Omaha daily bee., 1888-04-29
Cupid I'm the Kitchen,

N. Y. Journal: A stout and good
natured-looking m of middle age,
Ellen Marley by name, was for many
years head cook in the family of the late
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. She knew
how to make up little dishes to tempt
delicate appetites, and the Plymouth
pastor held her in great respect on
account of her astronomical skill.
e. Everybody about the house called her
Ellen, and she was absolute when below
stairs. Several times she had been the
recipient of matrimonial offers, which
were declined with thanks. She told
all of her admirers that SO long as Mr..
Beecher lived and maintained a home
she would remain his COOK in single
blesseduess.
William Landy made the acquaint-
ance of Ellen about a year ago. He is
nearly fifty years of age and had been a
widower since August, 1884. Several
times a week he visited the Beecher
mansion to deliver choice fish or other
d~elicacies which had been ordered from
his employers place in Fulton Market.
During these visits he had opportuni-
ties of conversiEg with Ellen.
He told her all about himself and the
loss of his wife. His descriptions of the
DISSOLUTION in his one happy home and
of tho fcrlorn condition of his six
motherless little children were very
pathetic and Ellen was not backward in
expressing her sympathy.
One day he plucked up courage suf-
ficient 10 ask the cook to give up her
position and accept that of mother to the
little Landys. She did not accept, but
told the widower that she would give
him the preference if circumstances
should permit her to marry. She also
| aannal uyhnnn hn 1iun1 aud nn,acinnnll Us
went to his home to sec his six mother
less children.
Mr.. Beecher died, and the old home
stead was broken up. Ellen had to seek
q new home, and was considering whore
it should be when Landy came to the
| front again and renewed his offer OF
marriage, which she accepted. The
wedding occurred on the evening OF
November g., 1887.
The couple went to live at No. SO
Charles street, and soon discovered that
they were ill-mated. On Christmas Day
Landy packed up his household effects,
and taking his six children with him,
moved to No. SO New Chambers street,
| New York.
An action for a limited divorce has
now been brought by Ellen. She also
demands alimony. Landy is accusd Of
cruel treatment. Nineteen days after
the wedding, she says, he charged her
with having another husband living
and with trying to poison him, and
threatened to buy a pistol and shoot
her, and not ouly did he beat her him
self, but he encouraged his eldest
daughter to do so.
All this Is denied by Landy. He say!
he did not want to marry Ellen, but
that she absolutely coaxed him int
doing so. She knew that he was poor
yet she was so anxious to have him for Q
husband that she bought him his we'd
ding garments and her own wedding
ring. She also paid a months rem for
the rooms in which they went to live.
One reason why he did not wish Il
marry Ellen, Landy says, was because
he had so many children, but she pro
tested and said she loved children anC
would be a mother to them. After the
marriage she did not keep her promise
She ~illtreated the children, and finalll
compelled the second eldest to leave tn
house. He says he WAS willing TO have
her accompany him to New York whel
he moved, but she would not go becaus,
she could not ride on top OF the trucl
with the driver.
Justice Osborne listened 10 the argu
ment yesterday on the ~alln.ohy question
and reserved his docisi0n.