The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-04
YOUNG WIFE STRANGELY MISSING.
An ODD Romance With scenes Laid
Mt ST. Augustine.
From the Philadelphia Record.

the District Of Columbia there appears
an entry of the divorce suit Of Smeth-
urst versus Smethurst. The complainant
in the case is William A. Smethurst, an
electrical engineer, member o. the firm
OF Smethurst d Allen, OF this city and
the ground Tor the divorce is alleged VII
IuI assertion. Testimony is 10 be taken
before former City Solicitor II. o. New
comp, as master in Chancery, at his
onlce in MillVLle N. j.. on june 3. Back
OF this is a weird, romantic story winch
reads like the pages OF modern novel.
Inc fdir deIenoant, Ethel Y. Smethurst,
is alleged to have eloped more than two
years ago, but in all that time uot a word
has been heard from her. and the most
diligent search through many states and
througn the principal cities Of Europe has
failed 10 bring forth solitary tangible
c.eW as TO her wherea bouts. Her disap-
pearance could be no more thorough and
complete if she had dropped into the sea
or been swallowed up by an earthquake.
In Milville, where she was born and
where she was a happy girl, her friends
often ask each other the question:
What could have become Of Ethel
No one has ever been able to answer
the question, and around the sorry ro-
NANCE of her life there hangs deep shad-
ow, full Of vague mystery and compassed
by many doubts.
a Belle of MiIIvine.
Ethel Moore was one of the prettiest
girls in -Millviile seven years ago. Her
father. now dead, was an expert account
WilloWy, with flashing brown eyes and a
personal magnetism and Vivacity that won
hosts of admirers, she was sought after
by many eligible young men, but never
seemed 10 care for them. 1t is said of
her now that Ethel Moore could have
welded the handsOmest and richest man
in Cumberland county by simple NOD of
her head, but she apparently preferred TO
remain heart whole and fancy free"
Her fate appeared on the scene, howVer.
The Schuyler Electric Company started
to erect an electric light plant in Mill
vile, and William. A. Smethurst was
placed in charge of the work of constrIc-
ton as engineer. He took UP a temper
airy residence at MiilViie and was soon
thereafter introduced to Ethel Moore.
They became fast friends from the start.
While claiming no distinction as a hand
some or distinguished man. Mr.. Smet-
hurst seems to have captured the heart
of the dark beauty. His wealthy family
held high social position, his prospects
in life were bright and he soon appar-
emily won the heart of the AillviIe maid
en-. In a few months the couple left town
together, and when they returned it was
as man and wife. They had been mar
the Methodist Episcopal Church at Tuck
ahoe n. j. They took up their residence
at the Doughty House, Millvlle, and SEEM
ed very happy in their honeymoon.
Welded Under Other Names.
Now, the divorce proceedings reveal the
fact that the couple were married under
assumed names. Mr. SmethurSt gave the
name of William A. Vail, and Miss Moore
AudSQuGIdQGu as Mary n. smith, ana MS
fact is making il somewhat difficult to
prove the marriage. Rev. Mr. Williams
has letter from Mr.. Smethurst, how
ever, which acknowledges the fact and
requests him TO rectify the error so far
as is possible. The testimony of the Mill
Vile witnesses viii, therefore, go to show
that MIR. Smethurst and Miss Moore were
generally known as man and wife; that
they lived together as SUCH and that Mr.
Smethurst had introduced her as MS wife
and had acknowledged introductions to
her friends as her husband. This is,
therefore, sufficient evidence under the
law to establish a marriage.
The husbands explanation for having
the ceremony performed under other
names was, il is stated. TO obviate a
clash with, his family. from whom he
acquaint them fully with the grace and
virtue of his wife. This he seems TO
have accomplished, for in the winter of
1867 he took her to his home at Fl.
Augustine, Fla. After that her letters
o her widowed mother and her dearest
friends in Millville showed that she had
quickly won her way into the hearts of
Mr. Smethursts family. She was made
much of and introduced to the gayest So
cety. and that season of The year society
is brilliant in st. Augustine, with it's
great hotels and the myriad of smart
Northerners seeking the sunny Southern
CLINE; In the midst Of the gayety Mr.
SmeIhurst was compelled to return to
Washington to look after an electrical
contract He left his young and pretty
wife in the South, and that she enjoyed
showed itself in all her letters. Once she
wrote home concerning a great bali at
the Ponce de Leon which she attended:
"Mr. Lyons said that all that | needed
to make me a princess was diamonds"
That name Lyons had been mentioned
before. He was a wealthy Englshman
travelling in America for pleasure; again
he was the agent of a great wine firm. At
all events. Mr.. Lyons and Mrs. Smeth-
in the great mystery. and nobody seems
able to identify the man or 10 secure a
clew to his connection or whereabouts.
Never Seen Again.
In March, 1897, Mr. Smethurst wrote his
young wife to come TO him in Washing
ton She left St. Augustine on March q
and among those who babe her an affec-
tomato farewell was Il. A. Flagler, the
his family, who had become quite attach
ed to the dark-eyed beauty from New Jer-
sey. That was the beginning Of the eud.
Mrs. Smethurst never reached Washing
ton. Mr.. Lyons" Is said 10 have lert
the Southern resort at about the same
time. Mrs. Smethurst is said to have left
IL is asserted, have learned that she met
the English traveller there; that she sub
sequently went North and sailed for Eu-
rope on the steamship New ork All this
Information is a bit vague. however and
served but to deepen the mystery.
When mis- wife failed 10 appear in Wash
ington at the appointed time Mr.. Smeth-
urst wired 10 St. Augustine, only to learn
that she had started. Then he made tele-
graphIc INQUIRIES IN every dfectlOn, but
no trace could he get OF his missing wife.
She had NOS gone to her Milviue home;
she had written none of her friends or
relatives. She had dropped ont OF the
world. apparently, and all efforts since
then 10 get an iukling of the young wo-
mans whereabouts have proved upavaii-
Ing.
ones or twice there have como to Mil
vile vague rumors that Mrs Smethurst
had been seen al various places. Once it
was in Pittsburg with Mr.. Smethurst. and
the person who claims 20 have seen them
there is most positive in his Identification
having known Ethel Moore al her home
Again it was IN New York. but these cir
cumstances have been discounted bv the
long silence of the missing young woman
She has never written her mother wore
10 relieve her long anxiety, ror commit
ncated with her most inhmaie friand ana