The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-27

a hearing in the contest for the
property of James J. O'Boyle, who kill
ed himself after firing three bullets into
his wife, at their boarding house on
Franklin avenue, last March, was con-
Quoted yesterday before Deputy Regis
ter Henry Koehler.
Mrs. Eliza O'Boyle who claimed to
be the legal wife of the deceased, ap-
piled for letters of administration and
the sisters of the deceased, Mrs. Muir
ply and Mrs. Kelly, of the South
Side, opposed the granting of them on
the ground that she was never legal
ly married to their brother. The prop
erty in dispute is a $1,000 house and
lot on Pittston avenue, occupied by
the sisters of the deceased.
The contention of the sisters OF
O'Boyle is that Mrs. O'Boyle had a
husband living when she was married
to their brother, March %, 1898. This
alleged first husband was one James
Chester, of Richmond, Mich, who, it
is claimed, met and married Mrs.
O'Boyle in Oregon and afterwards
lived with her in this city.
The marriage license secured for the
marriage to O'Boyle was placed in evil
dence and disclosed that Mrs. O'Boyle
signed herself as Miss Eliza Chester.
Her maiden name was Kennedy.
SAID SHE WAS MRS. CHESTER.
Mrs. Arnold, who knew Mrs. OBoyle
since she was a child, testified that
she met Mrs. O'Boyle about five years
ago, and Mrs. O'Boyle told her she
was married to James Chester.
Mr.. and Mrs. Michael Nealon, who
boarded with Mrs. O'Boyle when she
was living with Chester, testified that
Mrs. OBoyle was known as Mrs. Che -
ter, and it was generally understood
they were man and wife.
Simon Hinerfelt, the Penn avenue
merchant, told that Chester took a
woman to his store, Introduced her as
his wife and told him to let her have
good on his credit. The woman came
regularly to his store with Chester's
pass book and bought goods in his
name. He recognized Mrs. O'Boyle as
the then Mrs. Chester.
1t appears O'Boyle understood that
his wife had had intimate relations
with Chester, and supposed they had
been married. He questioned her
about it and she averred they had
| not been married; that she had been
nothing more than Chester's house,
| keeper, and that, at all events, Ches-
| ter was dead, in proof of which she
| produced a letter purporting to come
from one of Chesrrr's relatives in
Richmond, Mich, setting forth that
Chester had been killed by a falling
tree in Vancouver, Il. c., and that his
70 itoS hrniiuht homo
! tered. The O'Boyle sisters made in
quiries concerning this report ana
| learned from Chester's sister that no
news OF her brothers death had ever
| reached his home, and the interment
of his remains positively had not taken
place at Richmond. Tho letter from
| Miss Chester containing this statement
was offered in evidence yesterday.
NEVER MARRIED CHESTER.
| When Mrs. OBoyle was placed on
the stand, she swore positively that
! she never married Chester, and eX-
| planned the signature to the mar
riage license application by saying that
| O'BOyle, "who knew all about Ches~
ter" as she put 1t, suggested that she
sign her name that way, saying al
| tne same llIle, llS llS person anu HOl
the name we marry"
Mrs. Coggins, the woman who occu-
pied the apartments adjoining those
in which the shooting occurred and
who was on friendly terms with bott
| O'Boyle and his wife, testified that
| OBoyle told her that Mrs. O'Boylt
was his lawful wife.
The hearing was on all morning and
afternoon. Attorney r. j. Bourke rep
resented Mrs. O'Boyle. Attorney NJ. j
Donahoe appeared for Mrs. Murphy
and Mrs. Kelly.