Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1888-01-13

warded to him on the ground that / had
drawn 1t up, but says in such letter sYOu
will find that would otherwise be only
too glad to accOmOdate you in this matter,
and should the occasion ever arise in the
near or distant future. to render you
just"
Soon after this refusal Mrs. Witherbee
notified parties who had presented bills
against her for necessary clothing, ETC.,
that they must forward them to her hus-
band, as he must maintain her, having re-
pose OF her own separate property. Such
bills were sent to Witherbee to the amount
Of $500. He refused to pay them and to
justify his conduct and save his credit he
maligned the character of his wife.
exhibit one of the bills from Lord &
Taylor Of New York; with their letter to
that Witherbee had refused to pay it.
Mr.. Witherbee has also ascertained
through letters written by his wife to par
ties in Washington and to him directly, by
a certain attorney in Bismarck, that she
was about to commence proceedings here
1' for divorce on the grounds Of desertion,
non.support, cruelty and adultery.
These are causes sufficient for the de-
famation of her character which he has
impelled, and fabricated.
1t is stated in the scandalous articles to
which am replying that Mrs. Witherbee
has borne for years in E!gin, ILL.,, where
she was reared, clouded and badly
smirched reputation. A sufficient answer
to this branch of the scandal is furnished
by the following extracts from the EIgin
Daily News of Wednesday, June Is, 1887:
At the earnest solicitation of the high school
teachers and an the graduating class. Mrs. Nettie
Dent DanaR the;be viii Ssng at the
at the First M Baptist church; CHI Mrs Witherbee's
quest. just as of DID, by Pease.
The same paper shows that she was in
troduced to the audience on that occasion
by President Lord of the school board of
education Of Elgin. The volume lay be-
fore you contains newspaper extracts
showing Mrs. Witherbee's personal and
musical record at Elgin and her standing
there from the age of IA to the age Of "a,
which she has recently attained.
would state that he kept a shoe store in
Elgin at the date OF Mrs. WIS adoption by
him and his wife. December 9, 1868, when
she was about years of age. Her mother
was from South Bend, Ind, where she was
born August Z, 1868, four months before
the death of her father, who fell in battle
ant in the Forty-second or Forty-third In
diana infantry.
and he and her mother were of honorable
birth and lineage.
AS to Mr.. Borden, would state that he
was and is a gentleman of large wealth
who has frequently rendered generous aid
to the deserving.
tits true that Mr.. Borden paid for Mrs.
Wltherbee's musical education in New
York for period of two years, from 81 to
'7S, he having with the full knowledge of his
family, rendered this aid that her wonder
fu! musical powers might receive fitting
culture under that renowned teacher, Nine.
Cappiana of New York.
Subsequent to these two years of tuition
Mrs. Wi.herbee maintained herself honor
ably as a soprano singer in leading
churches in New York and by appearing
frequently in grand concert. She bounti-
fully maintained her adopted parents, who
have recently engaged in scheme to de-
fraud her out OF valuable real estate in
Elgin, and she has recently brought suit to
recover it OF them. Upon that point, Mrs.
Witherbee's attorney, Frank w. Joslyn,
city attorney OF Egin, writes her as fol
lows under date OF November 27, '87:
II have never i'll my experience heard of
laps to defraud you Of money and prop
erty."
The Dunlaps are therefore active in wild
ening the orbit Of the defamation that has
recently encircled Mrs. Wltherbee.
AS TO MYSELF
L would state that repaired to Elgin in
May, 1887, with Mrs. Witherbee to assert
her legal rights to her property against the
Dunlap's. had a room at their house,
they being wholly maintained by her. On
July Both Mrs. Dunlap executed deed of
two lots to Mrs. Witherbee in which she
admitted that she had purchased the same
with money that she held in trust for Mrs.
deed, and because his wife signed it, he
knocked her down and threw her down
the steps of his house, kicking her violently.
l went to her aid with Mr.. COvin OF Elgill.
and Dunlap assaulted Mr.. Colvin, who re-
treated, and then assaulted me with
heavy club. IWarded off his blow and dis
armed him, and obliged him to retire from
his wife, and not I, had him arrested upon
her affidavit before Justice Becker of EIgin
and he was sent to jail upon his failure to
give the required bond. Mr.. +. w. Joslyn
appeared for Mrs. Dunlap at the trial and
Dunlap did not deny the beating, but de-
to give a peace bond. This disposes Of the
statement that 1 had him Imprisoned be-
cause he objected to my alleged improper
relations with his daughter. That charge
was made only after the beating to cover
the scheme Of fraud in which his wife now
joins him.
So far from his holding my association
with his daughter to be improper and con
demned by him, on May SOth, 1887, he en-
pl0yed me todraw his will, leaving all of
his property to her. The will which, ex-
hibit says:
. y make this disposition Of ny estate in CRATE;
daughters noble and unseltish character, and
her loyal and affectionate devotion to me and my
good wife," 80
The will is witnessed by G. T. Aldrich,
=. q. Harvatt and +. E. Rider of Elgin.
AS to Mrs. Witherbee's conduct in Bis
marck as attested by Its most refined peo-
pie, ithas been marked by every feature that
can define q prudent. modest and cultivated
lady. Upon this point venture to say there
is no dissent in this community. She will
file her bill for divorce within the next five
days If she survives that period, her med.