The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1889-09-05
Al POOR CLERK
Marrles a Woman OF Twice Ills own
Age
And In Sixteen Months, by Her Death, le
ia Left Fortune Of $4,000,


from So Il week behind a counter 10
"A fortune of $4,000, This 10 u feat aG'
cOmpliBhed within sixteen months by
young William liittlea, OF Fifteenth
and raaker streets, and hla streak OF
fortune now lirea the ambition OF all
Southern Philadelphia The story was
brought 10 light by gorgeous funeral
from the BitteB residence, Never was
RnGh a rich GOrtfge witnessed IN the
neighbOrhOOd, -Four stable horses drew
this heaTae, reaplendent with the waving
plumea OF mourning, Ana IN the
hearae was a oahket OF most costly
black silk plush, weighed down with
massive silver handles stretching its
entire length, There were flowers in
pTOtusiOn, IL was the remalna OF Mrs,
Bittlea thus carried 10 tho grave, 0 wo'
man known through all the nelghbor'
hood, who remained In maidenhood un'
III she was hfty'twO years old, aud then
auGGome1 10 tho winning ways Of wal
liam Bitllee, u young man of twenty
six years. The latter was then a clerk
In Wnl6h'a inalnlment house IN West
Philadelphia, and living In bare com
fort, but his spouse, who was MISS
Charlotte Mahan, had u bank account
OF $4,000 money lett her by her broth
or, II we'll known harness manufacturer
About sixteen months ago BlttleA
was introduced 10 Miss MAIN and he
immediately aet about TO pay her court
Although tho woman was over nifty
years OF age and Blttles not more than
half 40 old, she received hla attentions
A fter brief cOurtahip OF three weeks
they were married and took mp their
home In Alton street, near Fifteenth
Bittlea Immediately secured u large ail
yer door plate hearing his name and
placed II on the front door He invest
ed IN Il fast horse and was n frequent
visitor 10 Point Breeze racing track,
Mrs. Blttlea placed portion OF her
money with builder Mclieeyer and they
went Into u building operation on South
Fifteenth street, When the houses
were finished, which was about u month
ago, Mr. BittleB and wife and servant
girl moved into No, lblB where they
seemed 10 live harmOniOualy. The
wife made an allowance 10 the husband
and he seemed 10 enjoy life In his new
home.
A week ago Mrs Bittles fell sick, and
she died on Wednesday night. Before
her death the husband presented 10 the
wife u will transferring all her property
10 him. The woman was 10 weak that
she could not write her name, but she
was enabled 10 make her mark In the
presence OF the attorney for her hus.
band. This was at o'clock In the af.
ternoOn, and ~ midnight the woman
died.
Az soon 90 the woman's death was
made public, the neighbors began TO
gossip, and 10 result Coroner Ash
bridge was soon deluged with letters
calling his attention TO TIE suspicious
features OF the case. The Coroner
called upon the husband, who NJ once
declared himself ready for the most
searching investigation. Dr.. stewart
made an examination and found that
the woman had died from natural
causes, and ex0nerated the husband,
The next feature In this remarkable
case was the funeral, which took place
yesterday, and which was worthy OF m
$4,000 wife. The order for the affair
was placed with Undertaken 5, II Eos.
ter, and Bittles suid TO him: Now |
want four horses 10 the hearse, and you
must get this ailaiEup In great style. |
know she would like TO nave IL done
right, and l intend to do what she
would want"
The cablet was n model IL was of
cedar covered with black silk plush,
with great silver plated handles extend
ing along the sides. The remains were
attlred In very rich shroud. The
room In the house whore the body lay
was filled with flowers, and the wife
had most gorgeous funeral.
Mourners came by the hundreds, All
the residents of Alton street, where
Mrs. Blttlos formerly lived, were on
hand. They filed the house TO suil0ca.
| tlOn, and when the funeral started for
the grave, at Tenth street and Wash.
lngton avenue, they filled every car.
raige. one hundred vehicles would not
have accommodated all that were pres
ent, Theneighbors stood aghast as the
four.horso h arse drew away from the
house with its load. All CrNned their
neck8 and strained their eyes TO see the
ber0lt husband that had made such u
successful match.
Young Bittes who 10 now the talk
of tho neighborhood, Is well known In
the southern part Of the city. He has
been In this country from Ireland only
four years. He did not forget his par.
ents In the old country during his reign
OF prosperity and sent his father $500
which his wife gave him,
II WIS stated last night that the rela.
tiyes of Mrs. Bittlcs do not intend that
the husband shall have undisputed pos
session OF his wife's money, despite her
will, They propose TO contest the will
unless au yamicable arrangement shall
be reAohed