The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-08-02
Strange and Tragic Story.

A speClal NcW YORK dispatch to the
Globe Democrat says: Judge O'Briep,
of the supreme court, has under advice
ment a melton, which was argued yes
terday, for the appointment of a receiver
for some $50, 900 worth of diamond jew
elry claimed to be held by Mrs. Matthews
as collateral for the payment OF a prom
issory note of 1854, given her on No
vember "a. 1884, by Mrs. Minnie Dough.
erty. Mrs. Matthews has brought a suit
against Mrs. Dougherty for the money
due on this note.
Connected with this suit is a curious
story with a strange but not altogether
unfamiliar under current of exciting ro-
nance, blind passion and terrible trag-
edy. Mrs. Matthews was one of the
wives of the late l. NJ. Singer, the sew
ing machine inventor, and she received
after the contest of Mr.. Singers will
81, 900, 600 as her share of the estate, in
addition tc the apportionment of $780,
0G0 to each of her children, conpris
ing one son and three daugh-
ters. The son was Charley
Matthews, who was known in
this city q few years ago as a dashing
sport aud daring speculator. 1t was he
who married the defendant in his
mothers suit, who is now the wife Of
DR.. J. A. Doughherty, of Philadelphia,
the young physician who examined Jake
Kilrain after his fight with John l.. The
diamonds in dispute were bought by
young Matthews soon after his marriage
as a present for his bride. They were
purchased at Titfany's and comprise
thirteen pieces of jewelry. The newly
married couple, whenin the CITY. stopped
at the Albemarle. But New York, with
all lis sporting opportunities, was not a
vide enough field for the young man. He
took frequent trips to Europe, and was o
bold and heavy better at Monte Carlo.
He is said, indeed, to have broken the
bank twice, and on his last visit to have
risen a winner to the tune of s135, 900.
This good luck o 0 forsook him, and
his fortune was finally dissipated. After
he had lost his last dollar he thought Of
his wife's jewels. He took them to a
Bowery pawnbrokcr and obtained a loan
of S., 900 on them, hurried to Wall street.
risked it all on a single stock venture,
and lost.
The tragic close Of young Matthe VS.
career is well remembered. In the fall
of 1888 he and his wife went to philadel.
phia, stopping at the Colonnade. Their
hotel bill was reaching a large amoua
and be was without money to pay il.
de wrote to his mother, who was then
in London, to help him out of his .dlfi
~cClties, and she sent him $40, 900. lie
paid his hotel bill, which took nearly all
the money, and then hurryirg to his
room put a pistol to his head, pnllei the
trigger and fell dead on the floor. He
had attempted suicide before that time in
Paris, but his faithful dog then made q
dash at him in the nick of time, knocked
the pistol out of his hand and saved his
life.
1t was claimed by the counsel for the
defense, in arguing the motion, that Mrs.
Matthews was anxious to keep the dia-
monds her son bought for his bride as a
memento. For this reason, he said, she
redeemed them, and in order to secure
their possession, persuaded Mrs. Dough.
erty into giving the note in question, and
then brought the suit against her, know
ing well that che has not o dollar in the
world. He claimed that the note was OBJ
tanned by fraud; that Mrs. Dougherty
never received a penny's consideration
for ii, and thai 1t was part and parcel of
a wicked scheme to rob his client of her
jewels. worth tenfold more than their in.
trinsic value from association with her
husband memory.
On the other hand, Mr.. Bruortoo, the
opposing counsel, insisted that the note
was valid, and that it was the outcome of
q perfectly fair and legitimate business
transaction. TO which there could not by
any possibility attach any faint or suspi-
cion of ir%regulariiy or fraud. All Mrs
Matthews wanted, he said, was repay
ment of what had been paid to redeem
the jewelry and the interest on her
money