The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-13
HE LEFT TWO WIDOWS.
The Domestic Complications That Followed 8
Baltimoreans Death.

BALTIMORE, July 1.-Two ladies in black,
each claiming to be the widow Of James G. Nor
ris. attended his funeral here, short time since;
but the fact Of this novel funeral incident was
not made public until few days ago, when these
same widows iled petitions in the Orphans
Court, each claiming to be the lawful widow oG
James G. Morris and the right to administer on
his estate. No one ever suspected for moment
that Dir. Morris had two wives. He was proni-
nent and highly-respected member Of West Bal
timore society He was not rich, but what is
called comfortably fixed. Both of his widows
are highly cultured and fine-looking women.
One is about forty-two and the other but few
years older than the first wifeis eldest daughter
Grace G.. Morris, in her petition to the Or
phans' Court represents that she was married
to James G. Morris on Nov 4, 1858, and
lived with him until June, 1882, when, as she
alleges, he abandoned her. She also states in
her petition that she had two daughters by him,
one who is now nineteen and the other twenty
one years of age.
Ella McCarty Morris, through her counsel
represents to the Orphans Court that she was
married to Morris in Pittsburg on July 2, 1882
within q month after the first wife alleges she
was abandoned. She claims that she believed
him to have been divorced from his first wife
and had until his death, lived openly with him
IN Baltimore as his wife and had not the slightest
idea that another woman claimed him as her
husband 1t will thus be seen that this is a ro
mantle tale of two cities
Mrs McCaFty Morris, the second wife, tells an
interesting story. She says that she became ac
qualnted with Mr. Morris in Wheeling, w. Va,
where they were both living at the time. He
courted her about eight or ten months when
they were welded. Miss McCartys family OPP
posed the marriage, but she made up her mind to
marry him. Accordingly they left Wheeling
quietly on July l, and on the Cd were married In
PittsburR, whore, it appears, the irst wife was
then still living They then returned TO Wheel
ing, and the brides parents were reconciled and
soon thought great deal of their sonin-law.
After residing IN Wheeling a short time, the
couple came to Baltimore. Mr.. Morris was en-
gagged in a lucrative business and they lived we'll
He thought good deal Of his young wife and
that it was not until Mr. Morris became
seriously i'll that anything occurred to arouse
suspicion of a former marriage among some OF
his relatives. A few days before Mrs M0rriss
death a letter received from his brother In
Wheeling, stating that he had been to Indiana
and learned that the divorce claimed to have
been obtained by Mr.. Morris years ago was not
legal. Mrs. Morris the second states that when
she learned this she was greatly worried, but she
did not say anything to her husband his
DEATH bed about it. She let him die in peace
and, like a devoted wife, nursed him tenderly 10
the end This Mrs Morris is reported to have
further said that when the other Mrs Morris
came on to the funeral she told her that she had
not seen her husband for FIVE years.
In her petition To the court, above stated.
the first wife makes n statement that her hus
band abandoned her in June, 1852. and that he
WAS married the next month. The first wife has
been living all this time in Wheeling, and she
was accompanied to Baltimore by one of her
daughters at the time of Morriss death. She is
said to have wept bitterly over the corpse, and
spoke Of how she had loved him.
The remains were taken to Moundsville. w.
Va, where Mr.. Morris was born. Both widows
COnt0StiuQ rights.
phans Court has granted William L. Marburg
and Ferdinand G. Dugan letters of collection.
upon which they will act until a proper admins
traitor is appointed