Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-01-26
A ROMANTIC CASE
Why Mr.. Forte Han Awss with Another
Mans wife aud Chiidren.


A sensational and romantic ease has
just been brought to light on the issu-
ing of a warrant by Governor Ste
phens on the requisition of the gov
ernoi of South Carolina for the arrest
of H. q. Porte. About twelve years
ago Porte moved from Marion county.
South Carolina, and settled near Pal
metto, this state. He was accompa-
MED by woman who was supposed to
be his wife, and by two boys. presumed
to be their children. He proved
TO be u man OF indus
try, and won the good opinion
OF his neighhors, who refused TO be-
lieve in his guilt when the sheriff ar
rived with n warrant for his arrest on
charge of kidnapping and obtaining
money under false prctcnses. Porte
was taken to Fairburn, where, without
reserve, he made the following state
nlent; He and man named Smith
and Il woman with whom he had been
living We're raised in the same neigh
borhood, and when they were young
Porte and Smith were rivals for the
young woman affections, but by mis-
representations Smith nlienated her
from Porte and married her. 4 short
time thereafter Porte married, and
the two families settled near
each other and lived several
years as neighbors. Porte and his
wife lived happily together until she
died. Smith and his wife did not live
SO happily, frequent disturbances oe-
curing between them, In which
Smith beat her numerically. The
death OF his wife caused the old
flame for his former sweetheart to
burn afresh in Porte's breast, and he
| sympathized with her on her cruel
4 treatment received at the hands of her
husband. She knew that Porte still
entertained kindly feelings for her.
and frequently importuned him TO
take her, away 10 some strange
place, avowing that she still
| loved him and expressing peni-
! tence for the way she treated him in
marrying Smith. He refused to be
anything more than sympathizing
friend on account of the friendly rela-
tions that had existed between
Smith and himself. Smith had
been prosperous in business until he
/ became dissipated, when he became
| financially embarrassed, and reposed
/ confidence in his friend Porte, and
asked him to assist him in saving part
/ VI MS property lIplh Ills crcultorS. re
had turned over some cotton to Porte
to sell for him in his own name.
| Porte sold il and took the proceeds
5000, to Smiths house, to deliver &c
him. When he arrived Smith was
just leaving the house, and
on going in Porte found
Mrs. Smith PROSTATE on the
floor bleeding from wounds received
from her husband. He helped her NJ
and washed the blood from her face
paid the money to her for her hus
band, and started to leave, when she
clung 10 him and begged him 10 take
her with him and flee to distant
country, promising to live with hin
If he would do so. Yielding to hel
request, Porte took Mrs. Smith an,
her two children and eloped into
Georgia, where they have lived in UNI
disturbed happiness for twelve years
Smith, having learned of their where
abouts, made proposition to Port,
that if he would return the children
furniture and the $500 he would com
promise the case. The grand jury
however, will have something to sa,
about it, atlanta Letter.