Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-12-21
Gilc Romance Oftlc Marquis Eec fso.
Gestass's De:sth-Best SEarriaae.

Hc EaOniaNcc Oh siic Marquis Hc BsO.
desfad's DentE-Esest Marriage.
There is quite & story connected with the
recent romantic death-heG marriage Of
5enor Podestad, Of the Spanish Legation,
with Mrs. Nina Wright. Mrs. lVrigh! has
been IN Washington Tor one oT two winters.
She is strikpg-looking blonde, and IS she
had lived number OF years abroad vas
quite prouiincD! in diplomatic socielc. Saa
spoke French well and received good deaf
OF attention from the foreigners. She vas
engaged TO Potested several months before
his death H6 was taken With quick con-
sumption. \ day before his death lie de.
sired to have the marriage ceremony take
place between himself and his betro,hed
Both CO the contracting parties were Catho
lies. Mrs. Wright had become a convert 10
the Catholic religion since her advent in
Washington. 4 Catholic priest was SUM-
moned 10 perform the ceremony, but, know.
ing that Mrs. Wright was divorced woman,
he refused 10 perform tho marriage. i Pre-
testart clergyman was then sent for, and the
ceremony was performed by him. Podested
died within twenty four bours after. His
family have since refused 10 recognize bis
widow, declaring that the marriage WAS not
legal and that she was not entitled % share
in his property. AS the bulk CT Podcs!ad's
belongings Wero II Spalu ;ne question olhoT
this marriage could be sustained in Spain
is one which has been tnrDed ever 10 Nine.
Podestad's lawyer. Potestad vas q member Of
ST. Matthew'S Chuich ITha marriage Of
Catholic III viCiMtion Of the principles Of the
church excoianunicates him. The act il
self puts him outside the pale Of lie ch@rc;,.
Application was made 10 the Pope iu.a spc.
cial dlspensatlon il this case, but i. was re-
fused Dy silence. POdostad's bcdy WAS re-
fused burial IL cUnsccratcd ground on &c.
count Of his disobediemCc. He was first ou.
ried iii The Congressional Cemetery. After
wards it was arranged 10 sun}o way 10 have
Podsstad's body buried II coDsecratet!
ground. The Influence u bis relatives il
Spain helped 10 secure this.
Mrs. Wright has had 6 very romantic
career. she iJ the daughter of the late
Hamilton Wright, wealthy &cw Ortcaus
merchant. Her mother was o beautiful ana
brilliant woman, who !rrya = position oi
social obscurty succeeded !. ;4aklu@ acr
way into the front r&... gf New Oriaags
society. While still very louH4 she ,uug-
ried Mr. Van Rensselaer,, 81 W4shiIgiaa,
who in few Years left hrra cmNhy wtIow,
She then married scuu& Hamilton Wright. |
Il =
Slocum ani Mr.. !. L. >;uuii49 il. New Or
leans were built Dy III. Trien; f.,r lis w!f5. |
Shortly after the death ur nl.. WriaEt, |
which occurred a few yeu!s suuscaueal 10
the var, Mrs Wright took Nina. hag cn,v
child, abroad where s!la yvas cdGca.a:;, |
Miss Wright made her debut IL the Russian !
Court in st, Petersburg. There are iaw
American womon who have eujoyeG so n&ny
social advantages abroad Although |
Miss Wright did Eot inherit hc; mothers !
beauty, she was even superior TO her in men
tai attractions She was said 10 be ons Of the |
most brilliant women Of the Izlperial Court
and received many fattcrinG offers ct mar.
riage while in Europe Ia 1880 Miss Wright |
and her mother returned l. Ne1 Orleans, |
where they spent the winter visiting their
many friends in that city. Here it was that |
Miss Wright met q Mr. Brattou. Il Young
Englishman, who vas engaged in buying
cotton for Liverpool firm. Miss Wright |
became infatuated with Bratton, mho had
not even good looks TO recommend him De- |
spite her mothers eptreaties and the pre-
testati0ns of her friends, Miss Wright and
young Bratton were married The following
spring. Bratton Immediately moved to
Galveston, Tex, where he entered into the
brokerage business. IL this provincial
Southern town his brilliant and accom- plish-
ed young wife, accustomed 10 8 life ofgsyety
and excitement, found herself rapidly dis
enchanted and her romantic dreams were
soon diesipated by the dreadful prospect of
a humdTum existence. In addition to this
Bratton failed. and il IS thought that a part
of his wifc's dowry was swallowed up in
the general crash. Mrs Wright immedi.
ately came to her daughters rescue, and
one day when The uniucky Bratton returned
to his dinner he found his mothey.in- law ia
full possession Of the honae. Ee vas de-
MED admission to his wife and spent the
night in his paror. OG the following day,
when be returned from his office, be found
wife and mother.in law ilGwn and bis home
deserted.
Mrs. Bratton and her mother bad warm
friends in the family OF the late jesse Salig.
man, of New York, and it was 10 the nos.
pitable home of his daughter, Mrs. Hellman,
in New Orleans, that tbs unhappy wife took
refuge. Her romance was over, and she
simply wanted to forget and bury it, Bratton
used all his power of persuasion, but to no
avail. His wife would not return to him.
The very mention of his name made her mis-.
erable, and her mother and her kind friends
who idolized this spoit, wayward child,
protected her from him a child was bora,
and Mrs. Bratton, with her mother, Mrs.
Wright, went abroad. Bratton had prece-
ded them and made one last effort at recon
citation. He boarded tho steamer at the
dock and demanded his wife and child He
was met by Mrs. Wright. 4 stormy litter
view ensued. While Mrs. Wright ard
Bratton were talking Mrs. Bratton, with
her nurse and maid, aided by q friend.
cluded the unfortunate husband, took . cab
Of hn nd 1rnr