New-York tribune., 1905-07-04
HUNT MISSING HUSBAND.
WIFE LEAVES Il MILLION.
Relatives Fear Daughter May Lose
Estate Left to Her.

While funeral services were being held last
night for Mrs Elizabeth Rankin, wealthy resi-
dent of kingsbridge, her relatives were learning
piecemeal the story OF a mysterious second mar
riage about a year ago. and grief so great over
disillusion following that marriage that a Sc
rious chronic disease, aggravated. resulted in
her death. \ widow, worth more than ST.
O0G,GG0, much of it earned by her own efforts,
Mrs. Rankin met Hugh ]. McAvoy said to be
relative of Deputy Commissioner McAvoy. They
married so quietly that even her near
neighbors knew nothing about it.
They. lived together until about four months
ago, when, according to II T. Blake. Mrs. Ran
kin's brother-in-aw. it was learned that Nc
Avoy had another wife living in a miserable"
furnished room downtown McAvoy was sent
from the Kingsbrdge house. No one knows
now where he is. accurately who he is. The
dead woman's relatives preparing to defend
her will, for they say they fear that McAvoy
viii Try to set it aside for his own benefit
Mrs RanIlin's life story was as romantic
the ending was tragic. 1t included swift rise
from comparative poverty to comparative
wealth. happy married life and a successful
business career before she met McAvoy. She
was born in Oakley, England, about hfty-two
years ago. the daughter of James Fihe!d- She
came TO this country whom she was about twen-
tVtlNe years ora, tiIlA ls44S AicA
own living in various ways
WEEDS HEAD OF PROSPEROUS CONCERN
Then she met Edward II. Rankin. head of the
Rankin Delivery Company, a prosperous con-
cern. which at that time was taking up out OF
town service for the big department stores. Mr.
Rankin fell in love with her, and they were
married soon They went To live in a large,
old colonial house in Sedgwick- ave, Kings
bridge, a secluded spot, half a mile through the
woods from the Kings5ridge Road
She and Mr. Rankin lived happily there. en-
tertainins a little. but devoting most of their
time aside from business TO their daughter Ag-
nes. now girl OF fifteen. About four years ago
Mr. Rankin died. His business had prospered
greatly, and he left an estate worth little short
of the million mark
Mrs Rankin stepped into his place as head
Of the company and carried it on with rare
Judgment. extending the scope of its business
and acquiring new customers. She had practi-
calIy doubled the profits year ago, it was esti-
mated when the growing cares and a slight
illness forced her TO give it up. Her interest in
the concern was sold 10 H. A. Singdai, of 1S4th-
St ard Jerome-ave.
Where she first met McAvoy, who is said to
be u man younger than she. IS a mystery to Mr..
Blake and her few olose friends She lived a
secluded life in the old colonial house. far back
among its ShelterinS trees she went out in
frequently, and visitors We're rare. About a
year ago. Mr.. Blake says. Mr McAvoy in
troduced 70 him 5 Mrs Rankins husband. He
has not been able to find out when they
married. where, or by whom
FEW KNEW OF THE MARRIAGE.
Mr. and Mrs. McAvoy lived quietly at Kings
bridge much as she had lived before her we'd
ding. Neighbors still called her Mrs. Rankin.
the widow of the they had known. Few
knew of the presence OF Mr.. McAvoy 1T the
Rankin place: fewer still knew that he was the
husband of the widow.
Soon after her marriage Mrs. McAvoy
operated at a private hospital for cancer.
She grew better after that operation.
About four months the neighbors who had
known of McAvoy noticed that he was not
around the Rankin place any longer, and they
began TO comment also Mrs. Rankin's ill
health. Then. according TO Mr. Blake. Mrs
Rankin AIcAvoy told him that she had learned
that McAvoy had another wife living. This
woman was at 14th-st. and 7th-ave. in a fur
nished room house. Mr.. Blake says she told him.
Her husband and she had separated she told
him. but refused TO go into any particulars
She would not tell how she had learned of the
second Wife. She carried with her into the
grave the story of where she met McAvoy and
how she was married TO him
Her IN health increased nOticeably. A month
ago another opera ton became necessary but the
physicians in attendance told her that IL could
give only temporary relief. Her decline from
then on was rand ON Saturday she died The
funeral was held last night at her home The
burial will be in WoodlaWn to-day.
The will left all OF her estate 20 the daughter
Agnes. Mr. Blake has taken charge Of the large
old house and says he viii remain there.