The morning news., 1897-07-17

to his reward with more than the Biblical
allotment of three-scora and ten years to
his credit was one OF the most remarka-
BILE characters ever known In this city.
His was, indeed, romance of two
worlds, and the sequel promises TO he
played out in the Missouri law courts In
a suit that viii be filed to break the will.
Yesterday there arrived in this city an
old man of g. who is a claimant for a
share of the fortune left by the deceased.
His name is william John Craig, and he
is the son who was cut of In the Will
with a bequest of 81. He was intro
duced on the floor of the Merchants eX-
change by George Mcintyre, living at 2235
Walnut street, a friend OF many years
standing, whose guest he will be during
his stay. To q reporter Of the Republic
Mr. Craig gave a connected recital OF his
strange life history. According to his
story he Is the only child of James Craig
by his first wife who is stlll hale and
hearty at the age OF 81 Craig married
her In the County Londonderry. In the
north of Ireland, when a very young man,
but deserted her and fled to this coun-
try when his son was baby.
A few years later Mrs. Craig allowed her
boy to lmmigrate to this side. He at once
went TO Philadelphia where his father
had relatives living. The deserted wife
learned that her recreant spouse was liv-
ing in the Quaker city at the time her son
arrived and fed to the west soon after and
all trace of him was lost. The mother was
thrown upon charity Of relatives in the old
country, and her boy was bound out TO a
farmer named Humphrey. living fifty miles
north of Philadelphia, until he was lS
years old. The rugged old farmer died
when the boy was IA. and thus released,
the latter made his way back 20 Philadel-
phia.
Three years later young Craig learned
that his father was in st. Louis, and came
here 20 find him. The old gentleman was
doing a lourishng business, and received
his son with more or less affection. The
latter wanted to go into business at Cat
asauaua, Pa, and requested a loan OF $500
from his father. The latter sent the boy
back with a promise that draft should
soon follow, but none came, and young
Craig returned to St Louis Elk months
later. onl yto find that his father had con-
tracted a second marriage. William Craig
claims that his father was never divorced
from his mother. and that the second mar
riage was therefore invalid, although
twenty years had elapsed since he deserted
his first wife. The young man called upon
his fathers bride and acquainted her with
the fact that Craig had a wife living. She
claimed she had never heard Of Il, but so
far as known, she religiously concealed
the information from family and friends.
and up to the time Cralgs will was flied
her two daughters are supposed TO have
been in ignorance OF the fact that they
had a half-brother living.
Before the son returned TO Catasauqua
Craig gave him $500, and with this he
started In the business which he retains
to this day. and has built up until IL yields
a snug yearly income. william Craig
married q few years later and now has
grandchildren. lie lives with one OF his
daughters. and for forty years he has con-
tributed 10 the support Of his old mother.
lie said he had come here prepared to
prosecute his claim and that Of his mother
against his fathers estate and that II he
Is successful In his suit he would turn the
money over to his mother during her life
time.
The Misses craig i've In the palatlal
home on Lafayette avenue, surrounded by
every comfort and luxury that money can
buy. When seen yesterday afternoon Miss
Emma. the younger, said she had never
met her half-brother and had not heard
Of his arrival here 10 contest the will.
"He is my half-brother by my fathers
first wife" she said. ''He has never lived
with us. and we have never corrcsponded.
I had not heard before that my father
deserted his first wife, ana I am not pre-
pared TO believe II. He was a widower
when he married my mother. | do not
know what course we shall pursue"
william Craig said that he would call
upon his half-siaters during the evening,
and that he would place the whole mat
ter IN the hands OF his attorney. Frank
Ottofy. and return home as soon az poss-
bic. lie learned OF his fathers death and
that he had been cut on IN the will
through Mr. Mcintyre, who wrote him af-
ter the will was tiled."