The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-26
AFTER COULD'S GOLD.
A Remarkable Claim Brought Forward
in Wyoming.


Only Living Legitimate Heir of the
Wizard Claims Her Mother Was
Married TO Him in 1858 and Was
Never Divorced-Claimto Be Pushed.
From the St. Louis Republic.
Cheyenne, Wyo, Sept 22-Your cor
respondent interviewed MIR j. Frank
Pierce, VINO is candidate for state audi
tor on the populist ticket for Wyoming,
and the following remarks concerning a
remarkable claim were made by him:
My wife is the oldest daughter of the
late Jay Gould. Her mother was Miss
Sarah Ann Brown of Rouse's Point, Gin
ton county, New York, where she is still
living. Miss Brown was married to Jay
Gould on May Is, 1853, in New York
The marriage certificate was given by
Rev. j. Hannah. a Methodist minister of
New York city. My wife was born
Feb. 10, 1854. Mrs. Gould, my wife's
mother was treated unkindly by her hus-
band, and she left him before her child
(my wifel was born, but neither party
obtained a divorce Mrs. Gould, my wlfe's
mother, is a Catholic. When my wife
was about 20 years old Oct 10, 1856
Mrs Gould. her mother, who was then
known as Mrs. Brown, having assumed
her maiden name, gave her daughter in
adoption to James and Mary Morton of
St. Thomas, Canada, West. In 1856 Mr.
and Mrs. Morton removed to Hamilton,
Caldwell county, Missouri. l was mar
ried to my wife in Hamilton, Mo, Oct
>, 1885.
My wife had always been told her
father WAS dead, but she never could
bring herself to think it true After the
death OF the second Mrs. Gould in 1889
my wife's mother had an interview with
her hus band and informed him of the OK
istence of the child. He promised to
settle certain amountupon his daughter,
but the promise was never kept. Early
in 1891 lady visited our house at Rock
Springs, Wy, and made inquiries of my
wife Of her early history, asking about
her adoption, early life, etc. She claimed
to be a Mrs. S. j. Downing, that she
was not my wife's mother, but was en-
ployed by her. She had traced her from
Canada to Missouri, then to Wyoming
She left US. My wife and | had an inter
view in July or August, 1891. with per
son who said he was Jay Gould, but
whom | have reason to believe was DR.
Mum, the physician to Mr.. Gould at the
special car Of the latter Mt Green River
Wy. We mentioned the Circumstance re-
lated above, to which he replied that If
such was the case the best we could do
was TO let 1t come out to the light of day.'
He then turned around and left US. We
returned to Rock Springs, where we re-
side.
81 wrote to my wife's mother Of the in
teryiew with the person we then sup
posed was Mr.. Gould. and his reply. IN
answer TO the letter Mrs, Gould, my
wifes mother came 10 Rock Springs in
the spring Of 1882 when the whole mat
ter was talked over. She saiG she would
wait awhile 10 see if Mr.. Gould would do
anything for his daughter before taking
any action After Mr.. Goulds death in
Decent Der. 1892, she again came TO Rock
Springs to ascertain if George Gould had
taken any action in the matter, and learn
ing that he had not, she authorized my
wife 10 employ attorneys and commence
suit Messrs. r.. r.. Gnterlne and G.. G.
Hamlin OF Rock Springs were accordingly
employed by US.
10 all Of our letters 10 George and
Helen Gould no answers have been re
ceived. They have completely ignored
us Last March my wife's mother again
went 10 Rock Springs TO learn our
progress and told nay wife 10 proceed as
far as she could without her but when il
was necessary she would come forward
and assist her.
Last June my wife wrote 10 her
mother that the attorneys had done all
they could do without her aid. and that
she wished her TO supplement her state
ments by additional proofs. and the proofs
are uOw being collected by trustworthy
agents. ! have the marriage certificate Of
JAN Could 20 Sarah Ann Brown, with
two witnesses, one Of whom is living
The other rs dead. This certificate !
have, and il is locked up In safety do.