The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-14
TOM HOLDEN'S WIFE.
She Brings to Light the Secret
of His Early Life.
a BACHELOR ONLY IN NAME.
Contest for Hfs Estate shows Thss sns
y.,t.I c,w., Dealer Had . wife
and Child IN Virginia

Tom Holden. A wesi-knovn figure IN this
es.v far several years. who died In issz. -
discovered 20 have been msrrisc man
and 20 have lived for fifteen years sepsrais
from his wise and daughter in virginia
The estate consequently has become In
VOWED in Legal complications, which AZ
fred Battle. IS sryecial Judge in the superior
court. Is now attempting 20 strengthen out.
The snl, is brought by Rev. Nelson W.
gocailun. administrator OF the estate, and
(. designed 10 set aside deeds which were
made by T. W. Holden 70 his brother. H.
I. Holden. Tbs administrator claims IN
this suit that these deeds from T. w. Hol-
den were made on his death bed, while ne
was insane and without any considers~
ton: that he vas cajoled In his dying
hours by his brother. when unconscious,
to make the conveyance- The complaint
OF the administrator shows that the dead
man had a wife and child In Virginia. and
insists that the property revert TO them
The lots mainly IN controversy are on
Fourth and Fifth streets. in this city. and
are valued mt SIC. 0O0
From the complaint IL appears that the
wife never signed these deeds. They were
made In the presence OF George W. Poor.
who vas shot near Wooley by Inspector J.
c. Baird In is0l Under the law of the
ease both the plaintiff and defendant were
prohibited from taxing the stand
Holden alleges In his answer that the
property was always his; that while the
business was ostersibiy his brothers. he
tTaylorD furnished the money. and from
the proceeds of such business the
property was bought. He also AYERS that
.r{f A.. k..s f.x
years lived with her husband: that regard
ing the property they had IN Virginia,
where they both formerly lived, they
agreed upon q mutual division, she taxi
ing her share and executing 20 him
. release. and he doing likewise. and
they separated. going their several ways.
He insists that hts brother was not insane.
but was only suffering from delirium tre-
mems. a. result of long and protracted
intoxication: and also that the deeds were
made in extrernis to avoid the complica-
tions of will.
Holden Was known - W. r. Holden. or
T. W. Holden. and commonly passed a.
Tom Holden. His brother 10 z. T.
Holden. formerly inspector of customs
and dsputy sheriff.
The facts surrounding the case have
something of . romantic smack. Tom
Holden. as he was famiiiary known. was
. character during the years 1ss2-92 well
known. uniformly liked. but much a sub
jcct Of mystery TO his friends He seemed
20 spend his money with freedom. and yet
the source Of his revenue was limited APP
pareptly to q little cigar and tobacco busi-
ness, that he held himself out as owning,
on Front street, which was swept from
existence by the great fire. He accumu-
lated properties, as shown from the deeds
introduced in evidence. in spots and
places extending over the Sound
country. But during all his
associations. however close, there
w.re none who had occasion TO suspect
thar he had q wife living. nor that the face
oil baby which was his was reflected IN
his mind. Indeed, he was regarded as
joviaI bachelor. the wonder of his friends
being why he never married. No letters
nor communication OF whatever nature
came To indicate that he Was the subject Of
consideration of the wife from whom he
had parted. Her name vas Ida v. Pendle-
ton. of a Kentucky family and relative of
Congressman Pendleton Of West Virginia
Holden, In his earlier days, seems to
have been man OF society. the marriage,
however. developed the fact that his
practical habits and staid manners to
which he soon gravitated were incom-
pasibie with the ioviai. spirited nature of
his young wife. The result was lifelong
separation. He was in Colorado. At his
hiding she went to him there but condl-
tions did not change. lilo returned TO
Virginia. and they closed their relations.
as shown by the pleadings, in the form of
an agreement to live apart the balance of
thslr lives. Not until his death does his
wife re-appear upon the scene. She ar
rived from Virginia week ago. bringing
her young daughter. who, the friends of
the dead man say, IL his picture.
There Was no person making contests
on these deeds until Rev. Mr. McCallum
discovering the conditions through NJ. L.
Baer. who. with w. IL. Thompson. Is rep
ressnting the Virginia heirs in this suit
brought the action TO recover the property
tor the widow and daughter
Col James Hamilton Lewis. represent
Ing Taylor Holden and his wife. occupied
most of tho afternoon in argument, con-
tending ths. as the wife had never lived
in thus state. nor had been in the state I'll
after the death of her husband. she could
not claim community interest in the
property. as the effect of the community
Law could not extend beyond the borders
of the state. also, that the administrator
could not maintain the action Cor the
wife's claim while she lived. Mr.. Thomp-
son answered the argument. eontsndinS
otherwise. insisting that the deeds we're
void. The case Was nos ended and will
probably consume all of today.
SEWER CONTRACTS LET.