The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-06-18
A BRIDE OF A DAY
The Strange Marriage, Sudden Death and
RsmArkabie WIN OF Massiiion Nor
chant. WELL Grounded sus-
pioion OF foul Play.

dry goods merchants OF this city, went
To- New York supposed on business.
but II was also whispered after bis de-
parture that q main feature OF his mis-.
sion was matrIm0ny. Two weeks ago ~
noon Yesterday he was married In BROOK.
lyn 10 Niles Harriet A. Butler, o lady "A
years Of age, and died within twenty
f0ur hours after the ceremony. The re-
maine were brought here accompanied
by the bride OF day and her brother.
M. II. W. Butler. and buried last Wed.
nesdAy afternoon. Since the interment
will OF Mr.. Reeds has been produced
which bequeaths 10 the wife all his
property, Including even the elegant
old homestead In this city and all Its
contents.
A aKNsATIoNAL CASE IN PROSPECT.
This strange and unnatural dlsposi-
tion of the deceased merchants estate
lays the foundation for one OF the most
interesting and Sensational cases which
ever claimed the attention OF O court In
this State. Mr.. Reeds father died ten
years ago, and since that time the son
and his mother, q lady 80 years OF age,
have occupied the homestead here. Ever
since his fathers death Mr.. Reed has
been dutiful and devoted son, show
ing his venerable mother every possible
attention aud care, seeming to live only
for her comfort, and IL has long been q
common public remark, that he would
never marry as long asshe lived
WAS HK INsANEp
When the contents Of the will, cut
ting the aged and feeble mother of
without q shilling and even turning her
ont OF doors, became known all the ac.
1uaintancee OF the dead merchant real
lied what had for some time been uulet'
ly whispered among them that no was
insane. Intimate friends OF the old lady
promptly interested themselves In her
behalf, and employed Mr.. Frank l.. Bald.
win, q leading lawyer OF this city, and
the law 1rm OF Lynch u Day, Canton, TO
contest the will. The document trana'
ferring all the deceased merchants
properly to his bride OF twenty-three
hours "a legal curiosity. IL was left
by the brother of the bride, who claims
10 be o lawyer, with Probate Judge
Meyer at Canton yesterday, and the drst
exclamation OF the venerable jurlst after
perusing II was: "Was the man sanep'
II had been torn In number OF pieces,
Afterward pasted together, and bore
neither date nor name Of place where
drawn. Sufficient proof that the docu
ment is either forgery or was dictated
by q man OF unsound mind IL contained
In the fact that II purporle 10 bequeath
the virgin bride two life Insurance poll
cies, but does not give correctly either
the names OF the companies Issuing the
policies nor the amounts Insured, nor
does II even give correctly the frat
name OF the mother Of the party max
Ving the will.
WILL GROUNDED SUSPICIOUS on FRAUD.
Your correspondent had q lon ngthy IT,
teryiew this afternoon with Attorney
Baldwin, and was assured that there
wasn't q particle Of doubt but that the
will and marriage are transparent
frauds, and that no had sufficient docu
mentary and oral evidence TO establish
the fact that the imbecility OF the dead
merchant had been taken advantage or
by the parties interested for sinister
purposes. Another feature ehowing the
diaphanOua fraudulent character or the
will Ia 10 its giving away the household
effects, which did not belong TO MT
Reed, but we're left 10 his mother upon
his fathers death. and every item In the
document IL a 1at contradiction OF the
entire career OF O. son devoledly attached
70 his mother,
THE BRIDE ASSERTS HERsKLY.
The heart-brokeD ~ bride has been
domiciled, since the funeral. IN the
home which abe claims ~ her own, aud
has the effr0ntery 10 remain, although
aware that her presence 10 Offensive 10
the bereayed mother and regardless OF
the fact that ahe haa been mOdestly but
Indirectly TeQneste, 10 vacate by friends
OF the aged Mrs. Reed. The brother OF
the bride IL Quartered NJ the Pork Hotel.
He informed Lawyer Baldwin that he
proposed 10 have three men 20 Into the
Reed homestead and apprAise The Prop.
erty. Ha was emphatlcally told that no
had better not DIRE 10 undertake any
thing OF the kind. :,
A sample OF public sentiment regard.
Ing Mr.. Reod'e mental condition 10 con
tained In tho remark of one Of the oldest
and most prominent merchants, mpda 70
your corrM popdent this evening IL"
said: II am ready 10 10 upon the wit
ness stand nj any time aud test fy under
oath that Gus Reed has not beau com
petent TO attend 10 bua,nete for threo
years, aud believe every m rchant on
Main street will take oath TO Tho same
effect"
MR.. REEDS LIFE AND BUSINESS,
Gus Reed, 40 no was generally known,
was q bachelor 81 years or age, entered
his fathers drygoods store whom 10
years old and ever since that time has
been engaged In that line OF merchan-
dising az saleeman and proprietor. He
was succeasful In business and his bride
came here 10 secure his property, which
she eupposes amounts 10 $4,000. IL
will fall considerably below that 1gure,
no his liabilities. as far aa reported.
amount 10 $4,000, $4,000 OF which are
due his mother In payment OF borrowed
money. -''..
.-"T ooNrxsrNa THE WILL.
The will has not yet been admitted 10
probate, and the general impression 10
that the undoubted bold scheme 70 rob
npoor woman through tho mental Ai-
nlction or her son will be abandoned,
but should II DO put 70 the crucial test
OF q court OF juetIce, there will be start
ling revelntiona made regarding tho
chicanery and intrigue Of q we'll known
Now York man, formerly q resident Of
Maseillon, ana who since boyhood has
boon claeeed ~ an intimate frIend OF
the deceased Mr.. Reed and was familiar
with his particular weakness.
THR WILL,
A DEMOCRAT reporter examined Reod's
will on Ole AZ tho Probate oillco. The
signature 10 II 10 written In n trembling
hand, Tho Will after being mado was