Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-12-20
A Real Romance.

The Chicago Tribune's Cincinnati
special of December 10th says: The fol-
lowing is the substance of detectives
story bearing on the career Of Mrs Alice
Paige, wife Of Simon B. Paige, the mil,
lionaire lumberman Of tho Northwest,
who was found dead from bullet wound
in his head March llth. 1882, in his
room in Davenport, Ia, hotel. G. G.
Paige, brother Of the dead man, became
convinced that the widow Of his brother,
to whom he had been married but two
months and two days, wasa an adventures,
and employed Detective J. c. Graham
Of this city to ascertain her history.
Paige told the detective that his brother
married the woman, whose name was Mrs.
Mary II. Fogar, in Brooklyn, but she had
formerly lived in Cincinnati, and he had
understood had once been an actress.
The detective says the case has been
difficult and tedious one, and has result
ed In his obtaining the following infor-
nation: Several years ago woman
named Libby was left widow in Daven-
port with two girls, Laura and Mary.
L Auc Sui9 Poduicu RVHSoiu vi tho SUI cot5y
and the latter, with whom this story has
70 deal, was known as "Pop Mary"
Their father patented cure-all called
"Raven OIL" and the widow advertised
for some one to sell it. William E.
Fogar Of Indianapolis responded, and
afterwsrd married Mary. They soon
separated, and the girls and their
mother came to Cincinnati to live. The
girls obtained employment at the Grand
Opera House as ballet-dancers, where
they appeared as the "Pierpont Sisters" !"
Mary changing her name TO Alice.
While there employed and living on
Barr strsst, Alice read in the papers Of
the burning Of the Beckwith House in
Oshkosh, Wis, and how Simon Paige,
man Of great wealth, had offered 5000
to any one who would save his wife.
She was rescfed by o fireman, but died
soon after, and Paige refused to pay the
reward. Alice read everything she could
find about this man and finally wrote
gushing letter to him, saying that she
was an old friend of his dead wife's and
nothing would give her so much pleasure
as to become the governess Of his chill
dren. The rich man wrote back thank
ing her for her sympathy, but saying
that he had no children. Nothing
dsunted. Alice wrote again, recalling in
cidents in the life Of Mrs. Paige which
she had taken from the papers. Paige
became interested in her and wrote
in reply that he should like to
NEST 20 dear friend Of his late wife. In
the mean time the family moved to
Brooklyn and . meeting was arraigned
there. In anticipation Of Mr.. Pages
visit furniture aud carpets were bought
on credit and were afterward replevined.
Alice represented herself widow. Paige
fell into the trap and they became en-
gagged. He wanted TO be married at once,
but the ballet girl put him of, saying
that he ought to wait until his wife had
been dead two years. | the meantime
she quietly obtained divorces from
Fogar in the Cincinnati Courts. They
were married on January 0, 1888. at 379
Pacific street, Brooklyn, and Pop
Mary" the street peddler, "Alice Pier
pont," the ballet-dancer, and Mrs. Mary
+. Fokar, the scheming widow, became
the wife OF the millionaire.
When Paige was found dead in his
room in the Davenport Hotel 1t was
given out that he had committed suicide,
but there are thoae who have always had
a different theory about IL. His wife did
not attend the funeral but applied to be
appointed administrators Of his estate.
His death led to several failures. which
are said to have aggregated 5000, 900.
Ii will be claimed that there are infor-
malities in the Cincinnati divorce. which
taken into consideration with the wo-
mans character aud career, will make il
easy to sceure the declaration that her
marriage with Paige was void. 1t IL
said the estate is worth several millions.