The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-15
END OF A ROMANCE
Fiction 0utdone in the Case
of Dick" Combs.
WICHITA BUSINESS MAN
Had Two Wives and Two
Families at Once.
HIS WICHITA CHILDREN
Secure Money From Supreme
Court of Iowa

A remarkable case Of dual existence,
such as would be considered as improba-
bic by the reader Of fiction, and the IKE
Of which seems hard to believe at this
age when the world is not really sucn
big place came to light some twelve
years ago. It was a tale of two cities
and Of two families. and Wichita was
one Of the cities, and a family in Wich-
tia was one of the families. The case was
called fresh to the mind Of the old IN
habitant yesterday by an entry IN the
records Of the probate court Of sedgwiek
county, showing in the main that about
81. 500 had been received from the clerk Of
the supreme court Of Iowa for the heirs
Of Richard B. Combs, deceased. The
heirs were represented by Messrs. HUT
man & Harvey of this city.
Up to about twelve years ago many
Wichita business man knew a man
named Richard B. Combs. He was for
years travelling man and his territory
covered the states Of Kansas, Missouri
and Iowa. Later he engaged in business
here, but died soon after Combs was a
good business man and during the years
Of his travels he had amassed quite
competence. which would have been suf-
fcient to provide very generously for one
family, and even quite sufficient 10 give
his two boys and little girl a good start
in their battle with the worlds vicissi-
tudes. But here was the rub. Combs
for two months at a time, and as he
seemed to have on abnormal desire for
home life and the comforts Of the fire.
side, he established a second home in
Iowa He did just as he had done in
Wichita, fallen in love with a pretty girl,
married her and reared a second family
of young Combs entirely irrespective
and independent Of the Wichita branch
of the family. For years he lived the
double existence with two happy ,mes
for him. educating and clothing all his
children in the most ideal manner, SIP
plying his wives and his homes with all
the comforts that a good and loving hus-
band and father should In each com
munity he was regarded as an exemplary
man and was esteemed alike in his
Wichita and his Iowa homes. Not until
after his death did anyone know Of the
strange life of this man. By accident it
was discovered. The shock killed his
Wichita wife. Three children survived
him from the Wichita home. They are
Frank Burr and Ludena Combs, DOW
living with relatives In Illinois
Combs had lost most of his property
in the boom. He carried life insurance
policies in the Iowa Legion Of Honor,
who paid the policies to the Iowa heirs.
The guardian for the Kansas minors pro-
tested and finally brought suit against
the Iowa insurance organization. The
suit was a hard-fought one and was
finally decided in favor Of the Wichita
heirs by the supreme court Of Iowa. For
ten years the insurance company fought
the case and only stopped when there
was no vistage of hope left for +hem.
The children have friends IN Wichita AMI
have visited them. They have been Well
brought up, educated and are cultured.
One Of the boys was in the Philippines as
a soldier while this country was at war
with Spain and was distinguished Tor re-
markable bravery and soldiery bearing.
HIS sister is in a boarding school and the
remaining brother, although yet in his
teens. Is IN business. The court records
show that G. Gehring IS the present
guardian Of the minors for Kansas. and
Judge Haymaker. during his Term as
Judge has given the unfortunate children
valuable assistance.