The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-26
DEATH WINDS UP A ROMANCE.
Singular story of n Deserted wife
and "a Rich Husband.

a telegram announcing the death OF
Mr.. Joe Edgerly at Bismarck, N. D., was
received in Macon Sunday.
Mr.. Edgerly formerly lived in Macon,
but went to join his father in Bismarck
several years ago. After his removal to
Bismarck he began the practice of law.
and at the time OF his death was doing
a successful practice.
The story of the Edgerly family borders
on the dramatic. The mother and father
married in New Orleans just before the
outbreak of the civil war and Immediate
~ removed to Macon. BY hard work
and economy, principally on the part of
the wife, the couple saved money sniff
clent to buy home and several acres
of land on College street. At that time
property on College street was Of little
value and the investment Of the Edger-
lys amounted TO only few hundred dol
lars. In this home two children were
born 70 them, a bow and girl Shortly
after the war Matt EdEeriy the husband
and father left Macon and went TO Nortb
Dakota, and by some means arose to much
prominence. He studied law and II Is
sala, STOOD hlgh In his profession. Just
about the time Joe, the only son. reached
the age where he was able to work ana
help support his deserted mother whose
struggle 70 Keep the wolf from the door
was nard one, the father sent for hin,
to go to North Dakota, and he wenr
leaving his mother and Young sister hc
hlnd. The years went by and the pros
porous father and son in North Dskotr
dld not even as much as write to the
struggling wife and mother al hons
Later on the only daughter, Mary. mar
leu a., am moved 70 Brooklyn, thus leaving
the mother entirely alone
In a small cottage surrounded b,, sra
G Gl9sl ,gr9n FUNDS, on College street, Mrs.
EdgerlY lived alone, deserted by all her
kindred and but for the eenerosit,, 90
wealthy people in the neighborhood usbo
knew the story Of her life and her .str bg.
gle for bread there We're times when stn1-
walton would have claimed her as a vic
tim. Thus she lived without special in
cident to vary the monotony Of si1cb q
life until about three years ago when
Matt Edgerly. who had kent posted
through friends in Macon of the great
increase In value Of the College street
property came to Macon. unannounced
10 the wife whom he had deserted a
quarter of a century before. TJnon HE
arrival Edgerly stopped at the Brown
mouse and sent for a lawyer In some
manner, however, Mrs. FdeerIvT Iaarrad
OF his presence and his object and called
at the Brown house to see him He de
I clined to see his wife, but she detern1ined
that he should see her. and kept guard
at his room door all day. some ttrS,e a., "
the night Mrs. Edgerly relaxed her ,5joil
lance on the room door and Edgerly stem
ped out, boarded the first outgoing train
and went back TO North Dakota. He
never gave up his efforts to recover the
property however, as II was In his name.
The value of the property at that fine
was not less than $4,000
Last spring Mrs. Edgerly left Macon
to visit a brother In New Orleans. and
ceiVed Of her death in that city The
death of Joe yesterday leaves the daugh-
/ ter. Mrs. Schmidt, of Brooklyn, n ".
the only surviving member of the family,
Mr. Matt Edgeriy, the husband and father
having died two years ago in North pa
kota.