Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-07-10
APPLICANT FOR A DOVER
QUESTION OF BIGAHOUs MAE.
RIA9E AND MATERNITY.
A STRANGE CASE IN THE COURT
BEINGS OUTsOM e FLArLY CONTRA
DICTORR TESrIMONR.
After "A Portion of the Estate OF
Cornelius RIcGrenra - A Family
Skeleton Aired Before Judge
Grubb.

The McGrenra dover case, which was
heard before Judge Grubb in orphans
court yesterday week, is an interesting pro-
oeeding, and involves an amount Of CON-
Trajectory testimony seldom encountered
In legal trials. Mary McGrenra, formerly
Mary DugRn. was the wife of Cornelius
McGrenra, q well-known and somewhat
ecosntrio citizen of Wilmington, who
owned the Delaware Houss property.
He died about two years ago.
About 1873, Mrs. MoGrenra left her hus-
band and went to Philadelphia. After
wards Cornelius McGrenrs sold the Della
ware House property 10 his sister, Oath
arine MoGrenrR, but the wife did not
Join with him in the deed Of transfer.
After his death Mrs. Mary Mo.
Grenra made application for her
widows dover in the Delaware House
property, which application was opposed
By Miss Caiharine MeGrenra, on the
ground that Mrs. MoGFenra had left her
husband without cause and during her
absence had been guilty of adultery and
bigamy. These offences, under the laws
of this State, work forfeiture OF
widows dover. In the legal proceeding
Mrs. McGrenra is represented by Daniel
Bse,ton, Esq.,, of Ekton, Md, and
Thomas Davis, Esq, of this CITY, and
Miss Clatharlne McGrenra by Willard
Salisbury, Jr., Esq.
Ic her examination before Judge Qsubb
yesterday, Mrs. McGrenra gave An 40
count OF her doings after leaving Will
lnington, and in response to questions by
defendants lawyers positively dsaiAd
that she had ever lived in adultery with
any man, married another husband o.
had child as result of aueh marriage.
When she concluded, the defence pTumPiiy
produced startling array OF eortIaai-
tory testimony. Charles Ferguson and
his wife Julia, of Philadelphia, positively
identified Mrs. McGrenra ss wsnan
they had known in Phiiadeiphis rs MRS.
McGrane, a widow, who was employed in
the linen room Of the Girard Hsuse- Sba
lived with them for some time. They said
she was receiving such attentions from
man named James Andrews as to mako q
marriage ceremony very advisable, aed
Mr.. Ferguson urged Andrews to marry
her, which he finally consented to do.
The ceremony took place in the csthsdrai
ut Eighth and Raos streets, Philadslpbia,
and was witnessed by Mr.. and Mrs.
Ferguson.
also identified Mrs. MoGEenra as g woman
whom he had attended in childbirth in
Philadelphia, ON the 3lst of October, 1879.
She was known to him az Mrs. Andrews
and James Andrews, her repatsd husband,
engeged his professional services. Mrs.
Ohristisna Marshall of Philadelphia, q
professional nurse, also recognized Mrs.
McGrenra Rs Mrs. Andrews, Rad testified
that she nurBed her duriag tha sickness
incident to the birth Of oAild. Doctor
and nurse were very positive in their
Identification OF Mrs. McGraas as the
Mrs. Andrews they had attnnded profess
sionally. Mrs. Kebecca Bylnes also iden-
titled her as Mrs. Andrews. Andrews ia
now in the insane asylum at Norriatowr.
The child, boy who was named Robert,
il was said, is at present an inmate of an
orphan asylum somewhere in Pennsyl-
vapia.
During this testimony Mrs. McGrenra
sat calmly beside her couasel, eyincing
not the slightest uneRsiness. She denies
the assertions of the witnesses as to her
bigamous marriage and its result and
feels confident of proving her case.
Patrick HeRgerty was called to
prove that the married life OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Mc9renra at the Delaware House
was far from pleasant, by reason OF Mrs.
MoGrenrA's violent temper and her fire.
quent altercations with her husbands
sisters. Once Cornelius, in Haggerty's
presence, offered 60 decd her house on
Ninth street, in wkioh they could live
together, leaving the hotel TO his BisterH,
but she refused. THIS testimony was in,
tended to 40 towards showing that Mira,
MoGrenra's desertion OF her husband waa
voluntary on her part and due to no act
of his.
Edward McKelvey testified to going
with Cornelius McGrenrs to the Black
Horse Hotel, where Mrs. McGrenra war
staying Rt the time, having LETT the Della.
ware House after having spirited shoot
ing match with her sister-in- law. Cor.
neliua asked her 70 return and lived with
him pesceably and quietly, assuring her
that she should want for nothing, but
Mrs. McGrenra refused.
Court adjourned until Thursday.
The hearing of the MeGrenra case wat
continued in the orphans court, before
Judge Grubb, Thursday morning. Miss
Catharine McGrenra, Meter OF Cornelius
MoGrenrs, said that he lived with
her most OF the time after his wife left
him, and that she had to take care of
him. Mrs. Sarah McKelvey, another
sister, oorroborated this testimony. The
hearing was then adjourned until this
MORNING.