Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-12-27
WIN. wADDIEeHAMs FORTUNE
Claimant Arises in the Person of His
First Wife.

The big estate Of William Wadding-
ham, formerly Of Mexico, who died
last week in East st. Louis, is likely
10 be involved in litigation betweenl
the first and second wives Of the de-
ceased. The value Of the estate is es-
timated all the way from 500, coo to
100000, and is believed to be nearer
the latter figure than the former.
Mrs. Waddingham will base her
claim to a portion Of her former
husbands estate upon the principle OF
law that she was the innocent and
injured party in the suit for divorce,
which resulted in her favor some years
ago, and that as such her rights and
interest in the estate Of her husband
were not surrendered on divorce. She
was awarded alimony of $50 per month
by the circuit court of Audrain coun-
ty, when the divorce was granted, in
1886, and has since drawn this amount.
Mrs. Waddingham, although 10.
years Of age. is a remarkable well pre-
served woman, and IL is easy to be-
lieye that the stories Of her great
beauty in youth, when she first met
William Waddinhgam and won his
heart, are not exaggerated. Her dark
eyes fash as she relates the story Of
her life; her black hair, although
somewhat thin, is only streaked with
gray, and she is as lively as a woman
twenty years younger. In the pres
ence Of her nephew, Mr.. Hulett; 7. T.
Hathaway, an old friend, and a news
paper nan yesterday she told Of hel
marriage and subsequent life.
! 81 was born In Rutland county
; VT" she said, land lived with the
family of my Grandfather Hulett un.
J til II or 13 years Of age, when | moved
to Detroit with my mother and step
father. In ls4s, being then IS year,
I Of age, / married 3. Durham.
c swell, after my husband, Mr.. Dun
: ham, went to California / never hearC
j from him. He went In 1850. In 1856
William Waddingham, Jr., procured
o divorce for me from Mr.. Durham ant
l married Mr.. Waddingham. w
! made our home with his parents, AM
q after the death Of his father-in 1855
l think it was-we continued to re
e side with his mother on Mullanph
% street. WI. Waddingham and / live
e together for 30 years. During tina
ie time he was a kind and loving hui
y band, and we were very happy. II
3 never stinted me for money, and
70 made frequent trips to visit my reli
% tives in Michigan and Vermont, o
n some Of which he accompanied M
y Finally, in 1888, he deserted me.
II brought . divorce suit against him
20 st. Louis Smith P. Gait, being my a
tomey. But Mr.. Waddinghal
&c promised to be kind, and eventual
a eoaxed me to dismiss the suit. Aft
this he commenced proceedings in Il
s. circuit court at Mexico, Mo-, securir
'e a decree, which, however, was reverse
Us and remanded by the Kansas Gil
Court Of Appeals in 1886, awardir
n me the divorce and instructing u
W lower court to grant alimony, whiC
'se was accordingly done. | never ma
ey ried Charles r. Gavin, as has be-
stated, nor did | rel faint awi
u.s. when he confronted me in st. Louis
ler VIM. Waddingham's second vii
nee Lizzie Taylor, was a sewing "
OF man in the employment of his mot
0 ! er, Mrs. Waddingham says, beyol
I'D this she refused to discuss her succ'
sor.
Ied Mrs. Lizzie W~addingham, .
second wife, is still at st. Mar,
w. Hospital in East ST. Louis. s
er- could not be seen last night, but
BUS ferred inquirers to her attorney.