The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-06
A CELEBRATED CASE.
DEVELOPMENT OF A STORY OF A
SENSATIONAL NATURE

How a Wife Mourned Her Hus band
for Dead, Remarked, Sold Her Prop
erty, and Lived to See Her First
Husband Return.
From the ST. Louis Republic.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Nov. 27.-What
Judge Gibson once pronounced the most
sensational suit that ever came TO his notice
was placed on trial in Judge Henry's divis-
ion Of the circuit court this afternoon. The
suit itself is an equity proceeding to set
aside deed for forty acres Of land in the
southwestern portion of the city, valued at
100000, but the testimony upon which the
cancellation of the deed is asked reveals a
romance.
On October "a, 1850. Hezekiah c. Har ri
son, son of one of the original settlers of
Missouri, and an extensive land owner, mar
ried Ann Owen, a reigning belle in this
county, the youngest daughter of Col. S. c.
Owen, who won great fame in the Mexican
wal, and who was afterwards clerk of the CIR
cult court of Jackson county. The young
couple lived happily for eight years in this
county, when IN 1859 young Harrison became
afflicted with the gold craze and decided TO
go to California. He made two or
three trips TO and from California,
bringing home considerable gold and
investing it in real estate in this city, some
of which is now in litigation ia the present
proceedings. In 1860 he went to California
again, promising his wife that it would be
his last trip. Mrs. Harrison never saw
him again. Soon after his departure the
war broke out and hostile Indians were
numerous all over the plains. Reports of
masSacres by Indians came to Kansas City
almost daily. Among those reported to
haze been killed was Harrison. The report
was confirmed by some Of his COMPANIONS
who returned. Mrs. Harrison was nearly
overcome by this news, and was i'll for
long time afterwards.
REMARKED.
In 1866 she married James McDonoueh,
formerly chief of police of St Louis In
1882 she sold the Harrison property in Kan
sas City to James and John Eaton, the deed
reciting that McDonough was her husband,
he joining in the deed with her TO that
effect.
Soon after this sale Harrison unexpect-
edly returned to Kansas City alive and in
excellent health. Upon hearing of Harri-
sons return Mrs. McDonough brought suit
for divorce from Harrison on the ground
of desertion, which divorce was granted to
her by the circuit court at St. Louis. She i'm
mediately remarked McDonough, with
whom she is now living. She sold the land
to the Eatons for 1925 an acre, $40, 200 in
all Since then the land has reached value
OF about $200,000, which is The reason f or
the suit
Mr.. Buckner, the attorney for Mrs Nc
Donough, held that inasmucn as the land
was sold while her true husband was alive,
and without his signature TO the deed, the
sale was invalid, and should be set aside
Mrs. McDonough offers to return the 1925,
and asks to have the deed cancelled The
holders Of the property under the Eatons
contend that Mrs. McDonough's claim is
outlawed by the statutes of limitation.
Harrison, after hearing of his wife's remar-
riage with McDonough, returned to the
west and is now in New Mexico.
HARRIsoNs WIFE.
Shortly after his wife's first marriage to
McDonough, Harrison married an Indian
woman, who is now living with him. The
cause of the report of his death was the
fact that another man named Hezekiah Har-
rison was killed near Denver at the time of
Harrlson's disappearance. During the trial
of the case ON May 81, when it was first
called, it was developed in evidence that
Judge Gibson was related Instantly to one
OF the persons interested in the suit, aud he
immediately transferred it to Judge Hen
RVS division of the circuit court.
Mrs. McDonough appeared in the court
room to-day elegantly attired, and listened
with the greatest interest to the testimony
Most of the witnesses are heavy-bearded
men, who were acquainted with Mrs,
McDonough and Harrison at the time of
their courtship and marriage in the sos
McDonough is lying on sick bed in st.
Louis, and is unable to be present at the
trial.
This case will be precedent in the event
of a favorable decision for Mrs McDonough
for similar suits for lands valued at many
hundreds of thousands of dollars.