The morning call., 1891-09-19
A BELLIES INFATUATION.
wnkesbarre Terribly Wrought Up Over
n Sensational EIopement.

wilkesbarre Terribly Wrought Up Over
Sensational Elopement.
Wilkesbarre is terribly wrought up over
the sensational elopenent Of j. B. Shearn, a
coal operator of that place, with Miss Mary
E. Williams, young society belle Shearn
is about 40 years old and left wife and two
children. Miss Williams is very pretty and
about 10 years of age. Her father, who is
dead, left large estate to his widow, who
is now visiting friends in Wales, and the
escapade of her daughter will doubtless
cause much misery to the mother. 1t is be-
lieved that the elopers have gone West.
Only last Thursday week Miss Williims
was one of the guests at progressive euchre
party given by one of the leading families of
that city. There the wives and daughters
of some of the best people in town had as
sembled. Mrs. Shearn, the wife OF the
clipping husband, returned home this even
ing from Asbury Park. The facts had been
withheld from her until she arrived home,
and when her father broke the sad news to
her she tainted.
Mr.. Shearn, as Superintendent of the
Hillman Vein Coal Company, drew salary
of $500 year and had an interest with the
mine, which ran his income MP to probably
$1,000 year. He was recognized as Che of
the leading bosses In this part OF the State,
and was in great demand for musical events
of all kinds. He had won lavish compli-
ments from the press and from the public
Shearn is a big, strong, powerful man, a
fine specimen of manhood. Mary Ellen
Williams, OH tho other hand, is a small,
delicate specimen of womanhood, and not
in the best of health. Both are gifted with
extraordinary musical talent Night after
night for more than two years, for prac-
tice and in public, they sang in duets,
in solos and in quartets. Here they
had interests in common, and these
interests, with their frequent association, re-
suited in the elopement. They had learned
to love each other. MISS Williams was the
idol of her mother. She lett letter for her
mother, begging to be forgiven. She says
she is entirely willing to identify herself
with her lover, j. B. Shearn; that she has
become infatuated; that she Is wrapped up
in him; that there will be no need to send
detectives on their track, for If they are
separated temporarily they will come to-
gether again; that her future she trusted en-
tirely to him; that she has considered what
she has done long and well. She says that
for the past year they have had frequent
ciandeStlne meetings, ana nave talked over
the matter many time.
Sbearn also wrote letter, which is now
in the hands of an official of Hillman Vein
Coal Company. In 1t he says he loves Mel
lie as she Is often called; that they will
meet at the place they have agreed upon and
will start for the West where they will be-
gin life anew; that he will not forget the
responsibility of providing for his family,
will not forget his wife and children, and
will work harder than ever to see that none
OF those dependent on him will suffer.
Shearn has properly in this city valued at
$4,000. His wife says she will spend all
her means to bring him back and punish
him. There is another romantic tale con-
nected with the affair, When Shearn mar
ried his present wife he was engaged to
another lady, named Evans The latter had
made all preparations for the wedding. She
and 100 guests were waiting for the groom
who never came. Shearn had married an
other lady at the same hour he was booked
to marry Miss Evans. The latter afterward
died of broken heart.