The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-26
BURNETTS TWO WIDOWS.
Keeping the NewhurEh Courts Busy with
Litigation over the Property.

NEwBUnGH. Dec. 25-The two widows Of
the late George NJ Burnett. the much married
Jewoller Of this city. who died not u great while
ago. are keeping the courts here busy with their
litigation over the property Burnett left behind
him. When Burnett died there were two women
each claiming 20 be his lawful wdow-one q
Mrs. Addie Burnett OF this city. and with whom
he was living at the time Of his DEATH and the
other Mrs Jane A. Burnett sister Of n lawyer
in Ontario County. from whom he had been
separated for long time. The Newburgh
widow. at the death OF Burnett. applied for let
ters Of administration. claiming TO be the legal
widow. The Ontario County widow disputed
this claim before the Surrogate. Tho Newburgh
widow was beaten. She claimed and pretended
to show that the Ontario County widow had
been divorced from Burnett before her mar
riage 70 him. The Ontario County widow set
forth that IL was one otthose fraudulent Chicago
divorces TINT Burnett had obtained and was 81
no effect. Surrogate MadswOrth SO held and
granted Mrs. Jane A. Burnett the letters of adj
minlsiration. Mrs Jane A. is therefore the ad.
minstratriN. aud consequently termed the legal
But this has not by any means stopped the
litigation between the rival widows II seems
that Mrs. Addie burnett claims personal right
to valuable properly that Burnett left, and Mrs.
Jane A. Burnett disputcsthe claim. She thoro-
fore visited NeWburgh when the Ncwhurgh
widow was away. and with the help Of lock-
smith gained entrance 10 the house and took
possession Of all that she thought MAS hers M
the administrators Of tho estate. The New
hurgh widow Instituted n roplevin suit to re-
cover this properly, md Justice Brundage de-
cided the case IN her favor. Mrs. Jane A. Bur
nett appealed the case to a higher court. and II
will be- tried tomorrow.
The Ontario County, widow not satisfied with
the success she hns gained In being adludged he
lawful widow, has Instituted a suit against the
NewburEh widow for tho possession of property
not included in the reDleyin suit This Mrs.
Addie Burnett shys is her personal property,
ana consists ot brussels carpets ana lurniture.
She had placed 1t in the auction rooms of II.
Milspaugh x Co, and the Ontario County
widow ior6sdc ,, MlllspSgg9 CC e sGrEr"nder
pleyined the property and got It back; hence
The suit brought 10y Mrs. Jane A, for its recoy
cry, Both OF the widows appeared in court.
Judged the lawful widow OF the lato George NJ.
burnett. wears no mourning while the New
burgh widow was attired IN deep black.
postmaster John c, Adams Of tho firm Of Il.
Mllspaugh Il CO., testified that Burnett bought
OF him n handsome bedroom set which Bur
widow, but who. Mr.. Adams said was not then
married 10 Burnett, rs he (Adamsl then under
stood. Mrs. Isabella Sears, with whom Burnett
lived for three years, testified that the hand
some black walnut bedroom set was bought at
the time that n third wife Of Burncus was liv-
ing. This vito afterwards died. Mrs. Scars
says she sat up with her during her sick
ness. and that she (the third wife, died on the
very bed in question, in May. 1871. about two
Adams said, for Ad." the Newburgh widow
Mrs. MeynA Prince. sister of the Newburgh
widow, swQro that Burnett called her In ono
day to see the handsome bedroom set he had
given "Ad." The defendant, Mrs, Addio Bur
nett. testified that she bought the Brussels chr
pet with her own money, and laid rlRhtiul claim
fore asked for damages for the detention of the
same. Pending the decision OF the case tho
perplexing question to Newburghors seems to
be. how many wives did Burnett really have
when lO bought the turnlture1