Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-19
TWO WIVES AND ONE WILL.

Henry Shields Romantic History. 4ceord
ting to One Hife,s Story-Accunnulatin0 a
Large Estate and Leaning 1t to His Chill
dren Without Manning Then,-TAe ForN0t-
ten Wfte's Legal Tictory.
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.
MIR. Shields, at the time of his death, few
years ago, was millionaire in this city. and
was once president of the produce exchange.
de 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.
few months subsequent to Mr.. 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 Was the
lawful wife of Henry Shields, she having
been married to him thirty years previous,
when he was employed as 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
wealthy, and was favorably received in New
York society, while his wife, being uncrlti-
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 Hs kent bis 6ase rat1 rg yA IL
Brooklyn and was kind to his children.
The Shields family were astonished by the
appearance of Jane Shields and her children
and their lawyers were irstructed to make
careful inquiries as to her character and his-
tory. 1t was ascertained that she could not
be examined in a suit for dover touching
her relations with her alleged husband, and
it was then determined to get her testimony
IN another way. Before the suit for dover
was called suit was. begun in the same
| court against John Jacobson, partner of
Thomas Doughtery, one of the executors, to
compel him to take the title to certain prop
| erty which he had purchased from the estate.
l
dover claim of Jane Shields threw cloud
over it. referee began to take testimony.
Jane Shields, summoned as witness, at
tended one session, and then her counsel,
e1-Judge Daley. now Surrogate, advised her
| 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 we're then begun by he,
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 hat
no rights under the will. Appeal was take1
to the general term, and the case was argued
recently. A decision is looked fer in a few
days. Down with Washburn and the swim
ding brass kettles!