The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-05-03
HER RoMANOE AT AN END.
An Alleged Southern Girl Who Mar
ried q FOREIGNER and q Spaudthrift

An Alleged Southern Girl Who Mar
ried Foreigner and Spendthrift.
From the Neg York Herald, april 3.
Another instance Of an American girl--a
southern one at that-marrying a foreigner
for the sake of title, and upon whom she
bestowed part of her fortune, which he
squandered in a most reckless fashion, was
brought to light yesterday in supreme
court chambers, before Judge Ingraham, in
the course of a litigation in which she
seeks to be relieved of paying heavy debts
which her husband incurred.
This girl was born in Georgia and was
daughter of Ira Peck, who later removed
to Hartford, Conn, and became one Of the
wealthiest residents. Of that state He died
IN 1870, leaving large estate in trust for
his family-six Children portion being
set apart for his three daughters, one Of
whom was Mary, the subject of this nara
tive. She is a pretty blonde, something
over 30 years of age. Not long after her
fathers death she went abroad, and in
Paris met and in a short tune married
Giovanni Danesi, a gentleman Of Italian
birth. Within five years after her mar
riage two Of her brothers died. and she in
herited from them a fortune of SIS, 600.
This money and the yearly income which
she received from her fathers estate
amounting to nearly $l4 900, she handed
over to her husband, which he expended
about as rapidly as he got it.
SUED IN THIS COUNTRY.
They Travelled about Europe until the fall
OF 1884, when they returned to this city, and
since that time have lived at various places
in this country, On March s, 1855, Mrs
Danesl was served with papers in a suit
against herself and husband brought by
James l.. Skillin as ancilliary executor of
the estate Of Giovanni Battista Smeriglio,
formerly merchant of Turin, Italy, to re-
cover about $4,000 for moneys advanced to
Danesi between June, 1883, and Nav, 1884
for which he had executed promissory
notes, which his wife, at his request, had
signed as guarantor. Dalesi took the pa
pers, telling his wife that he would attend
to the matter.
Mrs Danesi thought no more of the suit
until she signed an answer prepared by her
attorney, W. p Burr The next thing she
learned was that on May last Judgment
was taken against her for $50, ASP II, which
included the amount of the notes, together
with $13,206 ~ interest. The judg ment
could not be satisfied in this state, and pro-
ceedings were taken in Hartford, Conn.
with a view to getting at the trust estate
there. That action is still pending.
HER ATTORNEY AT FAULT.
Yesterday Almon Goodwin, of Wander
before Judge Ingraham to set aside the
judgment against Mrs. Danesi and to per
NIT her to defend the action. He co1tended
that the default vas procured through the
neglect of her former attorney, and that
Justice demanded that she should not g
compelled to pay for large expenditures
which her husband had incurred. In her
affidavit Mrs. DaLesi admitted that she had
signed certain papers at the request of her
husband which Cba IInHarG hood
nected with money matters. They were
signed in Paris and were written in
French or Italian. Her husband informed
her that not more than $4,000 was involved
and that her signature was placed there as
a mere matter of form. She declared that
she had never received any money from
Smeriglio, neither had she received any
benefit by reason of having signed the
papers. All the money she had given 10
her husband, she said, has been left in
France and Italy, and a considerable por-
ton she believes to have been paid over to
money lenders among them being Sneri-
Clio. She thought her husband was in
debted to Smeriglio for $1U, 900 or ST. 900,
but the balance of the claim was due to
usurious contracts held for accommodation.
She stated that an offer had been made to
drop the suit if $500 was paid,
RANK UsURY.
JduGol SGO LOl bu IL HIS dltlldf IL llhl
about 5000 was due Smeriglo, Of which
Sc, 900 was for money advanced and $1,000
for a guarantee made for a friend. The
only consideration ne had received for this
was some bric-a-brac and antique things, in
which Smerglio dealt, in order to cover his
business as money lender and to avoid the
laws of France forbiddng usury. Sig
Danesi insisted that the only honest part o
the claim was 10000 francs. While at
Turin bo boA uoi In hla articles xubi 1,
we're held as security for a considerable
sum of money. Smeriglio arranged for the
release OF these goods, and was to be well
paid for his trouble. In 1881, during the
crisis in Paris, Danesi received advances
from Smerigho, and paid s 900 for the &C
commodation, and also interest regularly at
| the rate of 45 per cent. at times, which his
wife, of course, furnished until the fall of
1854. The transactions with SmerlgliO as
money lender began when Danesi was a
schoolboy and continued until five years
ago.
Smeriglio died at Turin on May 6, 1886,
and it is said that his death was due to the
fact that he could not collect this money
from Signor Danesi. A few days before
his death he exacted a solemn promise from
r. Ricci, his executor, to leave nothing I'M
done to compel Danesi to pay it back.
j. j. Louth, the attorney for the executor,
argued that the motion should not be
granted because a similar one had been
passed upon and denied by Judge Barrett.
He stated that Signor Danesi was not q
responsible party and was entirely without
funds. He and Nine. Danesi had not been
on the most affectlonate terms for some
months past, and it is said that she allowed
him 81 200 year for hiSsupport. Although
they are not living together, however, no
articles of separation have been drawn up,