Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-21
ROMANTIC AND OTHERWISE
Matrimonial Matters Of Great Inter
est on the Coast.
MRS. CROCkER'S LAST VENTURE
Welded because She Wanted to Be n
Widow-Death Ends Divorc
Proceedings-Burial of
Millionaire Flood.
MRS. CRocKER'S LAST VENTURE
Our San Francisco Letter.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 49, Core
spondence of THE BEE. Interesting
events in a matrimonial way have Gre
ated considerable gossip in this city in
the past few days. A wedding, which
has attracted more attention than any
other for many years, was that of Mrs.
Amy Ashe Croker and Harry Gillig,
which occurred recently in New York.
1t furnished the theme of conversation
among club men and in society, and
much speculation has been INDUCED in.
The event was not unexpected, but Gill
llg's friends believed he would never
marry the woman, although he was
known to be very fond of her. Mrs.
'aCrocker is the daughter of Judge E. B.
Croker, brother of the late Charles
Croker, of the Southern Pacific rail-
road. When the Judge died he LETT
several millions to his wife and only
daughter. Amy was always a wild,
headstrong girl, and six years ago she
paralyzed society at her home in Sac
ramento by clipping with a young law
yer named Peter Ashe, who was hand
some but poor. Her mother soon be-
came reconciled and gave the young
couple a home on Van Ness avenue in
this city, which cost $3.50 600. One of
its features was a plunge bath room
that was twenty feet long. The Ashes
used to give bathing parties, with
guests in striking costumes, and with
unlimited champagne on The sideboard.
Porter loved fast horses and fast
women, and his wife shared his taste
for the former, while she had a pretty
fancy for some rapid men about town.
The result was constant quarrels ana
final separation about three years ago.
Porter devoted himself to gathering q
racing stud, while his wife went to live
with her mother in Los Angeles. There
she became infatuated with Harry Gill
lig, a very handsome young fellow, who
was a prominent real estate broker in
the big land boom. He is n son of John
the Gilligs OF the American eX-
change in London. He became
| her constant attendant, and when
she got her divorce from
Ashe last winter he accompanied her to
| New York and became her companion
to fashionable watering places. Mrs.
Crocker is a very pretty blonde, dresses
eXquisitely and always arouses great
attention here by her Worth costumes.
Welded so SHE COULD YEAR CREPE.
Another matrimonial event booked
for the near future is given unusual in
terest by the brides former marriage,
| which created a sensation at the time.
| The lady's name is frankie Brown-Mc-
Kee, the daughter of the late Hiram
Brown, who was a wealthy resident of
Oakland. Upon the death of her father
Miss frankie fell heir to $50 900, and
she Immediately started in to enjoy life
at a rather rapid rate, Among her
throng OF acquaintances was a dashing
widow, who became the bosom friend OF
the young heiress. frankie admired
the ways and manners Of her friend,
and thought that if she could only be-
come a widow herself she would possess
all the attractions which she so greatly
envled. She sought the ad-
vice OF her friend, Captain Rich
ard Apgar, who has since died.
He told her to marry some man who was
dying and offered to secure such a
bridegroom. Frank Brown assented.
Captain Apgar's friend, DR.. Arson A.
Du Puy, was treating for consumption a
| young printer named Frank Mckee.
The young man was informed of the
young lady's desire, and also of her
offer to pay his expenses until he died
and to provide for his funeral. The
printer was daZZleu by tne PlltteflnP
offers and lost 10 timeiin %consenting to
the marriage. Miss Brown called upon
Mckee, was satisfied with the deathly
! pallor of his cheeks and married him.
Then she hied her to a dressmaker's
and ordered an elaborate funeral trous-
seau, m =
The printer fingered along; too long
his BRIDE thought From time to time
word was brought to her from the sick
bed. The reports which told her that
her husband was fast nearing his end
were encouraging, and they were
usually accompanied with little bills for
| attendance upon him which she prompt
ly paid. Finally she decided TO satisfy
! herself by ocular demonstration
that Mckee was not gong to
repudiate his contract by living.
She was proceeding down Broadway.
Oakland one day with the intention of
visiting her husband in this city, but as
she was about to board a train a hand
| was laid upon her arm Turning her
head, her eyes rested upon a well-built,
road-shouldered young man, with the
| glow of health in his cheeks and a we'll
rounded stomach that betrayed great
| intimacy with the good things Of life.
1t was her husband. She nearly tainted,
but recovered quickly and u~pbraided
] Mckee for not dying N sched-