The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-16
SHARON AND MISS HILL.
A Declaration Flatly Repudiating the Lat
ters Claim that She Was His Wife.

San Francisco Chronicle,
1t was reported about town yesterday after
noon that the suit of the Odd-fellows' Bank
against VIM. Sharon had been compromised.
Rumor, with its busy tongue, Immediately took
up the news and added to it, so that toward
evening reports were flying through the air that
the ex-senator had also compromised the cele-
brated divorce litigation In search of confirma-
tion or denial of these rumors, Chronicle re-
porter called on W. H. L. Barnes, who after ex
pressing his surprise at the latter rumor, of
which he had not heard, said:
'The best answer which I can make to such
unfounded statements is here" accompanying
these words by taking from his breast-pocket
legal-lcoking document. which he laid before the
reporter 1t read as follows
STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO 5 es'
William Sharon being duly sworn, says:
realize that am very i'll and that my death may
occur at azk moment am exceedingly weak in
body and suffer great physical pain but my mind is
perfectly clear.
In this condition declare never proposed or of
fered marriage to Sarah Althea Hill at any time or in
any form of language. never married her at any
time by consent otherwise. The alleged contract
OF marriage in her purportng to be dated
Aug 70, 1880, and to be signed by me, is a forgery
never signed it or any other document of that
ture or import. never addressed her my wife in
any communication; and the letters produced by Miss
bill. which SO address her, are, far the word
wife" is concerned, and all willful forgeres
Her declarati ons under oath that ever married her.
ever signed the pretended marriage contract wrote
her the dear wife letters any either of them
all and singular willful periuries.
have resisted her false claim to wifehood duty
eve to myself my family and society. have never,
for moment, entertained the thought wish to make
any compromise with her. have directed those upon
whom representation of me my estate devolves to
contest her pretensions in every legal and proper man
believe and solemnly declare that I am the victim
OF conspiracy to eXtort money. have never enter
tanned the thought of yielding to it, and while live
never WILL nor will those who succeed to my estate il
they respect my wishes and ofrepeated instructions.
WILLIAM SHARON.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 5th day of
November, 1885.
ANDREW j. CoFFEY, Notary Public
Witnesses: }. D. Fry, James w. Dobnson, j. M
McNulty, NJ. D.
That document" continued Mr. Barnes, "was
signed by Mr. Sharon after 2 o'clock this
afternoon, and almost simultaneously he exc
cuted a deed by which he gave all his property of
every kind and nature, wherever situated, to his
son, Frederick w. Sharon, and his son-in-law,
Francis G. Newlands, in trust: First, to pay his
debts; second, to pay anything that might be
left due to the Odd Fellows Bank; third, to
make division among his children and grand
children: and. fourth. to fight the claim of Sarah
Athea Hill while there dollar left in the
estate to fight it with. The deed also contains
solemn denial of the pretended marriage with
Miss Hill"
What is the object of these documents9"
asked the reporter.
II suppose you know that Mr.. Sharon is
dying With his death the suit of Sarah Althea
Hill and everything incident to it also dies 1t is
an action for divorce aud by its nature can only
he maintained against living defendant Miss
Hill, if she wishes to continue her fight, must
commence anew in the Probate Court Mr..
Sharon has also left will which makes SINH
lar disposition of his property. 1t will be pre-
sented for probate, and she come in and CON
test it there. We are prepared for all contin-
gencies."