The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-29
WED m SPITE OF THE PAST.
w. J. Strong's Remarrfage to Divorced
Wife Recalls Case.

Chicago, March 29.-Another chap
ter in the story of a double life has
been enacted. William J. Strong, once
prominent lawyer of Chicago, a
former member of the Hamilton, the
Marquette, and the Chicago Athletic
clubs, has married his divorced wife,
Frances W. Strong. 1t has developed
that the ceremony was performed in
Philadelphia some time ago.
Behind this reconciliation lies the
life drama of Amber Sharp, the Is
year old girl with whose abduction
Strong was charged. Rather than
dignant father, the attorney, fearing
term in Joliet forfeited his bonds
and fed to Honduras Should he re-
turn to Chicago, he has enemies who
the Sharp charges.
During their residence in Chicago,
where they settled in 1893, Mr.. and Mrs.
Strong resided at 800 Schiller street. On
divorce decree was granted Mrs. Strong
in Judge Tuthills court on August S,
1902. The reconciliation is said to have
been explained by Mrs. Strong in the
time" Strong is known to have writ
ten to his divorced wife many times
after his flight.
The history of Strong's life in Kan
sas City and in Chicago, as told by his
acquaintance, reads like a chapter
from Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyn and Mr..
Hyde He is said to have been a race
track tout in Kansas City. It is also
related that he crossed the Mississippi
river in a rowboat one dark night, after
having conducted dog fights and cock
fights until his fellow citizens objected.
At that time he was assistant city at
torney of Kansas City.
His record in Chicago was a me-
teoric one. 1t is said that by pawning
his wife's Jewels he raised money
enough to pay his club dues, and that
IL
in-law. He entered politics in a. small
way and soon became a follower of
William Jennings Bryan. Strong
came into the limelight of publicity
shortly after the railroad strike of
1894. His prosecution of the black
listing cases brought by the railroad
men against the corporations kept him
for some months before the public
eye. He lost his cases.
Then he became entangled with the
girl, Amber Sharp. Her father and
Strong were business partners. She
was boarding at Constantine, Ind, and
used to come frequently to Chicago,
where she would meet the elder man,
who claimed to be in love with her.
The girl was infatuated with him. The
meetings at the Office in the Ashland
block continued until Amber's father
became suspicious.
BY means of a decoy telegram
signed VIII the girl was induced
one day to come to Chicago. Her
father was in hiding at the station
with his attorney The girl was seen
to a1ight from the train, to look
around, and the attorney followed in
another cab and saw the girl enter the
Ashland block. At her last interview
with Strong. it is said. she begged to
go into exile with him, but was pre-
vented.
The only evidence that came out in
the divorce court, where Strong was
not present to contest the suit, was TO
prove the charge of habitual drunken
ness. This, it was declared, had re-
suited in his losing several positions
and considerable money.
After the divorce decree Mrs. Strong
vent to her childhood home in sLoda,@
and a long while later induced her hus-
band to return from Honduras and re-
marry her. Amber went to Fremont,
Neb., where an aunt resides. She is
married now to the son of a wealthy
wholesale merchant of that city. The
last reports from her state that she and
her husband are happy and are enthus-
iastic church members.
Since the day his office was found in
disorder and investigation showed he
had forfeited his bonds by flight the
memory of Strongs exploits gradually
has faded from the public mind