The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-26
ROMANCEOF NORDICA.
How Rich Fred Cover Came to
Wed the Famous Singer.
HIS MoThER-lN-LAw DID II.
How LILLIAN Sought Divorce-Her Ia.
Gonna LitiEation Has just Won Her
Fifty Thousand Dollars.

AAS0AAt 0CSs <O.-Gveu NJ tulS l8bc O8S<
society fotk. who have discussed the Cover
Nordica case threadbare, know little OF
nothing about the really interesting horns
OF the dilemma on which Nine. Lillian
Nordica kept Mr.. Fred Cover perched fol
many weary days.
For instance. the daily papers had il thai
the actress. for Mime. Lillian was an actress
when Mr.. Cover paid Ter bills and bought
bushels OF lowers for her, that the plant
III, Nine. Nordica, failed to show any
right, title or interest in the Cover prop
erty in this city, which property the wise
acres OF real estate conservativeiy estimate
to be worth between $500, 900 and 81 OO0, 600
Inc latter figure IL, of course. prospec'
tive rather than present worth" esti-
mate.
Now. the facts In the case 90 to show
that Nine. Nordica played her role well
for she Is today richer by $4,000 than
when she instituted the suit against hel
brother-in-law, George Lewis Cover. Of
this city. Instead Of the matter being de.
ctded by the superior court. the records
show that Judge Allyn, Of the superior
bench. simply signed the compromise pa.
pers. none of the interested parties coming
near the halls of justice.
And madame's counsel. Louis D. Camp.
bell IS authority for the statement that she
received upwards OF $45, 600 in hard cash
and notes. Some $50, 600 of the compromise
money was in cash, besides SIS, 900 in notes,
all well secured. So Nine. Nordica did not
carry her cause into court without some
substantial return. Her plea was, that
PRIOR TO her husbands mysterious disar.
pearance part of his funds were invested in
Tacoma real estate, through George Lewis
tower, acting as his agent
OF course it goes without saying that
she either proved some interest in the
Cover property, or the compromise was
enected to keep the case out of court. Still
better for Nine. Nordica. the defendant
has to pay all the costs-yes, including
the lawyers employed by the actress.
But how was it Mr.. Fred Cover, known
TO be man of considerable means, and
an inventive genius of considerable re.
nown, came to marry this woman?
George Lewis Cover, in leisurely revie ".
ing the thrilling details of the case for my
information, some months ago, admitted
that he never could get it through his head
why Fred did wed the singer, unless,
indeed. his sympathies were worked upon
till he did not see anything Objectionable
IN assisting the prospective prima donna.
just how the inventor-Fred Cover Wa
announced in France a. millionaire In
ventor before the struggling singer met
hirn-and his future wife met is told by his
brother. Fred" said he. had made
some money In an improvement made BY
him to . telephone, and when he went to
Paris, 1t was given out that he was Q rich
inventor OF marvellous telephone. Well,
his invention was marvellous, but Fred wal
not Q millionaire. No doubt he could have
cleared up couple OF hundred thousand
o0uass, put ne wasn't miliionairel
Mime. Nordica was at the time cuitivat.
ing Whatever voice she possessed with q
teacher OF vocal music at or near Paris,
Her mother was with her. and her mother
managed the whole af1air-the match,
mean. 10 understand what Fred was do.
ing in paris. III jog back few years.
when Edison worked out his first tele.
phone Fred was newspaper man In
Rhode Island. he took up the telephone
tad, mad several important improvements
and then gave exhibitions throughout New
England. financially the lecture tour
with telephones as the drawing card, did
not prove success. Then he went in with
Graham Bells wife 9 father-and stingier
closer man never lived than Professor
Bells wife's father. Why, that man actu
ally made Fred account tor every picay uns
item OF expense. and when 1t came to or.
ganizlng company the electrician who
worked with Fred was compelled to take
part stock in pay for his hire. However. il
is well for him that he did take stock, a.
ne now - worm miiii0n. whereas II ne
nad not taken II ne would no doubt be
struggling eiec'riclan.
Being drawn oack 70 MS moorlngs the
narrator, prompted by suggestion that
be was drifting away from Nine. Nordica
rejoined that ne would hop back to Europe
and catch up the thread OF the story it he
were permitted to show by another Incl.
dent the grasping squeeze-penny-till-the
goddess-of-li berty-walis -with-pain propen.
sites OF Professor Bells iatber-in-law.
bell wanted 70 marry, continued Mr..
tower, Out ms Ia'nei-in-law,to- Wouio
not listen 70 is' uniesS ne couio SNOW some
suostantiai reason ior the Denei tnat nc
could support Wile. len tnousand DOL.
lars was the ngure' ana my Orotner FREQ
pat up 'ne money anu ssoou up Desioe'
with Professor pen Wnen ne was so nap.
ply weooeo. rreo got inc money OUT o.
ms interest IN the 'e,epnone improvement
winch ne naa slreaoy pe.iec'eo. FINALLY
ne was oougnt gu. OF the EDISON company
ana went 20 Ghsiano, "nele ne reanzeo
ABOUT SzVU'voo out Oh MS .e.epnone mter.
ests. ouii later ne went 70 france ana mao
ms ldea patented: inen II was tnat II
was noised ABOUT mat ne was = miilonaire
inventor.
"This singer and her mother heard Of
Fred and sent several notes asking for as