The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-01-07
HAD WIVES IN PLENTY.
Tar 9 aave appeared TO Claim Dam-
ages for One Mans Death.

y dispatch from GreenviIle to The
State says the fearful accident that
befell train No 80 on the Southern
Railway not far from SpartanbuT
about month ago is destined to be-
come memorable. not only on account:
Of the numerous law suits that wiIT
<greW Qut;of thsecc ccurrence, busaecent.
sdete! 'pments iT1ase Robert
Simpson, the colorc5gs man who was
killed in The accident. was an extern
sive aEi liberal patron Of the matri-
mpnill state lie was net a multi
millionaire ike the late Setator Fair,
whose estate was IN litigation for
quite awhile on account ut numerous
matri .ucnial alliances Cn his part; but
Robert Simpson greatly rescmbled the
senator in the other particular, and
according to the latest disclosures he
was the rcruted husband Of three
women, with several Counties to hear
from. His, worth from a pecuniary,
roiut Of view has largely increased
since TIC untimely and sudden exit
was madc by him from this mundane
sphere. and he viii continue to grow
in importance as the lawyers make
three-cornered fight over his estate,
which is to be acquired from the cot
fers Of the Southern Railway. and is
TO come about in this way.
The departed Simpson was citizen
o. Greenville. and his remains were
brought here soon after the accident
for burial, but the funeral pageant
vas spoilt by reason of the fact that
further removal of the dead body was
made to PickenS county, where the
intcrment did actually take place, and
thereby hangs tale. Mccullough 4
McSwain, attorneys OF this city we're
interviewed b. negro woman who
claimed to be the wife of Simpson. and
forthwith an application was made to
Judge John C. Bailey for letters of ad-
rin;stration upon the estate Of the
aforesaid Simpson of which due adver-
tisement was made according to law,
d necessary prelude to bringing an
action against the Southern Railway
for damages in such cases made and
provided.
The lawyers Of Mis-. Simpson No. !
did not suppose their client had any
competition in the procedure, and
hence regarded the letters Of admins
tration as a matter Of course without
their prompt attendance upon the
court of probate, but when they ap-
peared before Judge Bailey to get the
letters issued to No. l. they were as
tonished to find that No. from Pick
>ens county: who is represented by Mr..
VI. +. Ansel, had secured the coveted
authority and was duly qualified as
Administrative. This opened the way
for legal fight at once, but later in
formation tgave even greater zesL 70
the situation, when it was ascertained
that through an attorney in Spartan
burg No. 3 had obtained letters of ad-
minisJration in that county. aud a
claim Of $4,000 had been filed on ac-
count OF the loss sustained by this in
consolable relict Of the muchly-mar-
ried Simpson. When this complication
arose the attorneys with original
jurisdiction served notice upon Mr..
Thos. P. Cothran, counsel for the
Southern Railway. that No. Twas the
only and truly legal representative CT
the lamented Simpson, and that all
others from whatever quarter they
may come are spurious claimants and
arrant imposters, who are seeking to
profit by casual acquaintance with
the deceased The triangular battle
will be fought on scientific lines: and
it would net be surprising to ind the
aStute railroad attorney seeking to
prove that the aforesaid Simpson was
never married at all.