The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-26
TOOK FRENCH LEAVE
Miss Culbertson of Chicago
Escapes from a Would
be Mother-in-LaW.
No BRITISH CAPTAIN FOR HER.
By Marrying the Man Of Her
Choice She May Forfeit
$500, 600.

CHICAGO, May 26. 1898, Miss Blanche
w. CuH)ertson. heiress to S500000. aud
accepted among her friends as the in
tended wife of captain in the British
army. left her home at No. 594 Division
pany with another lover, leaving behind
her the irate and almost distracted
mother of the British army officer, who
had come { o this city to be present at the
marriage of her son to the American
heiress. Immediately after her flight
from her home, Miss Culbertson cabled
to England, informing her erstwhile inc
tended husband that he need not come,
as she was about to be married TO anoth-
er man. The mother also cabled her son
the ''sad news" aud last night packed
her luggage and left for the shores Of
England.
THE HAPPY MAN.
The triumphant lover in the case is
Leigh French, son of DIR. George E.
French OF Minneapolis, Minu., senior
student in the Medical Department OF the
University of Minnesota. The dfsap-
pointed lover is Captain Donald Mckay
Of Her Majesty's troops stationed az
Portsmouth. England. Miss Culbertson
is The youngest daughter OF the late
New Albany, Ind. She is j handsome
and accomplished young woman. More
| than year ago she went to Minneapolis
| to visit married sister, Mrs. f. B. Ssm-
| pie. While there she met young French,
| and he began paving attention to her, and
some months later he proposed and was ac-
| cspted. Millionaire Culbertson was asked
| for his consent to the engagement, posi-
| lively refused, and went further By add
| ing codicil to his will depriving his
| daughter OF $500, ,000tf she married Leigh
| French One week after adding this
| coaicll to his will Millionaire Culbertson
| died.
| After her fathers death Miss Cnlbert-
son went to Europe and travelled until
| The first of this year. While abroad she
met Captain Mckay. He became
! epamored of her and soon proposed
| declares that she did not become en-
gagged to him, and that she never even
considered him as more than a friend.
| By the articles of the will Miss Gull
| bertson was to be given 5000 year for
1 ten years and then $780, 900 was to revert
| to her in case she did not marry against
| the consent of the executors of the will.
MRS. M'KAY's ARRINAL.
II Six weeks ago Mrs. Emily Mckay
| made her appearance, and, according to
| Miss Culbertson, Mrs. Mckay regarded
| the marriage of her son to ner hostess as
S-
i CnlberrSon-s demonstrated that she did
not look at events in that light. but
/ Mrs. Mckay was not to be moved. This
| condition of affairs became so distressing
| to Miss Culbertson that she was sorely
perplexed to know what to do. 1t was
| learned that two weeks ago Mrs. Mckay
| cabled her son that all was well, and for
| him TO make haste to come to Chicago.
| Captain Mckay secured q leave or abb
sence from his regiment. and was to start
in few days for Chicago.
FRENCH wooING.
| One week ago Leigh French came to
| Chicago, with his sister, TO see the Chi
cago Fair. He accidentally met Miss
| Culbertson, and by agreement called
upon her the next evening and remained
/ until late hour.
When Mrs. Mckay returned at half
1 past ten o'clock the lovers were still in
| the parlor. Miss Culbertson went out
| into the hallway, and donning her opera
| cloak, they quietly lett the house TO-
| gether. Miss Culbertson feared to go to
her own room to secure additional wraps
/ lest Mrs. Mckay should be awakened. as
| ihey occupied adjoining rooms. She was
| fleeing from her own home to escape from
her guest. The couple hurried to q livery
| stable in the vicinity and there Miss Culs
hertsou penned note to Mrs. Mckay
| This was the note:-
MRS EMILY MCKAY:-I could no longer bees
/
and resort to flight TO forever sever any friend
| ship or other feeling that may have existed be-
| tween you and your son and myself.
Signed,
BLANCHE W. CuLBERTsoS.
After this note had been sent to Mrs.
| Mckay the lovers were driven rapidly
down town, where d cablegram was sent
! Captain Donald Mckay informing him
that he need not come to Chicago. as
Miss Culbertson was to be married to
another man. Then they were driven to
the nome of w. j. Pope, on West Monroe
street, where Miss Culbertson was left
for the night by her lover.
WHEW, ISN'T SHE MAD.
| Mrs. Mckay was surrounded last nlRhb
by open TRUNKS aud hand boxes. She in
dignantly denied that she ever expected
her son to marry Miss Culbertson.
81 came to Chicago to see the Fair"
said she. ''Now have seen all | want
of it. Let Miss Culbertson say what she
pleases about my son. l have been
cabled to come back to England and
am going tonight. That's al there is 10
it."
When seen yesterday Mr.. French and
Miss CuIbertson were reluctant to talk
about their experience the night before
and the causes that led to it. They con-
tirmed, however. that the story thai Mrs.
| McKay's action had caused them to take
the step they did. When asked how soon
the marriage was to take place. silence
reigned in the room for many moments.
II was learned from friends, however,
that tne happy event wilt iu IL probable
iJy take place in the near future.
| -~---
" W.T. i