Evening journal., 1900-10-12

newspaper do liOHlihtill do inc ANeNOt u
would allow such a malicious attack
TO be made through its columns, upon
the personal character and integrity OF
a private citizen, without apparently
making any investigation as to the
truth and correctness Of the charges
preferred. There are doubtless many
persons in this city, who are person
ally acquainted with Mr.. Shortldge
and who read the article in question
with a great deal of surprise and re-
gret. If the author, whose name Is
unknown, deliberately intended "a
blast the reputation Of his innocent
victim he could not have taken a
more direct means Of accomplishing
his purpose. The article in Wednes-
days issue Of the Record was supple
mented by a further account in the
next days issue purporting to have
been received from q special cores
pondent at Media, Pa While the later
account was, perhaps a little more in
.clined toward the true status OF the
controversy, now pending between Mr.
Shortlidge and the Provident Life and
Trust Company of Philadelphia, it Is
none the less misleading and inaccu-
rate in several important details.
The facts leading up to the suit
which was lately instituted on behalf
Of Mr.. Shortlidge, as the administrator
OF his wife's estate, against the trust
company referred to are, in brief, as
follows:
On the 18th Of September, 1879 Mr.
Shortlidge obtained from the Provi-
don't Life and Trust Company an in
surance policy on his own life,
known as twenty-one year endow-
ment policy, which was intended for
the benefit and protection OF his five
children in case he should not be liv-
ing at the time the policy matured,
namely, on the 18th of September, oil
the present year. In October 1898,
some time after the death of his first
wife, Mr.. Shortlidge made an assign
ment of all his right, title and interest
in this policy to Marie Dixon Jones to
whom he was at this time engaged to
be married. The history Of the awful
tragedy which occurred, about six
weeks after the second marriage
namely, December 81, 1922 need
not be repeated here. 1t IS enough To
say that some time prior to the
date last mentioned, Mr.. Shortlidge
htA4 NfARlA4NANIu a DENEIt dLlalh Ul
la grippe, which not only wreck
ed him physically, but had completely
unbalanced his mind and this condi-
ton lasted for more than a year after
wards, during which time MI Short
lidge was an inmate Of the State Asy-
lum at NorristOwn, Pa The insinua-
don, in the Records article to the ef-
feet. that Mr. Shortlidge only escaped
a conviction, under the charge Of kill.
ing his wife, by feigning insanity, was
not only cowardly and unwarranted
but a direct insult to the intelligence
Of the tribunal by which he was tried
and acquitted.
Passing over the years which follow.
ed as unimportant and irrelevant tC
his discussion, and coming down e
the present time, these additional fact.
are to be noted. In the early part O
last September, Mr.. Shortlidgs re-
turned from Leeds, England, whittier
he had gone to begin life's struggle
anew and to try to win support fol
himself and his motherless children
The sole purpose Of his visit here, a
this time was to obtain a settlement Ct
the insurance policy Shortly to ma
ture) and to have the money rein
vested, If possible, for the benefit Of hi
children. The original endowment pol
Icy for $4,000 had, during his reeidenc.
abroad, been exchanged for a paid-ul
policy amounting to about $1,000
The trust company officials advises
Mr. Shortlidge that, in view Of the as
signment which had been made il
favor Of his second wife some year
before, they would have to account t
her estate for the proceeds. His sec
ond wife had died intestate and with
out issue. Under the law Of Psnnsyl
vania Mr.. Shortldge being frs
entitled to serve as administrators, ant
letters were accordingly granted 4
him on the 18th Of September last
(the day on which the polio.
matured,) and the trust company wa
notified to this effect. Meanwhile Ger
tain creditors Of Mr.. Shortlidge, actin
upon information which they had man
aged to procure, sought to attach tn
proceeds of the policy, in the hands o
the trust company, before any paymen
could be made to the benef
ciary himself. Under the cir
properly decided not to pay owe
i Aht nA1nt9 W any luCf uullA LiAD AASAl
Of the several claimants had been aC
] Indicated and an order had been mad
by a court Of competent jurisdictio
directing a disposition Of the fund
The suit lately instituted by NJ
Shortlidge, as the administrator to hi
wifes estate, is intended simply
determine whether the attaching cree
itors or the administrator should pr
vail. Under the circumstances t1
suit was inevitable, and it W;
prompted solely by the action of II
creditors in seeking to get possessiC
of the insurance money in settlemei
Of their respective claims befol
anyone else The motive in
puted to Mr. Shortlidge, throug
the columns Of the Philade
phia Record, namely, that by brinl
ing a suit he was seeking to get po
session Of the insurance money for h
own private use and benefit, is Who'll
untrue and not borne out by the fact
( He has absolutely no personal inte
est to serve or crafty by such a pr
ceeding. In view Of the serious n
ture of the charges which have be-
made III Is NOT 1iEp1v that the matt