The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-17

that in early days he made n careful
study OF Indian customs relative to
marriage and divorce. Whether his in
Yestgations were carried on for tho
purpose OF satisfying the promptlngs OF
natural curiosity, or took an eHperi-
mental turn, the court is not advised.
Immediately after the division OF the
spells came the wedding feast the
memory OF which is cherished US one OF
tho most glorious events in the annals
OF the tribe. What q feast that must
have been, for little Bob, now thirty
six years OF age, but then only ten, still
retains vivid recollection OF 1t, and
says with evident pride that upon that
ever memorable occasion they had
"bread and tea and sugar"
To prevent others from becoming dis.
couraged it might be well to add that
Wilbur ran up the price and $50 is the
highest SUN on record paid for wife.
Besides, Kitty belonged to family of
distinction. Neither should anyone de-
srous OF initiating Wilbur's example,
hesitate over long because his dusky
enslayer said no" twics. The court
recalls some fairer daughters OF Eve
who said mo" more than twice and,
what is worse, stuck to it.
According to the customs OF this
tribe good taste required three propos-
ais, Tho first time the signing swain,
ii IN Indian, offers pair OF blankets or
q canoe; ii II white man, cash. The
second time he must raise the anti
mean he must increase the offer, and
the third time he must fling in some
additional inducement in tho shape OF
worldly goods, Tho third offer is the
crucial test. IfreieCted then he knows
it will be useless to try again, 1t will
be observed that the authorized deni-
zen OF the forest has an advantage over
his pale-faced brother in thia-he un-
derstands when the word mo" is to BIO
taken in its literal significance,
II the bargain turns out to BIO bad
one tho husband can return his wife
and receive back his canoe, or blankets,
or whatever tho purchase price con-
sisted OIL This should be called to the
attention OF our own lawmakers,
The fruit OF this marriage was three
children-one girl and two boys. The
girl is dead, but the boys are still alive
and Join Kitty in the petition to have
Bingham appointed administrator OF
the deceased, who departed this life
rcQuiescat in pace-some ten years ago.
In 1874 Wilbur entered into cores
pondence with ono Sarah J. Wilcox,
then in the wilds OF central New York.
Many loving missive passed between
them until finally, in 1876, she came
out hero and married Wilbur, and
Kitty, turned adrift, found solace in tho
arms OF another.
The bone OF contention between Mrs.
Wilbur No. and Mrs. Wilbur No. 3,
and their respective counsel, Is tho
ranch, now worth $4,000, where Will
bur and "Cnip" Brown first devised the
scheme that resulted in the translation
OF Kitty from the haunts OF her child
hood to the abode OF tho palo face.
There is much in this case worthy OF
comment did not tho stil formulas and
cast iron rules OF law forbid an oXcur-
sion into tho realms OF fancy or philos-
ophy.
In conclusion, the court finds that
Kitty is still alive and well, although
somewhat tanned by exposure to the
elements, and that all the parties to this
action want tho ranch.
These findings are necessarily brief,
but, such rs they arc, it is to be hoped
that, il this case goes up, they may
serve as guidance to the supreme
court in determining tho intricate ques.
tons involved. HENRY MCBRlDE,
Judge.
Dntel March %. 1893.