Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-10
FIGHTING FOR A FORTUNE.
a remarkable Story Brought to Light by
the Death of 4. r. Crosby

Nhp DCHAA VI ArOBDY.
A commission has been issued out of the
Orphans Court TO Counsellor Maxwell
Stevenson, SAYS a Philadelphia special. TO
take testimony in New York in connec-
tion with an extraordinary claim made to
a large estate left by the late Edward F.
Crosby Of this city. Mr.. Crosby recently
died on board the steamer Bermuda. of
the West India Line, while returning to
his home. The value of the property left
by him is estimated to be $3.50. 900. His
death brings to light a remarkable story
IN the claim of Adelaide Z. Curtis.
OI this CITY, to administer the
estate as the widow of the
dead man. A counter petition has
Deen made by Robert A. Crosby. a neigh
Dor, as the nearest Of kin, and, therefore.
the heir OF his uncle. The claim of the
widow will be contested Mr.. Crosby
had been an invalid for several years and
/ usually passed his winters in Havana.
tie lett New York for the West Indies
early IN October last, and would have re-
| manned until spring, but feeling that his
| complaint had taken a fatal form. ne
wrote to Mrs. Curtis to meet him in New
lork upon his arrival, and then took pas
sage and died at sea on Dec. Is, and was
buried from the ship. At the gangway of
the Bermuda, on its arrival at New York.
I a woman, who eagerly inquired for Mr.
crosby, tainted when she was told of his
death, and afterward took charge of his
luggage. saying he had been her husband.
For more than 80 years John +. Crosby
Kept rag warehouse en- the lower side Of
a'er street, below Vine. He did a great
ueal Of business in quiet way, but lived
| lrugally, and was very eccentric. One dav
| crosby failed TO appear at Vine and Water
streets. and bit of Grape fluttered from
the rusty handle Of the rag warehouse.
he had died leaving a fortune of nearly
SJOO,OOO to his only child, Edward F.
Crosby, whom" the will said. 81 drove
from home by my cruelty when boy. -
crosby, the father, died on Jan. >, 1867
Dung Crosby was we'll known among
the young people of his age in the
neighborhOOd Of Franklin street. above
CallOw Hill, where he boarded with d
Quaker family. Adelaide Curtis, the
daughter OF his landlady, was several
years younger than he, of a very lively
disposition, and exceedingly attractive in
manner and feature. All their young
friends regarded them as engaged. One
July afternoon young Crosby and his
landlady's pretty daughter Joined IN
picnic which was held in the East Park.
After several quiet games one of the
young men startled the gathering with
]
married for fun Several of the Young
women objected, but when Adelaide
Curtis and Crosby volunteered to stand
up together the others waived their Obiec-
tiOns and the ceremonies began. A young
divinity student, who is now a clergy
man in the West, was by popular
choice selected to Otliciate, and
went through the ceremony of
the Society of Friends. The newly-wedded
I al n in mn bf
| with laughter at their new relation. and
| by the time it was decided to start for
i home the ceremonies had been forgotten
/ by nearly all. Adelaide Curtis, however
/ did not forget the occurrence. She told il
/ to her parents as a Joke. and frequently
/ referred TO it in the presence OF her
! mothers attentive bOarder. This was two
/ years before the death of CrOsbY's father.
About year afterward the two were en-
gagged to each other with Mrs. Curtis
consent. The young man only waited to
| better his condition for the settingup of a
household Of his own. Two years after
ward, by the death of CTOsby's father. he
came into possession of an unexpected
/ fortune. and for change he de-
cided To travel until his brief term
Of mourning was at an end. His
marriage with Miss Curtis was to take
place immediately upon his return. Ed
ward +. Crosby never came back to Phila-
delphIa, and Miss Curtis never married.
For twelve years Crosby wandered i'm for
eign lands, living at times i'm London,
Paris, and New York. Whenever he
touched American soil the first thing he
did after arrival was to telegraph to Miss
Curtis to come and pay him a visit. She
always took up her abode near him until
his departure. Upon the death of her
mother, three years ago, Miss Curtis Sc
cured rooms in North Thirtv-ffth street,
wEere she has lived in retirement, only
disturbed by her absences in New York
during Mr.. CrOsby's stay there. She pos
sessed considerable money and lived in
comfortable sty.e. Miss Curtis, or Mrs
Crosby, as she styles herself, is a hand
some woman of 40 years. She is now in
New York looking after her interests.
Robert A. Crosby, who opposes her claims,
is the son Of an aunt of the dead man and