Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-06-12
A PENNSYLVANIA ROMANCE.
An Unpleasant Sensation Caused by the
Temperance of a Runaway Husband.

An Unpleasant Sensation Caused by the
Temperance of a Runaway Husband.
A Towanda, Pa, correspondent of the
Cincinnati Tines-Stdr writes: In the
spring of 1882 William Hamilton, a
farmer living in the northern oil field,
was induced to invest 1000 in oil land
in the then blooming Cherry Grove dis
trict in Warren county. His investment
was remunerative one, for in few
DAYS he disposed of his interest in the
land for $4,000. This was Hamilton's
first transaction in the petroleum bust
ness, and the making in less than a
week sum which he could scarcely
have hoped to accumulate in lifetime
on his farm turned his head, and he in
vested all the money he had and mort
gagged his farm to obtain more on pipe
line certificates.
He was caught, with hundreds of 9th
ers like him, in the great fall of petro-
leum values in the summer of 1882,
caused by the sudden failure of the great
spouting wells in the Cherry Grove field,
and ruined. His farm was sold from
him, and in less than three months he
died, physical and moral wreck, having
become a heavy drinker. He was a
widower, with one child, handsome
girl, 20 years old. She was left penni-t
less and almost friendless by her fathers
death.
Henry Gage, well-to-do farmer, was
neighbor of Hamilton's, and years ago
they became bitter enemies over some
land dispute.
A year before Hamilton died Cages
on Lyman, good looking but shiftless
Dung man, began paying attentions to
amilton's daughter Mary. She en-
uraged him, but both her father and
young Cages father opposed the attach
ment. After Hamilton's death and for
some time before it, his daughter sup
ported herself as seamstress. Shortly
after Hamilton died, Gage quarreled
with his father and disappeared. For
some time Miss Hamilton received letters
from him from different places in the
west, but they finally ceased.
In May, 1883, Farmer Gage received
a letter signed by George Gray, and
dated Chicago, notifying him that his son
Lyman had been drowned in Lake
Michigan by the capsizing of boat in
which he was out fishing, and that his
body had not been recovered. Gage went
to Chicago, but could find out nothing,
further in relation to his sons alleged
death. He returned home, however,
that the young man was dead.
He was astonished on arriving home to
learn that Miss Familton claimed to be
his sons widow, ana she produced un-
questionable proofs that they had been
married in July, 1882.
This fact being established, her father
in-law at once provided her with home
and contributed to her support. A young
man named Bedlow Utter, well con-
tractor and driller, formed the acquaint- |
ance of the young widow soon afterward,
and they became engaged. Their we'd
ding day was set for last Christmas, and |
were made for grand mar
rage. The Sunday before Christmas
great sensation was made in the COM
munity by the appearance Of Lyman
Gage, the supposed dead husband of
Mary Hamilton.
He refused to give any explanation in
regard to his alleged death. He said he
had come back to take his wife to Chica-
go with him. She refused to receive or
recognize him, in which refusal she was
heartily supported by her father-in-lsw,
Gage. Young Gage remained at his
fathers for week, when he again dis
appeared. The Utter-Gage wedding
was necessarily indefinitely postponed.
At Farmer Cages suggestion his daugh-
began proceedings against her