Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-09
DEATH OF MRS. sHACKLETT.
Divorce OF the Ill-Matched Couple Mt
Philadelphia.

Death stepped in yesterday between aged
Catherine NJ. Shacklett of Alexandria Va,
and her youthful husband, ]. Ross Landers
and dissolved the tie of which she so soon
grew weary and which she had already pc
titioned the court to sunder. BY her
death, which occurred in the Presbyterian
Hospital at Philadelphia shortly before 8
o'clock. Mrs. Shacklett also defeated the
EFFORT or her husband to secure possession
of her or access to her by means of a writ
of habeas corpus. which was issued only
yesterday.
Mrs. shacklett's home was in Fauquier
county, Va, though she also spent much
time In Washington, where she also had a
residence. and she was considered very
good business woman. Though she was
niece of Secretary of War Stanton, she
made good deal of money during the
war running the blockade" She had a
horse and wagon and was allowed to freely
pass the lines with her goods which she
sold to the confederates. While supposedly
Union woman, she was really at heart a
southern sympathizer and is said to have
given valuable information to confederate
officers regarding the federal troops
Mrs Shacklett had comfortable income
and was an extensive traveller. She owned
three houses in Alexandria, Va, and had
some property in Philadelphia. Her hus-
band was prSpinent Virginian and a
nephew OF Wade Hampton.
|. Her acquaintance with Ianders II ia
said. was formed in New Orleans about
two years ago. They were together at the
worlds fair. While there she was reputed
10 nave been lost, and columns We're pub
lished about her in the newspapers While
there Landers was charged with stealing
300 from her, and she had him arrested
but he escaped punishment. While he was
under arrest she slipped away and went to
Alexandria, Va. but he followed her.
The evidence given at the hearing of Lam
ders and his alleged co-conspirator w. l..
Brown, before Magistrate Eisenbrown on
May 1, charged with conspiracy to influ-
ence the testamentary disposition of rhe
property of Mrs. Shacklett, was to the ef-
feet that the latter went with Landers to
Philadelphia from Alexandria on April "a.
Landers sent for Mrs Shacklett's attor-
ney, Francis c. Adler, and when the law
yer called at the hotel he found his aged
client propped up in bed very sick Landars
demanded in her behalf that all Mrs Shack
let's papers be turned over. as she wished
to give him power of attorney to manage
all her business affairs.
NJ. Adler promptly declined to carry out
Mrs. Shackletts Instructions, telling her
that she was very sick woman and that
he would not do as she directed until she
had been examined by reputable physi-
clan and pronounced in prope- condition
to transact business. AS an illustration of
her condition, Attorney Adler stated that
he asked Mrs. Shacklett how she came to
leave Alexandria, and she answered, Il
don't know"
The next step was the wedding between
| the sixty-five-year-old woman and her COM
panon of less than half her age
Landers then began to arrange for his
wifes immediate removal to Atlantic City
although, according TO the testimony Of
DR.. James bloomington. who was attend
ing her, he had warned Landers that such
| a trip would be dangerous and ill-advised.
On the day after the marriage, however,
LanderS went to Atlantic City to arrange
for the trip. On his return he was arrested.
His arrest was brought about by Miss Bes-
sic Garrisan, the sister of Ms. Shacklett.
After Landers' departure for Atlantic
City Mrs. Shaclflett told her attorney that
she had no knowledge of the marriage or of
signing the will, and begged him to have
Landers arrested for robbing her of her
jewelry. When the will was found she
promptly revoked 1t, and a little later
brought suit for divorce.