Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-30
HMVNVUO L NllUHANU
Miss Bellah Captures a Los
Angeleno.
She Is Wooed by Second
Californian.
Her Affection for Smith Transferred
to Pritchard.
B. r. Pritchard of This City Becomes
Engaged to Her-The Match Is
Broken OF by His Brother.
Miss Bel1ah's Gratitude.

The San Francisco Examiner OF Sat
urday prints the following from this
city:
The story OF w. w. Smith, the
wealthy fruit-grower OF Vacaville, il
yet fresh in the public mind. 1t will bs
remembered that under the alias OF A
S. Thornton, man presumably in
the prime OF life, and lone widower
the aged capitalist made violent love in
letters to Matte Bellah, young woman
of good family living at Atlanta, Ga
Gradually the deception OF the old man
was exposed, and there was indignation
in the Bellah household, Matte being
more or less prostrated. Her fiery
brother swore vengeance, and at last ac-
counts was only restrained from coming
forthwith to California and slaying
Smith. That the grief and chagrin OF
Matte were short-lived has been DEM
onstrated. She was hardly off with
the old love before comfortably on with
the new, the acquaintance having been
formed in the second instance, as in the
first, through a matrimonial agency.
The hero of the last affair is B. f. Prit-
chard, whose experience in the mar
riage business has been wide and varied.
Los ANGELES, Nov. 27.-The publica-
ton in the Examiner of the peculiar
series OF episodes attending the cores
pondence OF w. w. Smith, the Vaca
valley fruit-grower, and Miss Bellah of
Atlanta, Ga, has brought to light new
feature OF the case in this city.
The fact is now made public that a
similar correspondence was carried on
here between B. F. Pritchard, we'll
known capitalist and real-estate owner
of Los Angeles, and Miss Bellah, and
that, but for the rectitude of DR.. w. E.
Pritchard, the brother of the male cor
respondent, the pretty southern girl
might have fallen the prey of profess
sional marrier, man who has had and
divorced six wives.
THE oFT-wEDDED PRITCHARD.
B. F. Pritchard is about As years old,
and has always shown penchant for
marrying girls whose acquaintance he
would make, it is understood, through
matrimonial papers, and in short time
divorcing them.
He, like the venerable Mr.. Smith,
saw an advertisement in such paper,
which described beautiful, accom-
plished southern girl who was anxious
to correspond with some gentleman. He
answered the advertisement and in due
course of time discovered that the girl
was Miss Matte Bellah of Atlanta, Ga
This was in March, 1890. On the lst Of
that month his sixth wife le ft him, but
he did not get his divorce until year
afterward. Notwithstanding that he at
once set to work to get another.
LONELY wIDowER.
He wrote to Miss Bellah that he was
widower, had been in that lonely con-
dition for eight years, and was most
anxious to put on the matrimonial yoke
again. His letters were persuasive and
had the same appearance of sincerity as
Smiths. Evidently he made a most
pleasant impression on the susceptible
girl, for in a short time he sent her an
engagement ring. This trinket figures
later on in this story. In May last
Pritchard went to Atlanta, called on
Miss Bellah, and was kindly received by
the family, spending a week at their
house, where he received the warm well
come characteristic of southern bospi-
tality. There is little doubt that
Pritchard intended to victimize Miss
Bellah as he had his other six girl-wives,
but his brother, DIR. w. E. Pritchard,
who is a physician of high standing in
this city, and who heard of his inten-
tions, feeling that to keep silent would
be dishonorable, wrote to the young
lady, telling her of his brothers. career,
and giving her to understand what her
fate would probably be If she married
him.
MISS BELLAH DROPS PRITCHARD.
To this letter she replied as follows:
ATLANTA, (Ga.,) September 2i, 1891.
Dr.,Pritchard
In answer to your last write this to
state that the matter between yoar
brother and myself is now broken off,
he having returned my letters, etc.
Now, if there is any doubt in your mind
as to my gratitude please let me dispel
it, for, indeed, ] appreciate to the very
fullest what you have done for me and
only wish might look in your face and
tell you with spoken words how very
kind | think you were to save me sc
much by your timely warning. The
position you assumed in the matter was
both admirable and dauntless, saving
me from unhappiness at the hazard ol
q incurring his everlasting displeasure.
Yes, truly, DIR. Pritchard, am CRATE
full, and should ever set foot on Cali
fornia soil feel that you are the very
first person that wouA like to see, fol
/ should feel somehow as if were look
ing into the face of one who had beer
my benefactor. l am sorry, too, tha
your brothers. life has been spent fo
such ignoble aims, such discreditablt
achievements as dragging his name frs
through one divorce court and theI
another. But great as has been his in
justice to me, bear him no malice, ant
if it is possible for him to attain happi
ness in any honest way hope he ma.
do so.
Wishing you long life, success il
your profession, and lots and lots 0
domestic happiness, | am, respectful.
and gratefully,
MATTE l.. BELLAH.
WHEN HE THREATENED HER.
Pritchard, it seems, then tried t