The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-10-17
A CHECKERED LIFE.
The Close of the Strange Career
of William I'll. Spencer. i
HE WAS FOND OF MARRYING,
And Married One of his Wives Three Times
He Stunned the Friends Of Other
and Fairer DAYS.

Especial to THE HERALD Examiner Dispatch.1
New YORK, Oct. Widespread inter-
est has been excited by the story of the
eventual life of William H. Spencer, of this
city, who died suddenly in Chicago hotel
last week and whose body was cremateds
Sunday at Fresh Pond, L. 1. A curious de-
velopment in the case has been the discov-
cry of another wife and daughter left by
him and the contest between the two
widows over the estate of deceased.
Many old friends of the Spencer family
who were intimate with it's members when
the dead mans father was secretary of the
treasury and at the time of the marriage
of President Tyler's daughter to William H.
Spencer, were surprised to learn that ne had
been living in this city up to two months ago
He kept his name out of the city directory
lived quietly, studiously avoided fashion
able and popular streets, pulled his ha
over his eyes when he saw an old acquaint
| once, and thus lived for twenty years in
New York without any of his old class
matss of Y ale college or acquaintance of
his years of prosperity knowing of his ex-
istence
| During this time Spencer obliterated
himself to such an extent that he was able
|
| long while knew of the existence of the
other. Spencer was fond OF getting mar
ried, and left behind him puzzling compi-
cations. He was three times married to
President Tyler's daughter, twice secretly.
Your representative tonight called upon
Mrs. NJ. ID. Spencer, who claims to be
| William II. Spencer's widow and legiti-
mately entitled to the money for which his
| life was insured She said she did not care
for the money, but for her own sake and
that of her children she wished to have
her rights recognized. See was married to
William H. Spencer on May 10, 1883, being
at the time the widow of Heard, a Cleve-
land architect. Within year of her mar
riage MIR. Spencer left her and they have
not lived together since. Their daughter
is named Lizzie Victoria May Spencer.
Mrs. Spencer afterwards sued her husband
for divorce, which she obtained, and was
allowed IS week alimony.
~ don't believe in luck - said Mrs. Spen-
Ger, Except what we make it, and do not
give much credence to the story about Mr..
Spencer losing his fortune because of uu-
forseen disasters. He just lost that money
through sheer good heartedness."
Your representative then called on Mrs.
Caroline Spencer at the home of the dead
man, No. 1874 West Eighteenth street,
where she lives with the two children OF
her former marriage to Mr.. Bryant. When
asked about Mr.. Spencer'S matrimonial
complications she said 81 was married to
Mr.. Spencer twice. l attended to his last
wishes-being present at his cremation on
Sunday, and his ashes are now in this
! house"
Mrs. Spencer was then shown a picture
of the other Mrs. Spencer's daughter, which
she had never before seen. She admitted
there was singular likeness between the
little girl and Julia Gardner Tyler Spen
Ger, Mr.. Spencer's daughter by his first
wife.
Another singular fact running through
these family complications is the devotion
to second marriges. President Tyler was
widower with several children when he
married Miss Gardner, and Mr.. Spencer
who married their daughter, W as a widowel
when he afterwards married two widows
all these having children of their own al
the time and then came the cross relation
ship which this has given rise to.