The weekly messenger., 1888-03-17
UNITED AFTER MANY YEARS.
A Wedding Delayed Because the
Groom was WrOngfully Convicted.


ST. JOSEPH, Mo.-A wedding of more
interest than is usually attached to
events where the parties are so little
known occurred recently about four
miles west of ST. Joseph. The contract
ing parties were W. H. Potter, living
near Denver, Col, and Mrs. Julia
Crumm, who for a few years past has
made her home with her brother. Henry
Withers, in Doniphan county, Kan.
Both the parties are of middle age, and
had not seen one another for years until
a few months ago. When they were
children they went TO school together in
Carroll county, Ky., and when Potter
was n young man of II years and came
West he was betrothed to Julia Withers,
who Tas the belle of the neighborhood.
Potter went first to Kansas, and then to
to the mountains, returning to visit his
old home twice in FIVE years
On the last visit it was agreed that
the marriage should take place the fol-
lowing spring, by which time he hoped
to have enough money to make his home
what he thought it should be. He re-
turned West, and was not heard from
for years. Some one who had known
him i'll the mountains happened to pass
through his Kentucky home and circu-
lated the story of his death, founded
upon rumor, rs it afte:ward appeared.
His sweetheart mOurne,, him as dead,
and in two years welded his rival, with
whom she had lived happily for about
eight years. Her husband died i'll 1885,
when she came to Doniphan COUNT to
make her home with her BROTHER. hav-
ing no children and no nearer relatives
in Kentucky. Her husband left her a
considerable fortune, and as her 40 years
sat lightly upon her, she soon became
the center of an admiring circle of
friends.
A few months ago Potter came
through st. Joseph, quite accidentally,
On his way to Chicago. He met WitherS
at the Union Depot, and, what is most
singular, the men knew each other. EX-
plantations followed, and Potter was
driven to the pleasant country home of
the Withers family. He met his sweet
heart of early days, and the old love,
which had not ceased 20 burn i'll their
hearts through long wears, soon made it
self felt. The cour;ship WAS commenced
where it had broken of, and the two
We're married. leaving tina. evening for
Mr.. Potter's home, near Denver.
The strange part of the story is vet 10
come. Potter. while working III the
mines. had been accused of numbering
his partner. Not being able to establish
his Innocence at the trial, he was con-
yicted, and the sentence committed to
imprisonment for life, several good real
sons appearing for this. Too proud 70
inform his sweetheart or family of his
disgrace. he did not write any letters
home about it, aad the story of the
crime did not reach them. The murder
was committed in IA new claim which
Potter and his partner had Just begun
to work in New Mexico, and it was not
known there what part o the East he
had come from. After he had been in
prison nearly five Years II man who was
t. he hanged made Il confession clearly
establishing Potters innocence, and he
was released. He went a: once to
Ghent, Ky, hut found his intended
bride was ano.hers. Without making
himself known he left the place and re-
turned to Denver, where he soon amassed
q considerable fortune by speculations.
He WAS on his way to Chicago to dispose
of some property when he accidentally
met his old schoolmate, Henry Withers,
in ST. Joseph. h.-St. L0uis GkJe.