The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-12-29
MARRIED FOR GOLD
1t Not Materializing, the
Widow Wants a Divorce.
WAS IT A PRACTICAL JOKE
Mrs Huohenbsrgers PrediOament After
Her Plunge for Wealth.

Herbert J. sooord wanted a wife So that
He Could Secure His Inheritanos of
$4,000, 600. Promising Large sum to
Any woman Who would Marry Him
lie Got a wife. but Failed to Keep His
Promise.
CHICAGO, Dec. 90 Mrs. Herbert J.
Secord-or, as she is known in Chicago,
Mrs. Minnie Huchen nberger-is trying to
find out why she married her husband.
Mr.. Herbert J. Secord lives in Pack
waukee, Wis, and the wife lives at No.
23l North State street, this city. She
cannot decipe whether her husband is a
confidence man or practical joker.
Six months ago Secorl wrote to At
torney Melford j. Thompson of this
city, announcing thai he was heir TO u
fortune of nearly -, OOO 900, and that
ne wished to marry.
But there we're conditions attached to
his inheritance of the cash. The condi-
tions were that he should be married by
December 3, 1891. Hence his desire to
secure "a wife aud to secure one speedily.
To induce the lawyer to aid him,
DECoIu Sdll bhtJ ne NOulA give uln
81, 2J0 for his services when the wedding
ceremony was performed The matri-
monial agency business was a little out
of Lawyer Ihompson's line, but the big
fee was an inducement.
The attorney was acquainted with
bright, blonde widow Mrs. Huchen-
berger. He broGohed the subject TO her.
She was young, good looking and
seemed in every way a woman that
would suit Secord Besides, the requi
sites demanded by the wife seeker were
not hard.
He merely desired to fulfill the coudi-
tions by which ne could receive the
property and would be content with q
woman who would be his wife in name
only. 10 find woman who would be
content with "a husband in name only
was what he wan ted OF course, the
woman would expect some satisfaction
for the change of her name so he kindly
offered to give her $50, 0OO for the trou-
BILE of going from Chicago to Packwau-
kee and having the ceremony performed.
The young widow was willing and or
the chance of marrying the supposed
gold mine agreed to give the attorney
81, 900 when she should receive her 500, e.
900.
Dec. g. the last day on which the we'd
ding could take place, according to Se-
cords statement, was rapidly approach
ing, and he must have the wife or lose
the fortune. But in his haste to secure
the wife he forgot an important part
that of sending any money to the young
widow to enable her to 20 to Packwau-
kee.
Lawyer Thompson was satisfied that
Secord's claims were true, and that the
fact that he sent n money was a mere
oversight. When Dec. 2 came no money
had been received from Sscord. Widow
Huchen berger had cash, but she did not
intend to spend it,
She was willing to marry a man for
500, 600 cash down, but she did not in
! tend to put up any cash. So Lawyer
Thompson's creduiity and good nature
We're brought into play and he advanced
the necessary money.
The widow went to Packwaukee, was
met at the depot by Secor4 and married
the same night The bridegroom began
to act queerly and gave the impression n
| to his friends that his wife was very
wealthy. She asked him for her $780,,
| 900 and he put her Off Then she got
mad and the next morning returned to
J Chicago.
"Since l came back, " said she, Law
yer Thompson had him locked up, aud
| they said that he was worth about $500
in cash and had nearly the same amount
in debts due him. Where the 81, 900, =
| 600 bequest comes in 1 don't know. He
has written me dozen letters asking
me to return, but l will not l don't
know what to do-get a divorce,
guess.