The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-24
DOUBLE BLOW TO HER
MARRIAGE PACT OF MRS. CLARKE,
OR CURTIS, QUESTIONED


Man Onoe Prosperous In San Francisco
Came Here After Divoroe-known by
Two Names Woman He Lived with Has
Contract without . Notary's Seal.
cURTIs.-on Tuesday. Aug. "a. 1905. Jonathan
Curtis, aged ~ years.
Funeral private. San Franciso papers please
copy.
This death notice appeared In one OF
yesterday mornings newspapers In this
city. Mr., Curtis died in the Cameron
apartment house, l26th street and St.
Nicholas avenue, where he was known to
the attendants and the other tenants as
Jonathan Clarke. His death was due to
commissions or epilepsy.
In the neighborhood OF the apartment
house Mr.. Curtis was also known as Mr.
Clarke. The apartment was rented, as
far as the management knew, by Mr.. and
Mrs. Clarke. The woman known as Mrs.
Clarke says she was the wife OF the deceased.
She wasn't known under the name Of Mrs.
Curtis about the apartment house, but
ives called Mrs. Clarke. Her maiden name
was Caroline Clarke. She Is very pretty
woman, who doesn't appear to be over
80 years Of age.
Mr.. Curtis, or Clarke. was connected
with the establishment Of Eberhard Faber,
the manufacturer Of lead pencils on Pearl
street. At the offices Of the concern he was
known as Curtis.
DR.. John P. Hensing, OF 3lA West l25th
street. who attended the man during his
last and other illnesses, knew him as Clarke,
when he came to make out the death certi-
cate, he asked the usual perfunctory ques-
NJ 10 Ito 10 ho ri ~ II oil
blank. He was about to put In married"
without question, when q business ASSOC
ciate Of the dead man stopped him. remark
ing that he wasn't sure about that.
Mrs. Clarke was consulted, and she de-
clared that she and Curtis were married.
She produced proof Of her assertion. a
written agreement between Curtis and her.
self to the effect that they were man and
wife. 1t was signed by both, but there was
no seal Of a notary public on 1t. The doctor
shook his head. and the business associate
by phone with a lawyer
who. he says. after hearing the facts. re-
marked
That's not legal marriage. The lady
has been fooled."
When the death certificate was filled
out the married or single" blank con-
tanned the word divorced This was
put In after the business associate had told
the doctor something Of Mr.. Curtis's past,
Curtis being the dead mans real name.
Jonathan Curtis was born in Philadel- |
phia. AS very young man he went to
San Francisco and In time became the |
OF the largest pencil manu-
!acturing and stationery concern on the
pati fic Slope. He married and became
The father OF several children. Several
rp a tharo in a ,rfir
household. and Curtis and his wife were
divorced.
Curtis lost heart and grip on his business.
Things went from bad to worse, and the
ives near San Francisco. Curtis finally
ct his business 90 and came to this city
md joined Eberhard Faber, whom he had
known many yean. As one Of the firm
put put 1T it. c ysss1tsr oaays Father made place
It was about a year and half ago that
Curtis came East. In addition to his asso-
station with Faber In business, the two
ived together. year ago Faber was
and Curtis, at the suggestion Of
wo men In the Faher firm. then went to
i've in boarding house on Manhattan
ived there. It was kept by Mr Clarke.
md with her lived her. daughter Caroline,
vho was employed a. a designer for the
)eineGtor.
oOm0 mOutn9 AUeT CurIlS went 10 i've
Vt tho house Mrs. Clarke, the landlady,
lied. 1t was after her death that Curtis
md the daughter took the apartment in
which be died and In which they wore known
% Mr.. and Mrs. Clarke.
Mrs. Clarke. or Curtis, when seen last
vening at the handsome apartment which
he still occupies on the seventh floor OF
be Cameron, said that she did not wish to
iscuss either her affairs or those of MIR.
urtis. Her aunt was with her. having
ONE over from Brooklyn. and she cautioned
frs. Clarke against making any state
1ent. She took occasion however, to
hew- Aforementioned. to Mr.. Curti1 hat :
ad been delivered at the Cameron.
Funeral services for Mr. Curtis will take
lace to-day and the interment will be in
emetery near this city.
SAN FRANcIsCo, Aug. 23.-Jonathan Cur
8 was a we'll known stationer here ten
ears ago. He married daughter Of !
Ienry Payot Of the big stationery firm Of !
ayot, Upham d Co. He got a divorce ,
ON his wife and then went to New York. !
urtis was an able business man.
TRS EDDyyS pRECEPTOR DEG