Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-25
SUICIDE PoRTER'S WIFE WEEDS
SHE MARRIEs THE TALKED-ABOUT
NEPHEW INSIDE A MONTH.
Harold Edgel Thomas and Mrs. J. ID.
Porter Married In Council Bluffs
"A Forged Letter-Will
to BE Contested.

himself with poisons in horrible manner
at his store. sl2 Walnut street, July 2s. He
had left his young and handsome wife
he was So and she only 21-at the WASH
ineton hotel, where they lived, at 10 o'clock
the night before. Harold Edgel Thomas.
a young and dashing nephew of DIR. Porter,
was there also. 1t is now recalled that al
though Dr. Porter had never before re-
mained away from home all night. and al
though his nephew knew that he contem-
plated suicide and in the night claims to
have gone to DR.. Porter's store and found
the door locked, no alarm was given nor
were any of the Doctors friends aroused.
Marked papers received in Kansas City
Yesterday announced the marriage in Coun-
Gil Bluffs, Ia. last Saturday Of Mrs. j. ID.
Porter, widow of the suicide, and Harold
Edgel Thomas, his nephew. After her four
weeks of mourning and courtship. Mrs.
Thomas was seen again on the streets OF
Kansas City yesterday.
Three weeks before his death DR.. Porter
made a will leaving all his property to his
wife excepting $4,000, which was divided
t9 ssaFs apou Tss There
rumors that DR.. Porter was rich-that he
had a fortune in bonds or securities tucked
away somewhere. but If so they have not
In view Of the developments in the case
friends of the dead man say that his Will
The night of the suicide young Thomas
Indignantly denied the rumors that he had
been paying attention to Mrs. Porter and
visited The Journal office and claimed that
his dead uncle had left him a letter hold
ing him blameless and expressing the deep
letter with him, but said he would get it.
In a couple of hours he returned with such
a letter as he had claimed.
letter was never written by DR.. Porter. 1t
was forgery.
Mr.. George T; Lynn, lifelong 1,!,ia friend s OF
seen last night at his home. SSlS Wyandotte
street. - ,,,.,,,,0a
this most unfortunate affair" said Mr..
Lynn. II have nothing to withhold or con-
ceal in connection with 1t. was sio8 hs.5unc- nc
Cured within twenty,four days after the
death and seventeen days after the burial
present Mrs Thomas with extreme kind,
ness and at DR.. Porters request furnishea
a home to his nephew. They have seen NJ NJ
marrying with this unseemly and scandal
GUS haste. They are married, and that Is
all there is to say about it." ,v
about the marriage. 1t Is more than PROB
able that an inquiry will be made to as
certain why nothing was done to learn me
time he left the hotel on the evening be-
| fore he took his own life and the morning
when he was found writhing IN ms last
agony in his store, several hours later.
| Here IS an interim of nearly ten hours,
| during which no apparent effort was made
| by the wife or nephew to see wnat had
/ hotel with the remark that they would
! never see him again. This remark was
| made in the face of repeated threats TO END
| his unhappy life
| man of New York, being worth several mil.
| lions of dollars. His son, who has Just
married DR.. Porters WIDOW, Is stated e by by
scapegrace of the family. Letters to pr.
| Porter prove conclusvely that the tather
had given up hope OF reformns a, ned .ne yoas oasi
| tion which his father had secured Tor MN
! in New Orleans. General Thomas who II
trustee for the two unmarried sists;s @ - Oh
Dr. Porter, to whom the sum of 5000 waf
| left, has instructed Executor Lynn 10 pro-
| tect the estate at all hazards He Is
strongly opposed to his sons action. ana q, I,
| be made by the sisters to break the VIII
| of DIR. Porter. which left the entire es-
to the wife with fn the o seep OIL 'hf
| Young Thomas. who IS ohiy - years oiu
| had lived in this city only q rev months
DR.. Porter had frequently complained about
| the attentions of the young man to Mrs
Porter. who was about the same age. she
| permitting the young mans attentions. anc
| he had been worked up into a very un.
| happv state of mind over the relations be
| tween the two. At no time was there evel
| anv suspicion of criminality in these rela
| tions but Dr. Porter was morbidly Jealous
and unhappy over the talk which con
nected the names Of his wife and nephew
Young Thomas was employed for some
| time in the varnish factory of Mr.. Lynn
at 1875 West Eighth street. He left
week ago last Saturday for Chicago to ac
afterwards it was learned that Mrs. Por
| ter had also left the city. Immediately
after her marriage to Thomas. Mrs
| at the Auditorium hotel. Thomas has no
| returned to the city. so far as is known
Mrs Thomas declined to sec anyone las
l mfr