Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-08-04

from Stettheimer the affections CT the
wife upon whom he had layished so
much wealth. Scandal followed the
result of their love for each other, and
1t ended in Stettheimer securing a di-
vorce, he settling upon his divorced
wife a rich alimony. In New York, on
November 80, 1891, she was married to
Hoyt. His wedding gift was the title
in fee simple to large part of his land
ed estate Of millions.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hoyt lived together for
eight years, but q blight came upon
their happiness, and disgrace to him,
when his wifes love for intoxicating
liquors and drugs became so strong that
it made her a slave to them He then
left her and sued for divorce, alleging
intidelity In the parting he settled on
her mansion home in New York and
stocks, bonds and money, her posses
sions at that time, it is said, being over
100000.
In the fall of 1901, abandoned by her
husband, Mrs. Hoyt came to Tiffin and
purchased the Naples, worth $4,000,
for her home, in the most aristocratic
suburban part of the city. On it she
placed many improvements and gath
cred around her many servants. Her
stables contained $4,000 team of
horses. One of her manias was her love
for cats and dogs. She had many of
them one of the witnesses in the con-
tested will case saying: There was
cat up every tree on the premises" Her
dogs were allowed to eat at the table
with her, and if any of them got sick,
a regularly licensed physician was sum-
moned to attend it. In one instance she
summoned specialist from New York
| to attend to fayorite poodle. The dog
died and the doctor got $500 fee and
his expenses. 1t was buried in the burial
lot at The Naples and the grave was
ever kept green.
In her girlhood days, as Catherine
Guss, she had slight acquaintance
with Judge Bum, then young lawyer,
now 81 years of age and widower. This
acquaintance led her to employ him as
her legal adviser in the management
of her affairs and the divorce proceed
ings with her husband, yet pending in
the courts. Their renewed acquaintance
rapidly ripened into love, and they were
engaged to be married as soon as the
divorce from her husband, Reuben M.
Hoyt, was granted In the courts. They
were constantly together, and, with her,
he took several trips from Tiffin to New
York to attend to her property affairs,
and, as her affianced husband, she
turned over to him much of her personal
property, consisting of stocks, bonds,
etc, and also made will bequeathing
him almost her entire estate, only small
legacies being left to her sister, Mrs.
Hill, and her stepbrothers, Frank and
Rufus Guss.
During the winter of 1903 Mrs. Hoyt
was taken seriously i'll with pneumonia
and her death soon followed. Imme-
diately after Judge Bum had the will
probated, the sister and the stepbroth-
ers brought proceedings to have it set
aside, alleging undue influence and the
mental inability of the testatrix to make
a will. Many important dispositions
were to be taken in different parts OF
the country, and for this and other rea.
sons the trial of the case did not take
place until last June. The verdict OF
the jury was rendered about the middle
of July.
The reasons of Mrs. Hoyt, as shown
in the evidence, for practically disin
heriting her sister and stepbrothers and
other relatives were that until she came
into possession of her wealth they haC
not been on friendly terms. In girl
hood, the sister, Mrs. Hill, and the
brothers had opposed her in a love
match. This led to bitter estrange
ment, and the angered girl left home
, When wealth came to her, however, Mrs
Hoyts bitterness of the years before
lessened and she often remembered
them with expensive gifts and largesuml
of money, but blood relationship will
her was not stronger than the love foI
her lover, and she left him almost he
entire estate.
Since the death of Mrs. Hoyt Judg,
Bum has made "The Naples" his home
1t is but one of the handsome pieces O
property of which he becomes the pos
SCISSOR. AS legatee he also owns a brown
stone mansion on Eighty-eighth street
New York, worth $4,000, a-residence a
Yonkers, N. Y. valued at 100000 AM
property elsewhere. He is of the moult
to care for and enjoy his added wealth
He has been a great traveller and is cul
tured. He has been twice through Eu
rope. All Of his life since boyhood ha
been spent at Tiftin. He is good law
yer with good practice, and, while no
wealthy before, has always been wei
fixed His title as Judge" came to hin
by reason of having served four year
as probate judge of this county. He i
prominent in politics, and because 0
his pleasant social ways, has Away
been popular.
FRANK DILDINE.
Tin Tags to Build Church.
Norfolk. Val. P. Withrow, mer
chant, of Hollis and Ellenboro, N. G
nronococ RI undOrtolya RI build n oburo