The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-02
NELLIGAN'S WIVES.
They All Three Meet Together
and Compare Notes.
DEATH REVEALED THE FACTS.


About two months ago the 0edtn OF =.
J. Michigan, of this city, was announced
after few days illness. The cause Of
death was not made known at the time be-
cause of regard for the feelings of rela-
tives, it being understood that he left q
wife and child. It now transpires that his
death was due to alcoholism, and that the
deceased, like many another emigrant who
seeks the far-off Pacific shores, had had
q varied and checkered career, q career, in
deed, that, had it not been ruthlessly cut
short by the hand of death, might have led
to very serious embarrassments, not alone
to himself, but to two or three duped and
too-confding women.
The truth Is, the late Mr.. Michigan was;
if not bigamist, q very gay sort Of Lo-
thario. The development of this strange
and rather sensational history is as follows:
A week or ten days ago q modest-appear-
ing little woman arrived in Seattle and
registered at an uptown hotel. She was
q or Is years Of age, Of medium height. OF
blonde complexion, and her general
appearance and bearing were indicative of
refinement. She was dressed in deep
mourning. In due time she called upon a
certain well-known attorney, to whom she
made known the objects Of her visit. Her
name, she said, was Mrs. p. J. Michigan,
ucT lduiIIy u0fuc UcluS w duucus llcK
home was at Eureka, Cal, and, having
been apprised, through the medium of a
Seattle newspaper, that her husband, p. J..
Michigan, from whom she had separated
fifteen or sixteen months before, had re-
Gently died in this city, she had come here
to ascertain what effects or property, if any,
he had left, and to secure possession Of the
same. The attorney set himself to ascer-
tain the facts in the case, which he had but
little difficulty in doing.
It was at once learned that Michigan had
during his brief residence here been var
iously employed as newspaper reporter,
advertising solicitor, and United States
census enumerator. Michigan died on
January 2, leaving widow and one child,
little boy or months old. His ILL
ness was Of but brief duration, three or
four days only, and his death, which a.;
first appeared somewhat unaccountablc,
was subsequently ascribed to alcoholism.
His age was given at about 30, but it is
probable that he was older than that by
several years. He was rather under the
medium size, and was, on the whole, q
may-care sort of fellow, with strongly pro-
nounced Bohemian proclivities. He had
been on Puget sound a little over year,
having lived at Tacoma for some time
previous to coming to Seattle.
Years ago he had been stenographer and
private secretary to leading railway Off
cial in Canada. Nearly twenty years ago
he left that country and came over to the
states, being variously employed on SINH
lar work at Chicago, Kansas City,
Savannah and San Antonio. 1t is said
upon the authority of gentleman now in
this city who knew Nelligan's people in
Montreal, that the family were highly
fer many years before his death one of the
most valued and trustworthy employees of
the postoffice department, while brother,
who is still living there, holds the high
and lucrative position of railway mail
inspector for the government.
r j. Michigan led life of vicissitudes in
the states. 1t is known. for instance, that
of valuable landed property in the
Mohawk valley, New York state; at
another time he owned an orange grove
and handsome villa in Florida: again at
one time, he was able it would seem, to
squander $4,000 or $4,000 during brief
yachting cruise around Cuba and among
the West India Islands.
His prosperity was not continuous but
what may be called intermittent.
There were times when he was like a
gambler, .'broke," though from all ac-
counts he was not addicted to the worship
of the tickle goddess. Such success as he
had may be better indicated perhaps by
"
1t was due to special aptness which he
possessed for matrimonial adventure and
fortune-hunting. He had faculty of
reading female character very well, or at
least that of certain females; Of ingratiat-
ing himself with them and of thus provid-
ing for his own wants and pampering his
own tastes. This may be inferred from
what follows.
Mrs. Michigan No. 1, the lady first re-
ferred to, states that she first met her late
husband in Southern California, at which
time he was doing reporters work on a
Los Angeles paper. She was the only
daughter of well-to-do parents who, when
they became aware OF her attachment to
the well-dressed, fine appearing young
dicious parental surveillance over the rela-
tions that subsisted between their cher
ished daughter and her new-found admir-
er. After while they found out that he
was addicted to the drinking habit, where
upon he was forbidden to visit their house.
But, like any other young and impression
able girl, she did not swerve in her allie
glance to her lover. He prevailed on her
to flee the persecution that was threat
ened, and they took their departure for
Oakland, where they were married in June,
1888. AT San Francisco the newly-made
benedict found employment on one of the
newspapers at moderate salary, salary
ficient to provloe for their needs had it
only been applied to that end. But as al
ready intimated, Michigan had the misfor.
tune to be devotee of Bacchus. After q
while he failed to provide even the com.
mon necessaries of life for his young wife.
She was in consequence finally Obliged.
much against her will, to apply to her
parents for assistance. which was forth
with coming.
shortly after the fire in Seattle. Michigan
decided to remove to this city, his wife to
follow him shortly afterward, which she
did with her young baby. He failing to
only building mechanics were wanted lust
then. went to Tacoma. There he became
domlclled IN q certain boarding-house
Kept by young widow named Mrs. Clough.
When, some weeks later, the young wife
ana mother came, she was not long in dis
covering that domestic, happiness had
been destroyed by the wiles of the widow.
who was the means later of parting nus.
band and wife, The dashing Young
widow. otherwise Mrs. Michigan No. 5.
was as badly smitten by the gallant as he
mad been with her. Moreover, it is said
on the authority of Mrs. Clough, that She
had no intention of taking I'M with him
for good" until the wife's jealousy caused
her spouse to forsake her, though She
probably had good cause for jealousy.
be that as it NAV, the wife refused
longer TO live In the same house with her
faithless spouse and the rival fayorite
She changed her quarters, taking a room
close by. She still chung to her husband
as best she could, and endeayored
py all means in her power to cause
nm TO retrace his steps, give up
ms ms esil ways and return to her, but