The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-02-22
EvERETT's WIDOW NOT A WIDOW
But She Appears to Have Been Twice
Wed.


packed up her traps a few weeks age
and left for Farmersburg. Indiana, ac-
companied by her 10-year-old son
carrying signed and sealed credentials
from the mayor and police of the city
of smOkestacks" addressed to one j.
P. Wood. certifying that the bearer
was "a perfect lady" and a good chance
to take in the lottery of matrimony,
has returned to town again. accord
ing to Everett advices, and Dan Cupid
is weeping in her back yard.
Mrs. Mercer left Everett with the
best wishes of the community, several
tons of rice and numerous old shoes
attached to her trunks. it being under
stood that she was going to the Hoosier
state to become a blushing bride. Her
cOurtship was conducted through a
matrimonial bureau and the lucky
groom was described as leading bust
ness man of the community. a banker
and farmer. Upon her arrival at
Farmersburg, according to telegrap hic
advices received from there on Febru-
AIRY 5, the couple We're married.
Has Returned to Former Home.
A few days later Dame Rumor Iaid
aside her knitting and began to
knock" and it was noised about that
the couple We're not happily we'd. La
ter the bride left home and went to
Terre Haute to reside. On Wednes-
DAY Mrs. MERGER Wood and son unex-
pectedly reached Everett and are now
residing in their former home, 31e7
Colby avenue.
one Of the first things that Mrs.
Mercer did upon her return to Everett
Was 10 deny III toto that she went east
10 get married. or that she and the
farmer from Farmersburg had donned
the matrimonial harness. She said she
went to indiana TO visit friends. and
that the Mr.. Wood in the case was an
old friend, and that she simply visited
which he lives.
L came back sooner than ex-
pected on account of the Illness of nv
son Elmer" said she, and" she con-
tinued. laying particular stress on
what she was saying. Il want to say
again, that there is nothing to that
matrimonial story. | have no idea how
it originated"
But history repeats itself in a very
fferent way. Mrs. Mercer Etc, failed
to explain why Mr.. Wood made use OF
the matrimonial agency in his CORE
spondence with her. and. more myster-
iouS still. what motives prompted him
TO appeal to the police of Everett
through Mayor Haadlee. for "a charac-
ter for the woman who. as he coyly
explained. was about to merge her
to explain why Detective Zimmerman
called upon her and discussed a secret.
But Cupid again shot wide of the
mark. just as he has so often done
and. if report be true. had done so
once before with Mrs. Mercer. who is
Al years of age. Investigation at
Everett revealed the informa ton that
Mrs. Mercer has a legal husband in
Everett, one John Mercer. a BOOM
man employed in a mill there and that
a 11-year-old son born to the union
is also IL resident of Everett Accord
ing to the story, the couple We're mar
ried at Alpena, Pa, July %. 1882. A
daughter WAS born soon after. and then
band she had married him under an as
Sumed name, and that her name was
Grace Cooley. not Sarah Grace Ennis,
the name under which she WAS mar
ried. She opinionated. therefore. that
the ceremony was not Il legal one. and
that she WAS entitled to her freedom.
Time passed, as time has Il habit of
doing. and thirteen Years ago they
came to Puget Sound and subsequent-
~ moved to Eugene. Oregon. While
there the wife instituted divorce pro-
reedingS against her husband but the
suit was Withdrawn. There was a per-
oetual tempest in the home and finally
the husband found it necessary to ad-
EertiSe in the public press that he
would no longer be responsible for
debts contracted by his Wife To his
friends he confided that she had
temper worse than the Japanese. and
hat for extravaganza she could give
any member of the -four hundred" a
start and win by several lengths.
Moved to Everett Last Fall.
Last fall the family tried a change
II climate in the hope that the do
nestle clouds u-oul6 If. ,~.,.: