New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-01
NO PROOF OF A MARRIAGE.
count" CIIESEBROUGH'S DAUGHTER
HELD TO BE ILLEGITIMATE

SHE WILL RECEIVE NO PART OF THE MILLIONS
FOR WHICH SHE SUED.
Judge Lacombe, in the United States Circuit Court
yesterday handed down decision adverse 10 Mrs.
LeonOra A. Arnold who alleged that she the legl
innate daughter OF Blasius More CheSebrough, and
claimed half Of his mothers estate, which is worth
from S3,OO0,0O0 20 S5,OO0O00. The suit has been In
the courts since 1856. Mrs. Margaret Chesebrough
died in 1866. leaving a will which directed that one
half Of her residuary estate should be paid the lawful
issue. if there was any, Of her BlaSlus, on his
DEATH The complainant was born IN 1897, at the
house of her grandmother. Mrs Rachel Creeer There
question OF the fact that ChcsebrOugh was her
father, he lived with her mother, but the defendants
in the suit who executors and trustees under the
will of Mrs Chesebrough declared that Chesebrough
had never married Miss Creger. Judge Laconbe said
that the only question in the one OF fact
were the plaintiffs parents married The declaration
of the parties. and their living together the decision
says, does not necessarily establish marriage II
must be shown that there contract, with or with
out any ceremony, whereby at some time ana place
the parties agreed 10 be husband and wife.
The decision goes on "Basius VI. Chesebr0ugh WHO
claimed to have purchased title OF nobility In Austria
and liked 20 be known as Count, is described truth
fully enough, by counsel, as very eccentric man.
bOmbastic, pOmpOus and eXtraNagant; but TINS DO
means completes his picture. lie was under no
restraint self imposed otherwise absolutely selfish,
seeking pleasure III inc COustdhV VI mo
sensual appeiuk, reckless, registering, Gssipated'
rarely completely sober frequenter of bawdy houses
a bad SON mere brute when inflsmed with drink, ana
vet contemplating himself and his place in the com
munty with a sefcomplacent cOnceit which esteemed
Count ChcsebrOugh something superior to mere
common clay
In 1854, when he was thirty-fve years old, Cheese
brongh met Josephine Creger. sixteen years old, at
siroccos dancing rooms in Bond-st and the two lived
together for some time. Josephine Creger at first
testified in the trial that she married to Cheese
brough in Baltimore, but afterward she contradicted
this statement. The decision says that the intercourse
was originally meTetHcous, and there was no reason
why ChesebrOugh should change it. That he should
marry her as a reparaton would never have entered
his head They separated In 1858, after having, as
occasion required, frequently told servants hotel
Keepers etc. that they were married. This is by no
means a proof that they married, the decision
holds
Judge Lacombe declares that there is no satisfactory
proof that ChesebrOugh introduced the woman TO his
family as his wife. The fact that Rachel Cregler
secured judgment OF 81 500 in 1855 against Chese
brough for abductng her daughter, showed that The
Creger family did not believe that marriage had
taken place. Further Josephine made claim on
ChcebrOugh in the eight years before he died. ahOuS
he had lots of money, and she waited unll fourteen
wears after his death demand part OF his large estate
Considering all these facts, Judge LacOnbe dsh'Seu
the suit. -,
for the defendants, and John II. v Arnold ana Wafer
Beach for the plaintiff. Mrs. Arnold Is dauShteIlh-
law OF J. ii. Y. Arnold.