The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-05
Contest Over the Property Left
by Little Mac"
the CASE HEARD IN COURT,
Mrs. AcLaughlin Ordered t. Turp Ov..
Property In Her Possession-Ths
Real Question Unsettled.

hearing evidence in reference TO the anpoint
ment OF an administrator. the court was called
upon to pass upon petition filed by Norman +.
Hesseltine, the daughters attorney. asking for
an order to compel the alleged widow 20 deliver
10 the estate valuable personal property which
she was Withholding. This petition was
granted, but the judge has not yet given any
decision in the matter Of issuing letters Of
administration.
The object OF Trusten p Dyer, the attor nav
representing Mrs. Mclaughlin, or Mrs. Van
Every, was 70 establish her relation an McIsuch-
Inns vile. ana consequently her right TO be ap-
pointed administrator. The first witness called
for this purpose was J. Fl. McGraw, who testified
that he was well acquainted with McIauuhlin
ana tnat the latter had come to him in the sum-
mer OF 1890, after his wife left him. for pecuniary
assistance IN prosecuting q search for her He
had always believed the two man and wife. and
they were generally considered to be such.
Junius Rochester, the attorney, testified that
he had always considered the lady as Moraugh
Inns wife Mclaughlin had introduced her a.
his wife, and the families of the two had visited
each others houses in that belief Two or
three months before Mclaughlin went 10 Ia
Grande he had called on the witness at his Of
fee 70 ask advice He had had some trouble
with his daughter over the relations of the
woman who appeared as his wife, and asked ii
any further ceremony was necessary to make
them legally man and wife. The. witness had
$1,000 '-Ai~ tAhos Az Sdca btSp was necessary.
Charles W. Turner's evidence was that in Sen
TENDER, 1850, his professional services as an at
tofnsy had been secured by Mclaughlin to OBJ
tain divorce for the woman he called wife
from her husband, James NJ Van Every. Nc
lsughlin had expressed the desire to remove
every obstacle that kept the woman from being
his legal wife
7. steinie, +. A. Pontius. David Monroe, Peter
Bsnmaa, James Dunham, j. Metzger, Mrs.
Sophie Lang and Mrs. Sarah Tenant all testi-
ned that for years up 70 short time before
MeLaughlins death he and the woman In court.
Claiming to be his widow, had passed as man
and wife.
ABOUT the inside affairs OF the case was James
Nesiiy, the Front street tailor, who was an init.
mate acquaintance OF McLanghlin's He made
very unwilling witness, and while he evil
IDENTITY knew . great deal 10 was like pulling
teeth to get any information out of him. The
substance OF what was drawn out mostly by a
sharp cross-quesdoning. was that he had known
Mclaughlin for years He was also acquainted
with Mrs. Mclaughlin, who was then known as
Mrs White, before she married "I4itte Mac"
when her husband turned up she had left Nc
Laughlin and gone first 10 Olympia and then to
Tacoma She had been found in lodging
house at the latter place by Mclaughlin and
put under arrest at his instance. The two were
aiterward reconciled, and lived together until
heLaughlin's death
The last witness called for her side OF the case
was Mrs. Mclaughlin herself. She was dressed
In mourning, and from behind a rather heavy
veil showed determined set of features with
!. some manifestations OF sorrow about them On
being Questioned by Mr.. Dyer she said that she
nad been married 70 Mclaughlin for over four
years prior 10 his death. At the time OF the mar
Rage she supposed her first husband was dead.
and continued in that belief until she was in
formed TO the contrary by a letter from her Sis
IN Ghn
been a mother to McLaughlin's daughter.
Bertha, but she had treated her kindly and done
all she could in the way OF looking after her
education. When she heard of her husbands
being alive she could not bear the thought of
making known the fact to the father and daugh-
ter SO she left She went first 10 Olympia, and
Mclaughlin came there to see her in answer 20
aletier. 1t was then that she told him OF the
existence OF another husband. Afterward he
came to her at Tacoma, and they were recon
eiled and came back to Seattle to live. Their re-
lstions were very happy, and no always consid-
cred and addressed her as his wife.
The cross-examination conducted by Mr.
Hessettne was searching one, and the witness
seemed 10 grow indignant under IL. Her replies
were delivered sharply and with the exhibition
OF considerable feeling At times her attorney
interfered on her behalf by objccting to her
being questioned on certain points, but the OBJ
!eetions were generally overruled and the testi-
edge Mclaughlin had of former husband was
when he came to Olympia TO see her. He then
teegraphed back East TO confirm the report
After leaving Olympia she went to Tacoma aud
worked there in locging-house as a chamber
maid. Mclaughlin found her there.
On being pressed with questions the witness
admitted that she had been arrested at the in
stance of Mclaughlin. The circumstances of
the arrest were not thoroughly inquired into,
put In response 10 question as TO the cause of
her arrest she replied: my husband was rather
Jealous OF me-"
She insisted that never at any time had she
oenied being McLaughlin's wife.
Az the conclusion of the eross-exsminatfon
the matter OF the citation for Mrs Mclaughlin
10 appear and answer concerning the property
she was charged with holding back from the
estate, was taken up. The lady continued on
the witness stand and was examined BY Mr.
hesseitine on the subject On being closely
Questioned as 10 whether she had turned over
everything belonging 20 the dead man, she said
taat she had kept some rings that were found
~ the dead mans pockets aud delivered to her
by The physician in attendance. Some of these
were diamond rings After still further Ques-
Honing she admitted that she had aiso kept
lew watches. The stock which her husband
kept In the store at La Grsnde was pledged for
w to pay the funeral expenses She had also
taken diamond ring which the dead man
wore on his finger and since returning To Sc
stle had pawued it for $50 10 redeem the stock
at Ia Grande
John Fairfield. the attorney who is acting
temporarily special administrator of the
estate, testified that his attention had been
eSsied by Mr. Hesseltins 10 = letter from a doc
soF In La Grande, stating that valuable iewelry
was in the possession of Mrs Mclaughlin. He
MAD sent FOR the lady TO come 20 his office, and
tola her IL she was Withholding any property to
'efa it over 10 the estate. lie had not seen her
a'erwarc until she came into court The APP
praised value OF the property already IN his
hands was $4,000
Ire last witness called was ". II. II.
Ae&a. and his testimony was OF a very sensa-
Nenal nature Replying 20 Introductory ques-
uons, he said that in the summer of 1850 he was
me clerk Of a committing magistrate in Ia
coma he was also q deputy sheriff, and had
also been called upon 20 serve a warrant
Ter the arrest OF Mrs. Van Every, which was the
hame in the warrant
What were the circumstances Of the arrestT
here did YOU End Mira. EcLaughline" ASKED
Nj. Hesseltine
u found her in bed"
The last word had barely fallen from the lips
o. The witness when Mrs. Mclaughlin who sat
listening stteatiyely called out ia q stage whis-
per
That's lie!
mere Mr.. Dyer .prsng 20 his feet and made
vigorous plea against the admission OF such tes-
omoay, claiming that il had no bearing on the
S@ssa9n Of whether the lady wss McLaughlin's
''s. HE court however. admitted the evil
.e'ee on M HessCltine's statement that be in I
'N01eed u 10 attack the crcdioiity of Mrs Me /
A1N"ghilas testimony. Any further sllusion to !
sae alreet circumstances surrounding the arrest /
"Sls' however, avoided. Continuing the exam |
+aase0, Mr.. Hesseltue asked: