasionally visited his wife il
upoc l. ind To
TIE Shields family were astunished by the
appearance of Jane Shields and her children.
md their lawyers were instructed to make
areful inquiries "a to her character and his
cry. 1t was ascer ned that she could not
We examined ii silt for dover touching
Ter relations with F.er alleged husband, and
It was then determined to get her testimony
II another way. Before the suit for dover
vas called q suit vas begun in the same
SQUIRT against John Jacobson. partner of
Thomas Doughtery, one of the executors, to
compel him to take the title to certain prop
-rty which he bad purchased from the estate.
He had refused to take the title because the
dover claim of Jane Shields threw a cloud
over it. A referee began to take testimony,
Jane Shields, summoned as a witness, at
tended one session, and then her counsel
ex-Judge Daley, now Surrogate, advised h. +
not to go again, claiming that the action was
bogus.
After prolonged litigation Jane Shields
was declared to be the lawful widow of the
rich New York merchant. and she obtained
her dover. Actions were then begun by hel
children to obtain certain rights under
Henry Shields will, which, as has been stat
ed, left his property to his children without
mentioning their names. Pending these
suits the executors began proceedings for the
construction of the will. Judge Dykman de-
cided that the children of Jane Shields had
no rights under the will. Appeal was taken
to the general term, and the case was argued
recently. A decision is looked fer in few