Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-02-22
HERE'SA H0WDY DO
A WOMAN CROSSES TIE OCEAN TO ENGAGE
IN A FIGHT.
Helsn Frances Smith Cones from London 10 Con
front Harry ". French, Who Says She Is his
Wife-Is BE Observation-Disclosures Of
the Lady StOutly Maintain Hsr Side.

Young woman whose return 10 America is
awaited with very keen interest in Boston.
These young people are lovers, betrothed
lovers, and they come 10 clear up a
mysterious affair of scandalous nature,
the main facts of which have been given in
dispatches 10 the press and thoroughly
ventilated in the Boston newspapers, and
which affects the fair fame Of very well
known persons and families in this cOmmu-
nifty.
Miss Helen Frances Smith, the young
lady in the case, Is the only daughter OF
Mr.. S. d. Smith, proprietor OF the Smith
American Piano and Organ Company, and
the young man is Mr.. John N Merrill, a
Boston boy, who for ten years or so has
represented Mr. Smith and his company in
London. The third party, who remains in
Boston, is Mr.. Harry w. French, a tray
eler, author and lecturer OF considerable
repute. Miss Smith comes to denounce
Mr.. French as a blackmailer and sc0un-
drel and Mr. Merrill comes with the
avowed purpose of thrashing French.
The complicated affair Of the heart which
/ lies at the bottom of all the trouble would
probably have reached the public ear in
some way or other-dainty bits Of scandal
generally do-but it was actually brought
out at meeting Of the church 10 which the
Smith family and Frenchs belonged-the
South Evangelical Church OF West EOx-
bury. Mr.. Smith asked that French be
expelled for having, in a letter TO him No
vember -. written Since the middle OF
last February, Miss Helen f. Smith has
been nv wife by every right social, moral
and legal except an open marriage. She
often called me her husband, asking me TO
call her my wife, cohabiting with me when
ever she chose for six months.
! This startling communication, II may
/ well be believed brought CONSERVATION
| into the Smith household. The young lady
had been sent to London fortnight be-
| fore the letter was writtcn-sent there,
probably, TO free her from the attentions
Of French, who, by the way, is a score OF
years her elder and at whose house the
neighbors agree, she had been frequent
visitor all the preceding summer.
The Standing Committee OF the church
| inquired into The matter, decided that
French was lit subject for expulsion and
called the church members together TO take
action. But, 20 their surprise, the accused
man intruded his superb physique into
their gathering anc poured forth a torrent
of passionate eloQLence which unnerved
them and compelled them TO pause before
excluding him from church fellowship.
| He told them how he had loved the girl,
how she had loved him, how cruel parent
had frowned upon their love, and then he
reiterated the declaration which formed
the text Of the charge against him, solemn
! ly avOwing, with tears, that they had con
/ tracted a moral marriage-a marriage
which is sanctioned in some States OF the
! Union. but which he had now learned, 10
his horror and sorrow, is not considered
marriage by the laws OF Massachusetts.
Il i .1.s..tt 1. fns NO -
present as one never to be forgotten.
Then the interviewers for the news
papers were put at work. Mr.. and Mrs.
Smith Indignantly denied that their
daughter had contracted any such unhoiy
alliance. They admitted that she had been
betrothed to French. but declared that
the engagement was broken, and all be
tween them ended before her departure
for London Hot on the heels OF their
statements came cabled interview with
the Young lady herself, which was the
most surprising of all in the directness and
vipor with which she denied each and
every statement made by French, called
him a scoundre aud a blackmailer, ana
finally accusing him of having on one oc-
casion made proposals to her when
savored of indecency. TniS publication
stunned the man IN West lGOxbury. He
refused-refuses to this day-t0 believe
that Miss Smith spoke the words which
the cable brought Ia order TO sustain
himself he permitted the publication oil
two or three of her letters which he mad
not returned with the others when the
engagement was broken. These letters
one of which was written from London.
bv the way-breathed love IN every line,
and while they contained no mention OF
wifely relations they gave tue he direct 20
the assertions made 10 the caOle reporter.
The story of the alleged marriage, as
French relates IL, is that the young lady
besought him TO marry her. She dld not,
however, wish TO have their relations
known. and proposed a secret marriage
rhis. he saws. he declined Instead he pro-
duced a Bible and told her that if they both
nlaced their hands on il and vowed TO be
come man and wife il would be legitimate
marriage. Here their stories separate. He
insists that this quasi ceremony was gone
through with She angrily declares that
she rejected the proposal as infamous
Here the matter rests.
The semi-rural community in West tox-
bury took sides at once. The gosslps
wagged their tongues without mercy 10
either parties, and nothing else has been
talked of. The church met again and
voted to suspend French until the lady
should have been heard viva VOce Mr.
French's club expelled him. Yet he stout
ly refused TO abate, by one got or title, ms
hold stand. He declares that he will re-
main and eethe conflict to an end, II neces-
sarv breaking an appoiHtment which he
has 70 deliver an Grafton at German uni
versity next month.
Mr. Merrill's wrath is under the eircum-
stances. perfectly comprehensive. He, as
well as Mr.. Smith, has received from
French letters explanatory CT the latter's
alleged relations with Miss Helen. He has
heen told in these letters that the lady TO
whom, he has plighted his troth is the wlfe
! of asother-the wife by every tie 0ut that
| of Iaw-and that il woufd be sin and
shame for her TO marry another Mr. Mer-
riIl. of course, has implicit trust IN the LADY
OF his choice.
Erench's mast career has been an event
fuI one. He graduated at ale early In the
seventies. travelled extensively and then
| settled down as a newspaper eultor III
! Hartford. Conn But this hfe did not suit,
ana ia a couple of years he was again ex-
ploring the four quarters oil the eartn. IL
occurred TO him 10 lecture and ne equipped
himself with a very great number OF photo
granhic views OF foreign countries, some OF
which have never been excelled by others
| in the same line of work, and delivered IL
lnstrated addresses throughout the United
States. winning much reputation, but not
making much money. In his travels be
was accompanied by his wife, who, died
two wears ago. leaving him a son, who IS
now sixteen or seventeen years OF age VI
late wears he has not appeared In pubic,
hnt has devoted himself 10 literature. lie
is a Hercules in frame and man OF suaye
and engaging manners. -
How he will extricate himself fbom his
nresent predicament is problem which
Z fortnight from now will solve.
Two Children scslded to Death.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, February IA
special to the Neirs from North vernon,
| no,ic Ind resterdaY. The two children