Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-13

A s,cATTERED FANLY-HOw THREE BROTHERS
FOUND SISTER.
In the case OF Block and Hutchinson ct al,
agt Simon and Shea, recently brought in the
Equity Court, a romantic episode has occurred
II seems that former owner of the lot of ground
at the southeast of corner OF AZ street and
Maryland avenue southwest in this city was
Mrs. Margaret Shea, who resided there with her
husband Patrick and five children-three boys
and two girls Both parents became intern
perate and in 1865 the woman in a fit of shame
over her arrest for some drunken freak
DISAPPEARED FROM THE CITY,
taking her little girl, aged about years, and
abandoning her husband, three young sons and
Il baby daughter. Some months after her dis
appearance a letter from her was received by
her sister, in which the request was made that
the taxes due upon her real estate might be
paid. This was DONE and from that time to
this nothing has been heard from Margaret
shea or the Child she took with her. The hus-
band, thus left In charge of four young children,
months ant he also then abandoned his little
ones and disappeared, as his wife had done.
subsequently 1t was reported that
THE HUSBAND had BEEN KILLED
at quarry in Virginia, in which he was at work
The older children two boys were then cared
lor by an aunt, and as has been aScertained, the
infant, Molle Shea, was placed In the Washing
ton City orphan .Asylum-Mrs. Marshall Brown
having taken her from the father and placed her
| there. subsequently, the property was sold at
tax sale, and the plaintiffs having procured
this title, acting on the assumption that the
three boys were the only heirs, purchased the
interest OF the older two, who had become of
age. The other being unable to convey his in
terest- being yet minor, they filed a bill in
equity few months ago for partition, so that
they could have an opportunity to purchase the
remaining interest-that OF the youngest son
The case was proceeded with as usual and it was
in taking testimony that the fact was developed
that the daughter (Molie} who had been left here
by the mother. had been taken to the Washing
ingtOn City orphan Asylum. No mention had
DSpn maze Dy the nl1inIjfTS in their of
child or the other daughter. They then sought
10 raise the presumption of the death of Mollia
by Offering testimony OF application having
been made to the asylum by friends of the girl
and answers being returned that nothing was
known OF her whereabouts. Had the testimony
closed here, it is probable that the Court, fol-
lowing the rule which preSuIneS the death OF
persons not heard from for several years, would
have declared that Mollie Shea was dead. 1t so
happened, however, that an interested party
was not satisfied that the inquiries at the aSy-
lum had been sufficiently prosecuted, and by
one hours seeking and few minutes CONVEX
Sat10n with lady director
THE HISTORY OF THE LITTLE wAIF
was learned. 1t was aScertained that she had
been great favorite in the institution on ac-
count OF her amiable disposition and gentle
manners, and that she thus attracted the atten-
tlOn OF Mrs. Admiral Lee. who became much in
tereSted in her, and permitted her to take her
name. She thus called herself Mollie Lee and
dropped the name OF Shea. 1t is doubtless owing
TO this fact that the parties who testified that
their inquiries. 1t was also ascertained that
when she had reached an age when. by the rules
MONIES are found for the orphans q lady residing
IN ROCKVILLE, Md, took her as a companion and
Inmate of her family. She lived in this family
some time and so won their esteem and respect
that the lady conceived the idea OF providing
Tor her In her viii. Her son, however persuaded
her that he would provide for her, and so the
mother abandoned the idea. The son survived
the mother but few weeks, and the family
Deing broken up MOllie Lee went into the fam
lily OF Mir. w. V. Bouic, wel-knOwn lawyer
OF Montgomery county. His attention having
been called to the suit pending, and satisfied that
10 , MoILIE HAD A CLAIM
nc elnploSed Mr.. j. j. johnson of this eitv tn
represent her interests, and that gentiemaS has
tiled an amended bill in the case setting forth
her interest, and doubtless the court will decree
TO her the proportion of the estate due her. 1t
seems strange that an heir to the estate should
nave resided within sixteen miles OF Washington
Tor years and her brothers and other relatives
be ignorant of her existence; also that she
should be found just in time to prevent the
court from declaring according to law that she
was dead. 1t shows the Importance of courts
requiring Din the absence of direct evidence of
the death of parity the strictest and fullest
PROOF before signing decree declaring missing
person to be judicially dead.
Messrs. Birney and Btrney appear for the
plaintiffs.