The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-01-13
SPIRITS HAD MARRIED HER.
A Widows Strange InfatuatiOn
For a Gay New Yorker.

WICHITA, December 14.-An unpar
alleled trial ended yesterday in the Pro
bate Court. The plaintiff was Harry e
Windsor, handsome. popular young
society man, who came here about 9
year ago from New York City to taxi
charge of the eastern business Of
Smedley Darlington, who fled an infor-
nation for an inquest of insanity upor
Mrs. Helen G. Fields, a beautiful and
wealthy widow. who maintains that she
has been married through a spiritual me
dunn to the young broker.
Mrs. Hoxie, mother of Mrs. Fields
said on the witness stand that she first
noticed the strange behavior of her
daughter last June She insisted she
was engaged to Mr.. Windsor, and one
day entered his place of business,
talked with him and returned home
saying the ceremony would be pre-
formed that afternoon. She accordingly
dressed herself in white aud stQbd upon
the front porch awaiting the coming
of the expected groom. AS Mr.. Wind
sor did not appear that day, she dressed
herself in the same fashion several days
afterwards and anxiously awaited
him.
Mrs. Hoxie finally went to Mr.. wind
Scr and asked him if he intended to
marry her daughter. He told her he did
not, and showed her letters and postal
cards from Mrs. Field containing al
lusions to certain matters OF which he
knew nothing, and couched in the most
loving terms. She then turned home
and advised her daughter to stop pay
ing any further attention to Mr. Wind
sor, as he cared nothing for her.
Mrs. Hoxie also testified that her
daughter, about six weeks ago. began
to talk of signs, omens and spiritual
manifestation. always connec ing Mr..
Windsor with them. Seeing her sup
posed lover driving past her house one
day, she ran to her mother exclaiming;
There he goes; the marriage will
soon be performed" Sne commenced
to talk of the church, and said that
while he was appointed of Christ to be
her husband. yet he should not
come between her and her God.
One night early in October she
dressed herself in a magnificent wed
ding trouseau, and at 10 O'Clock. after
the family had retired, stole thus ar
rayed from her room and walked to the
First Presbyterian Church, where she
remained for several hours, going
through an imaginary wedding cere.
mony. The next morning she told her
mother that part of the ceremony had
been performed. Last Sunday night
she went to the chul ch without CLOAK
or gloves on and stood for some time.
The next morning she told her m other
that another pefG of the ceremony had
been performed, and that in a few days
it would all end. The following night
she made another trip to the church,
wearing neither bonnet nor shoes.
Tuesday night ar O'Clock, arrayed in
black velvet and carrying in her arms
bundles of roses, she entered the Vesti-
bule, and strewing the roses about her,
knelt and toled the church bell.
Thursday night she appeared at the
church at midnight dressed in magni-
fcent robe of red, and after remain ng
there until 3 O'Clock, returned to
her house, aroused the family, sung
hosannas, declared that at last the
spirits had united her to the man of
her choice, and asked to be taken imme.
diately to him.
Mr.. Scott, who lives with Mrs. Fields
and her mother, said she had often
told him she was bsing married through
spiritual agency to Mr. Windsor. She
said when questioned as TO why Mr..
Windsor did not claim her, that it was
part OF the programme to be. carried
out There are certain VOWS and pen
ances to befulflled by both OF u.s. she
said, land then [ am go ng TO claim
him." She has'b0ught beautiful wed
ding outfits several times to prei0rm
this spiritual ceremony, and has been
ready every Sunday for the past six
months to receive her lover, wearing
elegant costumes, and with her carriage
and driver ready TO drive her and her
husband off TO the spirit land to spend
their honey moon.
Mr.. Windsor, when put upon the
stand, appeared embarrassed, and said
he had known Mrs. Fields for about q
year. He had received letters and pack
ages of all kinds containing illusions to
things spiritual. There also came pile
of boxes with poetry and flowers and
disconnected letters He said he had
never spoken to her of marriage. A
letter written last spring said that she
understood the manifestations and
was too i'll to come to this office, but
that if he would call on her it would be
all right. and shs would wave forma-
lities with pleasure" He had not
spoken to her since last summer and
never noticed her on the street.
Mrs. Fields, who is beautiful WON an =,
next took the stand. She was richly
dressed, and as she related how she had
striven to be worthy of he" spiritual
bridegroom she wept. She related the
story of how she had received the signs
and omens with great earDestness, and
told, with NO little feeling, how she had
been married.
Nov 1 see," she sobbed, "that have
misunderstood all the siga<, and it was
all, all in vain" She appeared perfectly
game upon every other subject and the
jury returned verdict of mot
insane"