The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-28
ELBRIDGE G. ALLEN, R.
Late Mr.. Aliens Son
on Stand.
Testifies to His Relations With His
Father.
They We're Always of
Happiest Kind.
Portland Witnesses Who Know
Couple Before Marriage.

Boston, December 27.-The oass brought
to decide which Of two women Is the
widow of Elbridge q. Allen and entitled
TO take his estate. some $4,000. was re-
sumed In the Suffolk county probate
court this forenoon, before Justice John
w. Mckim.
The' court room, as usual, was well
filled with witnesses and spectators.
Mrs. Barbara johnson was the first wit
ness. She testified that she never knew
Mr. Allen TO trsat his first wife barshly.
He alwaJs showed great Affection for
the boy Ellie, and said he was going to
give q, house to him when he was II
Continuing, witness testified: 81 new
or heard Mr. Allen mention the name Of
the second Mrs. Allen. Mrs Allen never
talked with me about the circumstance
of her marriage After Mr.Alisn's death
she came and asked me to make state
ment.
Il always supposed the couple were
married, although Mrs. Allen had no GER
tiiioate. Mrs. Allen said she was going
TO prove that abe was the real wife OF
Mr.. Allen, but did not say how she was
going to prove 1t. l never noticed that
she wore "a wedding ring"
Mrs. Anna Maria Burnham of Pert
land, who kept boarding house In that
city, was the next witness She testified;
al Knew Mr.. Allen and Hattie Snow,
who was afterwari the first Mira. Allen
MIR. Allen boarded with me In Portland
In 1871. He was then carriage smith.
My husband aad were members OF
Mystic lodge of Good Templars, and MIR.
Allen Joined. He aftsrward proposed the
name Of Hattie Snow. and she Joined.
lie was then very attentive TO her.
"He came to me In 1872 and said he
was going to Boston. and might. II he
got work, stay there. He remained away
for some time, aud then appeared unex-
psctedly at tns house. hut SAID he was not
going { D stay, and surprised US by say ing
that he bad been married while In bos'
ton. ! said: Then you took Hattie
snow with your He replied; 4 GER
tainly did,
al asked him why he had besn 50 sly
about it. and he said that no did not
want to have the boarders joking about
iu. In the fall of the year he came TO my
house and introduced US to Mrs. Allen !;
the lady was Hattie snow. He also pre-
sented her at the lodge meeting as Mrs.
Allen After that time Mrs. Allen .
| name appeared on the lodge records as
| Sister Hattie Allen
81 made the couple wedding resent
| of n pie knife. l visited Mr.. and Mrs
Allen in South Boston, and went with
them to q meeting OF the Sons OF TeIn-
psrance, where MIR. A lien introduced Mrs
Allen as his wife. did not see Mr.
Allen after the separation from Mrs.
| Allen.
HNo one In Portland ever thought Of
disputing their marriage. Two or three
weeks ago l heard there was an effort
being made to dispute Mrs, Aliens claim
to be the widow Of Mr.. Allen. Mrs. Allen
told me she was married In Park street
church by Rev. MIR. Murray"
Abram Rowland Of Plymouth at one
time lived In Portland, and knew Mr..
lodge. When he heard OF Aliens mar
rlage he asked Allen why he he'd gone
away to To married. Allen replied that
he thought It would be good fun to do
1t that way. This was characteristic Of
he man, to be making iun.
Witness addsd that Allen said he had
been married by MIR. Murray. Witness
had frequently heard Allen introduce
Hattie snow as his wife. and In 1852 and
1883, Mrs. Allen and the boy boarded
with witness, Allen paying the bills and
calling frequently.
w. A Morse of Mslrose, both testihe0 to
having known Allen and having seen
him present the first Mrs. Allen as his
wife.
Elbridgs q. Allen, this son, q PROPOSES
sing young man, WINS next called TO the
stand and testified: my name Is III
bridge q. Allen. Jr., I live In Portland.
My firss recollection Of my father Is that,
when was baby Of or years, he
took me in his arms. i recall living In
Lynn and also In Cbarlsstown, and re-
member that my father called frequent
H.;, was sa0o.,sa in the Dubl,o schools
and in private schools. graduating from
the Portland High school in 1896. After
grad uating from the High school, l. at
my fathers request, undertook to learn
the business OF railroading. went Into
the employ Of the Portland street rail-
way company without pay, beginning
on track work, aud worked In every de-
partment Of the company exospt the
offices.
81 worked in the power house, ran the
engine and fired the boilers; also
worked as u motorman. had given con-
siderable attention ID music and had two
pieces Published by Oliver ID tson ana
Co., my father paying for their publica-
ton. l took these and went on the road
in 1898, trying to place them. Later
secured o position as assistant engineer
| in running heating plant. 1 then went
into the employ of the Lewiston, Bruins
wick and Bath street railway, and ain
now conductor on the Portland street
| railway.
~ last saw my father in Portland In
1Sp8 at our home. / first learned of tue
alleged tnvalIdity OF the marriage OF my
mother alter my fathers death, and b.
fore hts funeral. / had bsen to boston