Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-24
lDEXysTv OF CLAIMANT To sTErsON
EsTArE sTsLl. A MYSTERY,
IS MRS. SHIRLEY MISS sNoDDY
ar SO, Is sRt NATE Es sTET.
SONS DAUGHTERs
Pertinent Questions. Ia the Answer
ssg 81 which Millions Arc In.
SslseA-Mrs. Johnsoa Ea-
sers ssroaG Denial 10
Stets0n Clatns.

The comedy drama exclusively detailed In
The Journal yesterday. the plot OF which
involves the possession of the Stetson mil
lions. ssumed a melodramatic tinge yes
terday morning. Early the Columbian ho-
Tel at Ninth and Holmes streets was agog
with excited people and first among the
risers was Mrs. George johnson. the reput-
ed foster mother OF the claimant OF the
StetSon estate. Mrs. Catherine Shirley, and
who the opposing forces declare is none
other than Laura Snoddy. As The Journal
carrier entered the office. Mrs. Johnson
seized a paper. In a few minutes she WAS
!. in possession OF the claims OF the Stetsona.
.hof the fact that the female detective" wss
I what she had believed her to he, and that
Hitchcock, who claims 10 have been her
martial mate. had. with the rest of the
\ claimants enemies. taken his departure
Afrom the city.
Before 8 o'clock The journal was in de-
land. Newsboys appeared with arms filled
~Ah the papers and departed whistling;
his in their pockets juggling a merry ac-
Impairment to their tunes of JOY. AT the
breakfast table the hum of conversation
was remfndful Of a sewing circle at work
fashioning raiment for the heather. There
were vacant chairs at the table allotted 10
the Johnson retinue and a neatly folded
napkin n the side OF a plate placed at De-
tective Dryers ration station indicated
that he. too. was short on appetite. Tn
lucky belated risers. unable to get a copy
OF The Journal or the loan OF one. offered
premiums as high rs SO cents for them. only
to meet with disappointment.
All day the developments in
h many had for weeks viewed as an
nr6ln0r v hnfal dico uraopn4pf mara discussed
and BY all Mrs. A. J. Jordan. the plucky
little woman who had made a martyr of
herself at the call OF duty, was the recip-
tent of many compliments.
Hugh Ward Visits His Client.
y Early in the morning Hugh Ward. po-
r1ce commissioner. politician and lawyer.
a1those city detectives had been led such
lr0l tngloriOus chase. been laughed at.
WArned and defied by the mystery from
! vwbston." called on his client. Mr.. Wards
: lace was as expressionless as a sphinx
when he passed through the lobby and up
the stairway to the johnson apartments.
but when he descended and took his de-
parture there was a grimness TO his Clearly
shaver chin which was. by an observer,
interpreted as an indication that his visit
had not been OF q formal nature.
During the forenoon. Tom Snyder. Mrs.
JohnDon's reputed nephew. who left the
hotel ~ soon as the presence Of Hitchcock
In the city became known. reappeared on
the scene and was In evidence about the
hotel all day. II the surmises of the Stet-
sons are correct. this Tom Snyder will play
q very important part in the contest for
the theatrical magnate's millions. Mrs.
johnson says he is the son of a sister. and
E1kE- she married q Cherokee. The Stet-
seoub VIM claim that he is Tom Snoddy.
0nL Johnson's son by a former husband.
and the brother OF Mrs. Shirley. who is,
accordinG TO their contention. Laura
8noddy.
Alleged History Of saodAy Fanilsm..
eald . person. who claims TO be well in
formed about the facts or alleged facts the
6tetsons have secured. yesterday:
4. The story OF the snoddy family is in
tereBting. C. ID. Morse who Is 4 StetsGn.
hes Tor over three months been engaged
In hvestiGatinK the history OF the fam
tly. Hs learned that the head OF the fam
lly was q dealer In merchandise In Il small
eswn In rexns. He died about twelve or
}hirteen years ago. leaving d widow and
3wc children. Tom and Laura. The widow.
@altstnG what she could from the estate
her husband. bade good-by to the Lone
r state and went 70 Chicago. There she
ei6ed In the Windy city until they came 70
Kansas City.
f1Ntcncock secured q p0siton In the city
nau. Tell In love with his s~tepdaughter.
Laura. ran away with her. and. finally. aft
90 her mother had secured = divorce from
him. married her.
Say r sneday AGain Married.
Three or four years ago Mrs. snoddy.
the 6tetsons claim. married again. For
months her marriage was kept secret. why
I do not know"
The etetsons claim that Mrs. johnson 10
the Mro AnnAAv nvhn 0y.s m reioI to
GEORGE Johnson. then with the Metropolis
tan Savings bank, which consolidated with
vigorously denies this. and Mr.. Johnson
assents to his wife's
s.y HoC Continued 1nrsf III, hears ssea nse . laars; dhs ,y
kansas City. bringing with her a baby
boy. little lawrence. whom Hitchcock de-
death was announced. followed by the death
'os Kate Stetson. to whom he had willee all
n ~. property. Laura. the stetsons say.
.!ss AZ Ai sse s ssirfss Sf f fss ss' snoday. the
su1 on claim TO have ample proof in ad-
Raotner OF his son. l have seen photo
1kraphs Of Laura Snoddy taken when She
taken recently. One is the proiotype Of
the other; In addition an ornament worn
by Mrs. Shirley when sitting for the pho
Gently taken photograph.
IL John Stets0n's sister.
Mrs. Jordan. the MYSTERIOUS as she is
ho~ known. is the dead John Stetson's sis
ter. John Stetson. who was known here as
A. d. Saxton. is his brother, and C, ID.
MOVIE who claims TO have unearthed the
history OF the Snoddy family, is the son
OF John 6tetson's. the Gcad millionaire's,
brother.
In addition 10 the history of the tamily
they are also In possession Of what they
believe TO be the facts OF romances which
had their beginning in Kansas City and
may have an ending In . federal court In
Ouisition. Shortly after Mrs. Shirley reap
reared In Kansas City a rising young ply
ANtcian paid her considerable attention and
las often seen In her company. Ms,rimvny
seid to have been his object, but he
sfin6 fault with the manner in which the
omtmily Affairs were run and gracefully
his visits and suit. Next appeared
|. 4 b held OF loves conquest q young man
occupies q position OF trust IN the
,ov{Anaas City post0fiice. which. by the way,
.Jminds me that Jack pwyer. the city de-
n 1cttve whom Mrs. Jordan outwit1ad. has
- brother who Is employed in the same in
a31tution. This drawer of CRcie Sans lar
Mss u still very assiduous n his attentions
u Nrs. Shirley, boards At the Columbian
.0Sel. and 10 taking q very deep interest in
~ contest for the Boston millions.