St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-01
CONFIRMED OPIUM EATER.
Mrs. Rich Said TO Have Borne This
RepuIation..A Letter.

In copy OF the Elmlra IN. ~ Tele-
gram of Feb. s, found among the ex-
changes, was published the following letter
from the Telegram's special correspondent
at Albany under date of Feb. 8:
The village of Cobleskin is still agitated
over the disappearance OF Mrs. Fanny Rich,
daughter of the late Henry Smith, and the
continued absence Of DIR. H. S. Gale, who is
supposed TO have accompanied her. No
trace of their whereabouts has yet been dis
covered, nor is IL definitely known that they
are together. The attempted sensationalism
OF the newspapers in the neighborhood has
borne no fruit other than 10 give rise 10 jests
at their expense, the published statements In
every instance being far wide OF the truth.
Mr.. Rich, who went TO Albany on the evening
of his wife's departure, has not yet
returned nor has he been heard from.
| Sentiment is various as to the purpose Mrs.
Rich had in leaving home, in an objective
sense, but IL is generally believed that she
had long intended TO desert Rich, with whom
sh els reported never 10 have agreed. Gale,
| who was mixed up with the frauds upon the
county that formed the basis of an indict-
ment against Merritt A. Baker, the clerk of
| the supervisors, has been for some time in
fear that the Baker trial would result in pro-
ceediuRs against himself, and the night be-
fore he left Cobleskil he is understood TO
have stated TO a friend that he ''intended TO
go TO Vienna and take course Of lectures on
surgery"
He took the noon train at Cobleslin on the
day of his departure, Mrs. Rich driving down
TO Howe's cave and joining him, while Rich,
upon some pretext, was induced TO remain
for the day upon his farm where the couple
have resided since December.
MRS. RICH HAD THE REPUTATION
of being a confirmed opium-eater, and the
statement that she moved in exclusive so
cial circles is utterly without foundation.
The fact is that the Smiths were never pop
ular, socially or otherwise, and the general
feeling toward them in Cobleslill
has for years been unkudly. The
father left an estate valued at $50, 900.
The will, which is in the office OF the Albany
surrogate, is a peculiar instrument. IL is
wholly In the handwriting OF the testator, and
| so wretchedly written that the recording
clerks, unable TO decipher II, were compelled
| TO send IL TO Smiths partner 10 be copied. II
bears no date, names nor executor, and, IL Is
claimed, was executed while the testator was
away on periodical bout with Charlie Le-
| land, whose name appears as witness. Under
its provisions, the mother and wife or the tes-
tator being dead. the property is to be equally
divided between the children. The division
has in effect been made some time by ad-
vances 10 the different children, who have
each realized about S3o,O00 from the estate.
Mrs. Rich mortgaged her farm on Russell
lake heavily last fall to aid Rich in political
| schemes that came 10 uaught, Gale receiving
Il most OF Ine money anu Otiuk ou tcTu1S VI iu-
timacy at the house. Mrs Rich is reputed "a
have openly said that as soon as her mother
died s'she would have Rich" and II is noted
as a curious fact that she left the village ex.
actly two weeks after the burial or her
mother. Beyond the talk occasioned by the
/ immediate circumstances of the case, little
surprise is occasIoned either in Cobleskill OF
Albany.as the Smith family In all its branches
has long been the subject OF general comment
by reason OF unhappy marriages.
THE DOCTOR. WHOSE NAME Is
/ so prominent in connection with the esca
pade, is fine-looking man, about 3s years oi
/ age, who came TO Schoharie county about ter
years since from New York city, where ne ID
| believed 70 have wealthy family connections
He first opened an ONCE in West Fulton. re
moving thence 10 Warnervflle and coming L
\ Cobleskill last spring. He soon became quit,
popular, and In a few months after taking M
\ his residence, built the nucleus of practices
that promised ut an early day TO assure
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