The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-19

HER CASTLES In SPAIN.
A KENTUCKY HEIRESS IN TOWN
LOOKING FOR HER HUSBAND.

She Tells Her Lawyer that She was
Wooed, Married, Impoverished, and
Deserted all in Year by Young
Spaniard.
From The Neag York Sun.
remarkable story, containing material
enough to construct a modern four-act
society play, hss just come to light. The
heroine is a tail, authenticated southern
beauty of 2l. Her name was Cecil Watkins.
She is now Sonora Lavero. In great state
OF excitement she called at the Office of
Lawyer John A. Balestier, in Cedar street,
on Friday. Saturday and yesterday, each
time having new facts to add to her tale of
woe, which summed up to cover a Period of
twelve months, reveals the extraordinary
statement that within that time she was
wooed By handsome Spaniard of supposed
noble birth, named Lavero, married to him
at her home in Paris, KY, made over to
him her fortune Of $40, GOO, and was deserted
by him recently in this city.
The story Cecil tells begins in Kentucky
lust year ago. Col. Mark Antony Wat
kins, the father of Cecil, who died ten years
ago, was the owner of the Kennedy stock
farm, add the family live in an old mansion
surrounded by many broad acres, known as
Maplewood manor. The latter is three
miles and the Kennedy estate two mile,
from Paris. In his will, which the lawyer
holds, Col. Watkins decided the latter estate
to Cecil. Cecil says it was valued at be-
tween $4,000 and 100000. She was to
come into possession of the Kennedy estate
when she attained her majority. He also
left her saw-mill, from the sale of which
she got $4,000. putting the cash in the
First National Bank of Louisville Sonora
Lavero told the lawyer that aayear ago
Lulu Martin, her 11-year-old cousin, of Crab
Orchard, Ky; Edith Demontano of Louis
vile and herself we're cbums at st.
GATHERINGS Academy, Springfield, Ky.
When vacation time came in May, 1880,
Edith invited Cecil and Lulu to visit her at
her mothers house, All Walnut street,
Louisville. There the handsome Spaniard,
fernando Uberto Lavero, WAS introduced to
the girls by Mrs. Demontano. Vita Cecil
1t was case of love at first sight. The
Spaniard was undeniably handsome, and he
became apparently infatuated with the
young heiress, SO much SO that the other
girls became jealous. Lavero was looked
upon as prize, for he never tired of telling
of his fathers castles and vast estates near
Barcelona, and OF the great wealth he was
to inherit.
Six weeks after nesting Lavsro, Cecil
Watkins was married to him. The cere-
mony took place on Oct. IA, and, in accord
ance With her mothers wish, in Trinity
church at Paris, KY, the Rev. DIR. Cock
GRILL officiating. On the day of her mar
rlage Cecil, having attained her majority,
and being her own mistress, gave her hus-
band power of attorney over all her prop
erty. How he obtained influence enough
over her to induce her to do such a foolish
thing, she says, she cannot now tell Her
awyer suggests that it was hypnotism.
Be that as IL may. in the presence of old
John Flint, the family lawyer, who had
drawn up her fathers will, and was her
guardian and executor, she turned every
thing over to Levero. The next morning,
she says, without even advertising the Ken
nedy estate and homestead beyond throw
ing few handbills out on the streets of
Paris, Ky, Lavero sold it to the highest
bidder. 1t was rainy day, and, as buyers
were scarce for the two reasons mentioned,
the girls maternal grandfather, Humphrey
Elbimizer Rymel, bought it in for $4,000,
which was far belo W its real value
Then Lavero and his bride went to Louis
Vile to spend few weeks of their honey
moon, he drawing the $40, 900 from the bank
meanwhile. They met Lulu Martin at the
Demontano mansion-in fact the pretty
cousin was their constant companion. All
three, with Edith Demontano, came to New
York on Nov. 8, it being Lavero's intention,
he said. to take bis BRIDE to his "castles in
Spain The party had splendid time in
New York, going to theatres and parties,
the husband spending money retty freely,
and always including Lulu Martin in the
party. She is also IL very pretty girl and
three years younger than Cecil. The latter,
the lawyer says, is enough like Jennie Yea
mans, the actress, TO be her sister.
The beginning of tho last act came on
Nov. ID. They had all been living with
Cecirs half sister in fine house on Forty
fifth street, near Madison avenue On the
day named Lavero told his young wife, as
she says, thai his father in Spain had mott
fled him that his presence was NEEDED at
once to adjust matters relating to their
estate, and" he added, las he does not vet
know of our marriage, it will be Just as
well for me to go and pave the way, as be
expected me TO wed Spanish heiress."
Cecil objected, she says, but her en-
treaties were of no avail. He left her
81 900 for current expenses, taking about
500, 900 along, and she has not heard from
him since. But she did hear from Lulu
Martin:two days after Lavero's departure
from the house. Pinned to her pillow she
found this note:
II am going away-away with the man
love. You know that come of a pas
sionate race and would die for the man |
love-
Cecil has been advised by Mr.. Bslestier
not go to law until she finds out whether
her truant husband has really left New
York. or, at all events, until she discovers
where he is. She visited Spanish Consul
General Miguel Suarez yesterday, in the
hope that he might tell her some news Of
her husband, but he could tell her nothing.