Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-21


Ten years ago Jennie Tyler, grandniece of
President Tyler, was one of the reigning
bellies in Washington. She possessed also a
comfortable fortune and had many admirers
in the first circles of the capital. Yesterday
her dead body lay stretched on table in
rickety and squalid tenement of Brooklyn,
her husband being too poor to defray the
expenses of burial.
The history of this unfortunate woman
reads like romance, and the fact that she
has wealthy relatives in this city is strik-
ing commentary on the social life of New
York. Jennie Tyler was born in Richmond,
Va, in 1S48, and until the late war she
lived on the plantation of her father, Will
liam w. Tyler. At the commencement of
the rebellion Mr.. Tyler owned hundreds of
acres of land in Mississippi, and employed
many slaves to work his large cotton fields.
He became colonel on Gen. Lees staff and
fought against the union until, in company
with many others, his property was
confiscated and he was a compare
lively poor man. His daughter Jennie had
been educated to music, drawing and the Ian
guages, and had, in fact, received every edu-
cational advantage that wealth could give to
the Southern girl of that day. Added to an
intelligent and receptive mind were remark
able graces of person. Her beauty and wit
gave promise of brilliant social career.
After Richmond was occupied by the Union
troops, Col. Tyler came north to retrieve his
wasted fortunes. His daughter at that tune
became heiress to large sum of money
through the death of relative in California.
She was sent to Washington under the pro-
lection of Gen. Custer. Through the agency
of General and Senator John w. Stevenson,
her cousin, she obtained an entree
in the most exclusive circles of Washing
ton society, where her pretty face and viva
cious manners made her general favorite.
She excelled as a conversationalisI, and could
hold her own in discussion of the events
of the day. Years passed, and in 1872 Jennie
Tyler came to Brooklyn to live. There she
became acquainted with dashing young fell
low in fashionable boarding house, whom
she married. One day he persuaded her to
sign over to him the remainder of her for
tune, about $4,000, and soon after she dis
covered that she had been deluded by mock
marriage, and that her supposed husband had
| another wife in Buffalo. Her father brought
suit to recover this money for his daughter,
and the fellow was temporarily
lodged in jail. He soon got
out, however, On straw bail, and
through legal technicalities escaped his just
deserts. The poor girl was then thrown on
her own resources, and being estranged from
her relatives, she wandered about the stree ts,
from door to door, in search of aid, and
sometimes begged nights shelter in the
station house. In 1875 she met William Col
Inns, an intelligent, hard working man, who
| had for years been trusted employe in the
service of Brooklyn gas company. He was
| attracted by her fine womanly qualities, and
on July Is of that year they we're married at
st. Peters church in Barclay street. They
lived happily together until a misfortune
overlook them a year ago. Collins was
thrown out of work, and during the past
| year has had only odd jobs from the COM
pany. The contrast with her former social
position was too much for the high-spiri ted
girl. Naturally frail, she began to droop
and, contracting cold, she sank into de-
cline On Monday afternoon she died of
consumption.
Mr.. Collins, asked when the funeral Was
to take place, replied somewhat bitterly and
with evident pain:
81 had hoped to bury my wife tomorrow,
but I haven't the money and don't know
where shall get it, She has wealthy rela-
tives who stand very high socially, but they
have Stunned her, suppose, because she
was poor. She was too fine a woman for a
poor man to marry, and when I married her
I never thought the day would come when 1
should be out of work. l telegraphed this
morning to her father, who lives in Harris
burg, PENNSYLVANIA, that she was dead, but
have not yet received reply"
The dead woman's sister lives in hand
some brownstone house, four stories high. in
West Thirty eighth street The reporter
called there last evening, and was ushered
into the parlor, which is handsomely up
holstered. The carpet is of rich pattern
and fine engravings adorn the walls. The
lady was ill, and her husband, q fine looking
man of So years, gave cordial greeting.
II hope no mention will be made of this
unfortunate affair." he said, las it is purely
family matter and doesn't concern the
public. Mrs. Collins has not been recog-
nized by US on account of her marriage be-
meath her station, and there are family rea-
sons why should not tell you anything
about her life. I do not know whether any
assistance will be given 10 Mr.. Collins to
bury his wife, and in fact, would rather
not say anything whatever about the case"
Parnell In Cincinnati.