Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1890-12-04
ELOPING COUPLE CAUGHT.
AN ERRING WIFE MON
DAY NIGHT.
Mary McCOmber and Henry a..
Smith Rum Down by u
WrOnged Husband.

hfs. mdIy mcCOfHDoF huQ henry u.
Smith, the couple who so unceremon-
iously packed up everything in Vine
land week or two ago and left, spent
| Monday night in the Cumberland Co.
| Jail, in care Of Warden John Morris.
The story is one OF the saddest ever
written, and to tell it intelligently it is
necessary to take the PIONEER readers
back some time to town called St.
Charles, Wisconsin. There lived hap
PLY for time couple, John s. Nc
Comber and his wife, Mary McComber.
Their union was blessed with son,
John, after the father, and to-day, the
little fellow, bright and unusually in
telligent, is about eight Or nine years
old, and Mabel, & demure little girl of
about six years.
All went we'll for time, and then q
villain by the name of Henry G. Smith,
q young man, entered that home and
poisoned the wife against the husband.
Mr.. McComber charges that the wife
left him then, and for 8 year and
|
that time returning, praying for for
giveness, end she wes again taken back
to bis home as wife and mother.
About ten weeks ago, Mr. McOomber
left his Western home and came to
Vineland. bringing with him his
family, and establishing them in a
pleasant home. AS told in the Pro-
NEER at the time, McComber was un-
able to obtain work, and about two
weeks ago he left Vineland, and went
to Clayton, securing job in one of
the factories.
e'c PIONEER reporter, Mr.. McCom
Der said his prospects were good. He
received encouraging words from his
wife and securing a house, sent for
his family to come to Clayton. and
ship the goods.
Unsuspecting, the husband obtained
a coach and dray, and went TO the
Clayton station at the appointed time
to take his family and household ef-
fects to the new home. His eurprise
can only be imagined, when he found
on The train only an old trunk contain
ing few of his effects. His suspic-
ions were aroused. He began en- iu-
vestigation and visiting Vineiand, was
shocked to fad that his house furnish
iugs had all been taken away from his
house, and his wife and children were
missing.
Mr.. McComber then learned that
Smith had followed him and his family
from Wisconsin, and after his depart
ure to Clayton, had joined his wife
sold nearly one hundred dollars worth
OF furniture at a second hand store for
sixteen dollars, and eloped with the
wife, taking the children.
The grief stricken husband knew not
what to do. He had no clue as to the
whereabouts of the people. His wife
he cared nothing for. She had for
feited every particle of love and affec-
ton. She had deserted him-gone off
with disreputable man-forsaken her
duties as wife, sacrificed her honor and
broughtishame and disgrace upon the
family name. No, the heart filed wi b
anguish did not yearn for the wicked
woman, but the children, the innocent
offspring, the little boy and girl. All,
no, it was not the husband who was
nearly wild, but the father. The man
loved his children and we'll upder-
stood that woman who had so far
forgotten herself, was not the proper
custodian even for her own children,
and he resolved to begin search that
would only result in a discovery of
those he loved, or death.
Every reader of the PIONEER will
remember the heart-rending letter
published in these columns, written by
McComber to the Camden police off
cials. How he begged for assistance
in finding the guilty pair and his son
and daughter. Mr.. McComber en-
ployed detectives. He is poor man,
and yet he would sacrifice his last dol
lar to obtain the children. He himself
gave up his situation, and night and
day tramped searching for them. All
through Camden and other cities he
travelled, when a slight clue was OBJ.
tained, and yesterday he came to
Bridgeton. He was not long in locat-
ing the pair. Living on Broad street,
between Lawrence and Giles, on the
south side Of the street, were Smith
and Mrs. McComber. Tney were
known here SIS Mr.. and Mrs. Jones.
Smith was working at Cox & Sons
iron manufacturing establishment, and
after learning this, Mr.. McComber
went to Justice of the Peace Wells,
and svore out complaints, charging
both Smith and Mrs. McComber with
adultery. The warrants were placed
~ "'rstaN'e Avars' hands, and about