Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-10-31

NEW YORK. October 90.-The an
nouncement yesterday of the marriage of
Mrs. Julia Borland Higginson and James
Wheatland Smith, of Paris, revived gos-
sip about the scandel that kept society
busy taking some time ago. Information
as to the marriage is very meagre, all that
was received being the cable dispatch an
nouncing that the wedding occurred yes
terday.
Mrs. Higginson. as the wife of Francis
Lee Higginson, a prominent and wealthy
banker of Boston was a leader in Boston
society. just as she had been the reignns
belle prior to her marriage. She was the
daughter of DR.. Nelson Borland, OF Bea-
con street. at one time president OF the
Somerset club. As Miss Borland she had
many admirers.
James Wheatland Smith, or, as he was
known to many. handsome James W
graduated from the Harvard Law School
i'm 1889 and for a short time practiced law
II was at the Harvard assemblies that ne
met Mrs Higginson, and, While ne was
very attentive to her no one thought any
thing of their friendship. They met also
nj Beverly Farms, where Mrs. Higglnson
spent the summer. Wheatand, the sum-
mer home of Mr.. Smiths aunt, was near
bv. and he spent his vacation there. lie
was alwae; with Mrs. Higginson IN the
country. az. his attentions to her became
So omen that their friends attempted to
demonstrate with them, but TINS only
seemed to make matters worse.
Then Mr. Higginson's friends informed
him of the situation. and meeting De
tween him and young Smith followed at
which it was reported threats of horse
whipping were made.
After the summer season and early IN
November of last year, Mrs. Higginson
came to New York and attended the
UorseShow. That being over. she packed
her trunks and said goodbye 10 her nos
tess. Her husband about week later
wrote her. asking when she intended 10
return home. Then the whole story came
ont Both Mrs. Irgginsou and Smith
were missing. and it was learned that they
had sailed from New York ON the steam
er Columbia for Genoa on November ..
Mrs Hipetnson had taken with her all her
Jewels. which were valued at S'0'NV' ana
also had drawn from the bank Sio"O.
For some time Mr. Hi@einson refused TO
balieve that his wife had left with young
Smith hut when ON December cable
vla received from Genoa saying that they
wore PASSENGERS on the Columbia, on
which they had occupied state room No 49,
and were. there together at hotel ne
was forced to believe that they had
eloped
Mrs. Higginson's repentance was speedy
for lust one week later she wrote her
husband that she was sorry for what she
had done and asked to be forgiven. She
wanted TO leave her young lover and come
back to her husband and children.
TWO months later divorce proceedings
were begun and the divorce was granted
TO Mr.. Higginson. At the close of the pro
ceedings it was rumorcd that smith had
DISGUISED himself and returned to TINS
country i'm order to fight the divorce.
AT the time of the elopement Mrs Hig-
yinson was about forty-one years Old and
had been married for twenty years to Mr..
uiecinson. They had four children the
eldest a girl eighteen years old. had Just
been introduced into society. The second
child was "A son seventeen years old. who
was Just about to 20 to Harvard ana the
other children were girls ana much
Younger Mrs. Higgiuson is a very beauu-
fail woman of the blonde type splendidly
,reserved. and does not look to be over
tbirtv Smith was about twenty years
,.o,,naar than Mrs. Higginson.