The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-23
NO MILLIONS THERE
Her Husband Declared Insane I'm Kan.
sas City the Day Following
HIS Marriage.

Suit has been filed in the Circuit Court by
Ida b. coburn, of Kansas City, against Gen.
John Coburn, administrator OF the estate OF
Mary A. Coburn, the widow of Augustus
Coburn, who was a brother Of the admins
traitor, asking that the court grant her one
fifth of the estate. that being the share
which she claims belongs to her as the
widow OF w. Irving Coburn, one Of the sons
of the decedent.
Ida B. Coburn is resident OF Kansas
City, and was married to w. Irving Coburn
Oct. 80, 1898, in that city. w. Irving Coburn
was q son Of Augustus and Mary A. Coburn.
Augustus Coburn was drowned in Lake SUI
perior in 1863. At that time he had what
seemed TO be the making of large fortune.
He had invested largely in Michigan copper
lands in the Superior region. This, however.
has dwindled away. until now the estate is
not worth more than about $4,000. or per-
haps not more than $4,000. About a year
ago his widow died, leaving five heirs.
The wife of W. Irving Coburn. who died
about the time of his mothers death, is now
suing to recover her share Of the estate. She
claims to be the legal wife, and entitled to
one-ffth OF the property, while 1t is disputed
that she has any claim as the wife OF w.
Irving Coburn. Her story is that she was
her husband celebrated tne fact by getting
drunk, for which he was arrested and fined
in Police Court in Kansas City. This got
into the papers, and through that medium
his relatives heard of the fact of his mar
riage and went to Kansas City and had her
husband incarcerated in an insane asylum.
where he died a little more than a year
later. She has never been recognized by the
family here. and has not even been seen by
any or them except Gen. john Coburn.
General Coburn was seen last night and
asked about the truth of the story told by
Mrs. Coburn OF Kansas City. His story is
quite different from hers. General Coburn
says his nephew had been very dissipated
man, following a loose and rough life. He
drifted TO Kansas City. and there became a
follower Of the races. He was afflicted with
A disease which eventually caused insanity.
He was constant worry to the family. He
gambled and bet on the races, and, in fact.
did everything that a spendthrift could do
as long as he had money, and whenever he
was short OF cash he would send home for
some. which was occasionally sent him. He
spent about ten years in the vicinity OF Kan
sas City in this wild life. and then his
friends here were surprised TO learn that he
had been sent TO the asylum for the insane
at ST. Joseph. Mo. Relatives went from here
to investigate the case AMI found that the
young MAJ was violently insane and had lit
tie chance TO recover. 1t also developed that
the day before he was arrested and held on
the Charge OF insanity ne had married Miss
\ 1--WE found.'' said General coburn. thar
they were married by Justice OF the peace
My nephew was then insane. as demon
strated by his actions at the tine. He re-
fused TO pay the justice for performing the
ceremony, but invited him to go OUT and
hn4 q ptrrn
around him, and that night or the next day
he was arrested on the streets for disordery
conduct. When brought into court it was
plainly evident 10 the Judge that he did not
nave drunken man but an insane man be-
fore him, and he ordered an inquest, which
resulted In sending the. young man to the
asylum. / talked with the superintendent Of
the asylum. and he said there was no hope
for TIE young man. as he was afflicted with
from him, and had already destroyed his
mind.
Another feature OF his insanity was the
fact that he constantly talked about his
fabulous wealth. His conversation led peo-
pie to believe that on the death of his
mother he would inherit large fortune; in
worth several million dollars. Such Is the
impression that has gained currenoy at
Kansas City. This woman thinks she Is
dollars. instead OF one-ffih of less than s25,-
co., l have nothing to say against her per-
sonally, fer know nothing about her. My
nephew was certainly insane when he mar
ried her, and II is en- that grounds that i
Will contest this suit There is no doubt
that she was really married 20 my nephew.
but marriage with insane man is not le-
gal, and she was never really his wife,
few weeks ago General Coburn went 10
Kansas City and overhauled the records
there TO see what he could find OF evidence
in the case. He says the facts given above
what he discovered. This was in antici-
patton of this suit.
1t is claimed by the attorneys for Mrs. Co.
burn that her marriage was so dstasteful 70
the relatives of her husband that they i'm
mediately instituted proceedings TO have Mr..
Coburn declared insane. and that the action
was successful This. IL Is claimed, was
done simply for the purpose OF defeating the
Wife'S claim "a nArfinn of the estate