Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-12-29

accusation against Porter Ashe oY
Thomas II. Williams, Jr., OF footing the
estate OF Sarah Altbsa Terry, recall
most sensational scandal On March 10,
1902, the notorious Sarah Al;hoa Hill
Terry, the woman who claimed 10 be
the wife OF ex- Senator William Sharon,
and after his death married e1-Judge
David :. Teray, her counsel, was de-
clared TO be insane. aEd was committed
bv Judge Levy. OF San Francisco,
70 the State Asylum, at Stockton.
10 that Institution she sun
remains. Immediately after her com
mitment X. Porter Ashe was appointed
guardian Of her person and property.
There was very little 10 the way OF prop
erty 20 pass into his custody. Some
month before her commitment 20 the
asylum, while she was living 10 q large
fashionable boarding house 10 San Fran
cisco, she had complained 70 the police
that she had been rObed Of several
thousand dollars worth OF silks and dia-
mOnds but a search OF the boarding
hOuse-failed 70 show any trace OF them.
A few days after she was sent 70 the
Stockton asylum search OF the Terry
residence at Fresno resulted 10 turning
up a quantity Of gold coin, paper money
iewelry and diamonds, both set and un-
set. The value of the jewelry was re-
ported at So, 600 10 IS. 600, but when an
advertisement OF her personal estate
was fled, a month later, 10 was placed
AZ the low valuation of S1,70O, including
the jewelrY. This apparently repre-
sents all that passed into Mr.. Ashes
hands. He remained Mrs. Terry's
guardian until Mr.. Thomas II. Williams,
Jr, was appointed 10 succeed him as
temporary guardian. Mr.. Ashe Is re-
ported as having said that the estate
amounted 10 nothing, and as being very
grateful 10 Mr.. Williams for "liiting an
Improbable and disagreeabla burden
from his shoulders"
r. Porter Asbe, against whom Mr..
Williams, the new guardian or Mrs.
Terry, now brings such serious charges,
isa yOnng man who has created more
than one sensation on the Pacific coast.
Coming from a good kentucky family
be made his way 70 California, with
nothing TO recommend him except his
family connections, a good figure and a
sunny disposition. He had been sd-
mitted 70 the bar, but had not been
troubled with clients.
While on visit 20 Sacramento, Mr..
Ashe made the acquaintance OF Miss
Amy Croker, daughter OF the late
Judge h. b. Croker, a brother or
Charles Croker, the Southern Pacific
railroad millionaire. The young heiress
showed more fondness for the brieIess
lawyer than for any Of her wealthy sd-
mirers. Porter was an athlete and took
the greatest delight 10 sporting matters
This similarity OF tastes, with Porter's
high animal spirits and excellent tenn
per- won the capriciOuS beauty, and at
q picnic which they attended it was de-
cided 10 get married, but TO preserve
the utmost secrecy 10 regard 70 the az
fair. While every one was engaged at
the picnic the two went 70 neighbour
ing town, where they were formally
narried. The secret vas we'll kept and
Rly came outAbY accident several
n nths AZ
MOR1Tiy~ was big sensation, as
Miss Amy Croker was one Of the rich
est heiresses in California, while Porter
Ashe was getting 500 a mOnth IN law
yer's Office as clerk. When Mrs Crock
er found that the thing was irrevocable,
and that the young people loved each
other, she wisely determined 10 make
the best Of il. She insisted upon a
church marriage, with all the acSessO-
ries, and started the young couple down
10 Los Angeles on a wedding tour.
When the train reached Tehnchapt II
was necessary 10 divide IL in order TO
cross the nigh mountains at this
place. The section In which were
Porter and bis bride, through the care
lessness Of a brakeman or the malice OF
tramps, was allowed 10 go down the
steep grade OF the mountain, II rushed
down with lightning sdeed, was ditched
1 near the foot OF the incline, the stoves
overturned and the wreck set on FIRE.
MANY were mangled by the plunge over
the embankment and were burned TO
heath among the debris. Young Porter
showed high courage, not only rescuing
bis bride, but saving the lives OF several
Others.
His herolsm won him many friends,
and when be returned his mother-in- |
law decided 10 give the young couple I
fne San Francisco home. She bought a |
half block on Van Ness avenue aud /
built a house in the French renaissance |
cAIANa A4A 10 NM0NkM ANA % AaAAtiI Va = I
dozen. Here the young couple lived for /
about two years. Porter became a man |
about town and set up stable OF thor |
Oughbreds, and was often seen driving a /
&ur-ln-hand to the races. The Ashe /
0se became the headquarters OF the /
(a-fashionabls set who went In for /
racing, Yachting and all the fashionable /
gayeties. One Of the luxurles |
Of the mansion was great /
plunge bath, 30 feet long by 10 wide, /
which formed one OF the adJuncts OF 1
regularly fitted up Turkish bath. Here /
the master and mistress gave bathing /
parties. which witnessed many featS OF i
natatorlal skill in the plunge, the per-
tOrmers aiterward RECALLING themselves 1
M iced champagne and other drinks
w ich we're always on tap. Every /
month saw some new extravaganza In
the NAshe household. Porter plunged /
into a score OF SpeculstiOnS, none OF
which proved successful, and he spent
small fortune on his racing stud. which
brought him a fair revenue, as be was
pretty lucky on the turf
Finally a daughter was born TO them,
but this, instead OF bringing husband
AuN WIG uNetNA AeNRAA1At NAtg eHcAluO I
30 ALLEVIATE them more. The wife was
keen everywhere at fashionable enter
ailments, generally attended By some
Oung cavalier, while the husband be-
me the patron OF prize-6ghters, ADD
hnced attendance upon the latest
yOrite OF the ballet or the comic opera.
De end at last came about three years
q Tue wife went with her mother
child 10 the mothers hne resi-