The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-23
THE TWO MRS. SMITHS.
A New Jersey Contest in Which Sa-
yannahians are Interested.


The contest over the estate of Congress
man H. B. Smith of Mount Holly, N. j., is
exciting popular interest. Congressman
Smith was the father of Capt. E. A. Smith,
president of the Savannah Lighterage Com
pany, and it is Capt. Smith who is really
making the contest in his mothers behalf to
recover her dover interest in the estate.
Capt. Smith and his attorney, NJ A.
OBvrne, Esq, are now north looking after
the case. Mrs. Smith, who claims to be the
righlful widow, was put on the s,and day
or two ago. and after strenuous efforts Oh
the part of the cou lsel for t o defense, she
told the story of her marriage. She said
that she was born in Wo dstock, VT, and
was living at the house of her father, John
English, when she met II. B. Smith, who
was then struggling young inventor
Of Woodworking machinery, sewing
machines, and clothes wringers. In the,
course of time she became quite ultimate
with Mr.. Smi h. aad he was a frequent
caller at her house. After a time he pro-
posed marriage and was accepted. Shortly
after that he told her they would be mar
ried as soon as he could settle up his affairs
at Manchester, and one day he drove up to
the house and told he that he was ready to
be married. "But INV father and mother
are away from no e." she said. 81 would
not like TO go in their absence" ''lt's now
or never" said the impatient sutton.
'Wri tie them a l tier telling them where
YOU we gone and it will be all right"
She did so, and they drove to Wo 'dstock,
where they took the stage for Windsor.
There Mr.. Smith was unable to find a
clergyman to marry them because Of some
informality, and instead of turning back
they remained at the hotel over Sunday,
and ON Monday morning took the stage for
Concord, where Mr.. Smith left his expectant
bride for ten days while he took a run down
to Boston to attend to some business. At
the expiration of that time he re-
turned and both journeyed to
Charlestown, near Boston, and were driven
to the Bunker Hill hotel. Here Mr.. Smith
left her for few minutes and returned
with clerical looking man whom he said
was clergyman, the Rev. Mr.. Warren.
'ne latter performed the ceremony, Mr..
Smith stopping him in the midst of it with
the words, "Be quick about this; we want
to see the sights" After Mr.. Warren had
pronounced them man and wife, he left
without giving her any certif ate.
Mrs. Smith and her husband then went
to Manchester, where they lived for year,
after which they bought house at Wood
stock, and lived together nineteen years.
Mr.. Smith then deserted her and went to
New Jersey, where he died in 1887, after
having amassed a fortune. He never was
known to deny that she was his wife during
their residence at Woodstock, but when
afterward he was candidate for congress
man in the Second New Jersey district he
denounced the story of his marriage as a
campaig lie.
The contest over the estate grew out of
the fact thai Mr.. Smith after having left his
wife in VermO t it is said, had house
keeper in New Jersey whom he acknowl-
edged as his sister, and upon whose monu-
ment after her death some time ago, he
had placed an inscription to that effect.
The relations of the deceased woman cl i'm,
however, that she was his wife, and they
laid claim to his estate which was estimated
at a quarter of m lion dollars.
The relatives of the deceased woman deny
that Mr.. Smith was ever married to the
contestant. and they argue that she should
have brought er action before Mr.. Smiths
death instead Of waiting over twenty years
| before attempting to establish her claim.