The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-06
BRIAN IS ON THE TRAIL
Here to Secure Evidence Regard o !
Mrs. Brlan's Romantic Marriage.
SAYS sHE WAS NOT DIVORCED
Armed with Q Certified Copy OF the
Record Of Her Marriage 10 Ern.
est II. Schnabel. He VIII
Start for tho West.

into the clerk of the courts office yes
terday just before 1t was closed for the
day and asked for a certified copy of
the record with regard to the marriage
Of Ernest H.Schnabel. of San Jose. Gala.
to May Brian. of Washington, d. c..
which was performed by Rev. F. S. Bal.
lentine. pastor Of the Church of the
Good Shepherd, at the parsonage at
Green Ridge on Sept. 2S, 1894.
Mr.. Brian Is a prosperous looking
man, is engaged in business in Lynn,
and says he Is the lawful husband Of
May Brian and that she committed
perjury when she swore in her applica-
tion for marriage license to Clerk of
the Courts Thomas that she was di-
vorced from f. s. Brian at Lynn, Is
sex county. Mass, on Dec. II. 1893.
Mr.. Schnabel and Brian's wife are
now in San Jose, Cal. and for that
place Mr.. Brian intends to start at once
armed with the proof which he con-
tends shows that his wife is bigamist
and a perjurer This appearance of Mr..
Brian hunting for proofs OF his wife's
second marriage is the sequel of a ro-
mantle marriage performed in this city
| on the date above mentioned, the de-
tails Of which were exclusively set forth
| In The Tribune of Oct. /, 1894. 1t Is a
story that Is stranger than fiction and
would furnish abundant material for q
modern drama.
| Her First Marriage at Lynn.
Six years ago Miss May Hammond
then seventeen years of age, petite and
blooming into a young woman of rare
beauty. won the heart of E. s. Brian, OF
Lynn, and they were married. Two
children were born to them and then
came q domestic clash and they separ.
ated. Mrs. Brian's father was George
Hammond, at one time a prominent
and respected resident of Lynn, who
took his own life when May was les.
than four years of age. Her mother re.
sided In Washington, D. c., and after
Mrs. Brian's separation from her hus.
band she decided to 60 on the stage
The latter part of the spring season Of
1894 saw her in the west travelling with
the Clay Clement company. whicn wa.
producing "The Bells" and "Tne New
Dominion" to small but enthusiast,
audiences.
Ernest H. Schnabel, son of a wealth,
resident OF San Jose, Cal, saw thu
company when 1t was at Garden City
Cal. became enamored of May Brian
who was known on the stage as Ma,
Hillman. and to be near her gave III
the real estate business, in which h
was engaged and the study Of law h
was pursuing, braved the displeasur
OF relatives and became the proprieto
and manager Of the Clay Clement com
pany. For the remainder of the seaso,
he remained with the company an,
when he set his face westward in tn
summer Miss Hillman was i,is alliance,
bride and there was an understandin
between the young people, both O
whom were % years of age, that the
would be welded in the fall.
They Met at Schenectady.
At the beginning of the theatrics
season in the fall of 1894 Miss Hillma
became member of 1.-THE Burglar
company. Mr.. Schnebel was informe
or this fact and the route the compan
would traverse. He sent a Telegram
to himself to deceive his relations an
In response to 1t came east and me
THE Burglar" company at Schenec
tady, N. Y, on Sept. "a. On Frida,
Sept. 2S. the company arrived in thI
city and that night gave perform
ance at the Frothingham. During tn
afternoon Mr.. Schnabel and Mrs. Bria
, went to the clerk of the courts offc
secured a marriage license and callin
a cab were driven to the residence
Rev. F. s. Ballentine at Green Ridg
where they were married. Mr.. Schnab
, had no suspicion that his wife wa
not a divorced woman.
, The marriage was not made know
to any Of the members of 1.-THE Burglar
, company and the first intimation the
had of such an event was when Tril
une reporter called on A. ]. Scammol
the manager Of the company. that ever
, ing to get the particulars of the even
Mr.. Schnabel when accosted was ver
} much averse to having anythin
printed with regard to the marriae
and made an earnest plea to have II
story suppressed.
The Heir TO Fortune.
He said he was an only son and a
heir to a fortune of 100000 and tbs
he would be disowned IL he marie
against the wishes of his parents. H
declared that his wife was one OF til
sweetest little women in the who
world and that he loved her most d.
votedly. 1t was his desire to preser
her to his relatives and let her win
place in their affections as he was SUI
she would. A report Of the marriae
IL heralded in advance might create
prejudice against her that she coul
not overcome.
Two weeks after the company was
, this city Mrs. Schnabel Heft 1.-THE l;ul
glar' company and with her husban