The daily gazette., 1879-12-04
Had TsCO WiUes.

1HE WILL OF GKO. ". PowKLL-TBE
CHILDREN NJ HIS FIRsr WIFE AWARD
ED HIS PROPERTY.
Special correspondence Of the Gazette.
New Castle. Dec. 4--Ths sad death
CT George W. Powell from byArophobla
In Wilmington some time ago, still
fresh in the minds of the public, has
caused an unexpected turn Of affairs In
regard 10 the unfortunate mans family
history. which has tranSpired In the
Office Of Register Of Wills ut this place.
The minutes Of the Register show that
on Oct 10Th, Charles w. Chiffon took
out letters Of admi nistration on Mr..
Wilmington. On Oct. 20, Mr.. Chiffon
peiitioned to be- removed from his admin
| relationship, and no objection being
| made he was released on Nov. 3rd.
Three days after this, Nov. 9th, Mrs.
Evangeline Evans Of Apollo. Pa, came
10 the Registers office accompanied by
the counsel, II. &. Conrad, E.q., and
claimed to be the daughter of MIR. Powell
| by former wife. At that time she hled
| a petition n king that letters Of adinistra
lion be granted To Mr.. Conrad. Mr.. BiRg
the Register notified the parties interest
ed and appointed n day OF the next week
iur n hearing In the case.
| On that day the following parties ap
peared before the Register !: Ehzabeth
|
Powell Arthur Powell, brother Of
george W. Powell David Powell. a
brother OF George W. Powell Mrs.
Evangeline Evans aud n brother 10 ears
Old. Mr.. Conrad represented Mrs. Evans
and j. ii. HI ffecker the other side. ] he
hearing ut that time disclosed some
strange facts. The dead mans mother
produced a marriage certificate, dated
Sept. 4, 1862, showing u union with The
present Mrs. Powell In Pittsburg, and
Mrs. w atkins handed in a certified copy
of a church record in England showing
the marriage of George w. Powell on
Sept. "A, lsl9, with Mary Watkins,
(mother Of Mis. Evans) These cert H.
Gates were admitted as evidence, and as
the one introduced by Mrs. Evans show .
ed marriage thirteen years previous TO
the one shown by the other certificate
A decision was II ven in favor OF that la
DIV and her brother.
The evidence z ven in was to the effet
that In 1868 ,he first wife of Mr.. Powell
left England with her daughter and son
the former nine years old and the lat Ell
three, In order to find her husband, who
had disappeared. She had u slight clue
and this she followed up, and, afte,
landing at Philadelphia, Immediately
proceeded to Pittsburg, Pa, and stopped
al hotel. In less than an hour after
they had reached the hotel, Mrs Powell
was greatly surprised by the expected
appearance of her husband. She had
not been in communication with him
J and could not understand how 10 wa,
that he came to Join her. She.asked hin
how 1t war, aud he repliad, ~ had q
dream last night that you and the child
rem bad arrived in town and were stop,
ping at the hotel, and started out to lool
for you" This may appear strange, bu
Mrs. Evans insists that IL Is fact, anc
| Hfr tu hx.h hau hot ha a 1 A..
father to the hotel.
lie treated them all kindly and seemed
really glad to see them. He left tn,
hotel that evening, and a few days after
wards the wife found out that her hus-
!. band was married to another woman
with whom he has been living In viii
mington for SO long. The wife had botl
Mr.. Powell and his new wife arrestc
and committed for trial for bigamy, bu
he escaped justice by consenting to enlis
III the army. 1t seems that he deserte
q and joined Mrs. Powell No. 2, and cam
d 10 Wilmington, where he has been lv
- : ing ever since.
E, Mrs. Powell No. l died August IS, 1877
Ie and since then her two children, VIII
IA appear TO be the only legal heirs, hav
ii been living in Apollo, place about 4
mlies from IlllsuutRu. MT. IoWell lel
but one child, q son, by his second wife
The decision which was made at tn
|. hearing makes Mr.. Conrad administra
:, tor on the estate, and Mr.. Hofiecker wa
notified that unless he could show di
vorce from the first wife the result woul
a be final. Mr.. Hofecker raised no objec
ton to the granting of the letters bl
claims that he can show a marriage wit
! wife NJ. 2 since the death OF the fir
- wife.
rs Mr.. Powell, during his life, amasse
considerable property in Wilmington
: and good bit of litigation may aril
from the mater.