The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-18
That Is the Way Francis Murphy
Replies to a Story Concerning
His Marriage
Accused OF Breaking Up a Home
Thus Securing Wife and
q Fortune.
Instead, He Did Not Wed Mrs. Fisher fol
Two Years After Her Divorce and
She Is Not Wealthy.

M1ssouLA, Sept. H.-lSpecinl. IA great
deal of comment has been occasioned here
by the publication of story in the
San Francisco Chronicle, concerning Fran
els Murphy, the temperance worker, who is
now holding meetings here. The story ns
published comes from Springfield, Ohio,
and ia as follows:
Give years ago f.. r. Fisher was ono of
the most prominent business men and
wealthy capitalists of Los Angeles, Cal.
He was married to one of the most beantl-
full women in California, was worth $780,
000 and had pleasant and happy home.
To-day he was up in an ONO ponce court
on tho charge Of vngrancy. All his money
and friends have long since deserted nm.
"a special from Cleveland, o., states that
Mr.. Fisher was arrested by the police OF
that city because he was wandering around
the streets of the CITY in an almless manner
without any visible means OF support ana
without any money.
"When brought into Judge Groat's court
the Judge saw after few questions that he
had gentleman to deal with and not
tramp. Mr.. Fisher told the following
affecting story, partly to the Judge and
partly to the reporters after ne left the
court:
'It seems that when he was living in Los
Angeles with scarcely cloud over his hap
piness he began to be unreasonably jealous
of his handsome wife. 1t is said that Mrs.
Fisher was very prominent IN WORKS OF
charity and mercy, and was at one tlme
connected with the Woman's Christian
Ternperance Union, of Los Angeles. She
also went into society a good deal and re-
celved the attentions due to a woman of es-
peoial beauty.
"Fisher had commenced to drink about
this time, and with his mind distorted by
the alcohol habit, every attention to his
- yAoI
even brought himself to believe in the in
fidelity of his wife. although her friends
never for a moment doubted her honor.
When intoxicated he had several stormy
scenes with her and reproached her 30 bit
terly that she soon came to view him with
| aversion and terror.
about this time Francis Murphy, the
great blue ribbon pledge tenn perance apostle,
appeared on the seene.- Murphy went to
Los Angeles to hold meetings and was in
troduced to Mrs. Fisher. 1t seemed to be
case of love at first sight between the two
"Both we're enthusiasts in temperance
and religious work, and were congenial in
other respects. A meeting followed, anc
Mis-. Fishers regard for Murphy became
apparent to all. This rendered Flshe
perfectly frantic. He plunged into the
maelstrom of drink and dissipation more
wildly than ever.
"Mrs. Fisher then applied for and got
| OlVOICe dAlu dllmOAS, oOAoAooiAS " AAAA
Fishers fortune. She then left for the
east and married Murphy. Since ther
Fisher has been perfect wreck. Iht
judge. in voice that trembled with sympa
thy, dismissed the prisoner"
To-day Mr.. Murphy was asked concern
ing the above and said that the statements
in the article are unqualified falsehoods
Mrs. Fisher never lived with Mr.. Fisher at
Los Angeles. Their home was at Councl
Bluffs, Iowa. MIR. Fisher was a man o
violent temper and unbridled habits
Mrs. Fisher for long time suffered abuse
and was granted divorce on the ground
of habitual drunkenness, to prevent scan
dal, though the real ground of infidelit
was not touched. II did not meet Mrs
Fisher until two years after the divorce wa
granted" he said, land we were narre
last September. The property spoken O
instead of being valued at $250,0OC, as re-
ported. was less than $4,000. The fact
regarding the divorce can be substantiate
by the court records"