The San Francisco call., 1905-05-08

A matrimonial tangle that is perhaps
the most peculiar in the hymeneal
records Of San Francisco has enmeshed
George D. Collins. attorney. Two wom-
en- claim to be his wife and many friends
who are puzzled over the strange
case are wondering what the outcome
viii be. 1t appears that only court
proceedings where sworn witnesses
shall give their testimony and official
records shall be produced will serve to
solve the mystery. 1t is likely that the
matter VIII be taken into court through
criminal proceedings, instituted by the
woman who claims TO have the prior
right TO call Collins husband.
= Last Wednesday The Call published
an account Of Attorney Collins ar
irving from Chicago with a new bride,
q former Stockton belle, who was Miss
Clarice McCurdy. He wrote his own
name. then Mrs. George D. Collins"
and then Mrs. S. A McCurdy," giving
Chicago as the address, Friends at
once began offering congratulations and
asking him about the bride, but he
gave no information, only replying
with a laugh. To The Call representa-
tive he would give no account of his
marriage nor tell who his bride was,
saying his private affairs would not be
given out by him to satisfy public
curiosity. His sudden marriage and
peculiar actions created much gossip,
but the matter was soon lost sight of
by the public.
Now the lady calling herself Mrs
Charlotte E Collins, who lives at the
home Of George D. CoIins at 25I9
Pierce street. asserts that she is the
lawful wife Of the attorney and mother
Of the three children that indisputably
belong 70 him. She has passed for
years as Mrs. Collins and the neighbOrs
and all her acquaintance have con-
sidered her as such. Collins declares
that she is not his wife, but that he
was married TO her sister, Agnes NJ.
Collins. who died five years ago, and
that Charlotte has been merely taking
care of the children since then. The
family name Of the sisters was New
man and their brother, Charles New
man, is v member Of the Fire Depart
ment.
Here is woman who for years has
been accepted as the wife of promi-
nent man and who has been caring for
children supposed TO be theirs. who is
repudiated by him with the state
Tnent that it was her sister, now
dead, to whom he was wed He takes
IS reputed to be a married man, and
says with seeming confidence that he
viii prove he was a widower when he
welded the second time.
THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.
The woman at 251e Pierce street. who
claims to be the wife of the attorney.
claims to have a marriage certifi-
cate signed by Father N. D. Con-
nelly, who certifes to having mar
and George D. Collins on May Is. 1899
Miss Florence Newman. her sister. and
William Newman both declare they
We're present at the ceremony and that
Charlotte and George D. Collins were
actually married.
In answer to this Collins is reputed
TO have made a statement which. when
one comes TO it in the history of this
strange case, makes one really wonder
If he is not. after all, reading fiction in
stead of the facts Of a case developing
ia the city Of San Francisco. Collins.
IT is said, declares that he was married
10 Agnes NJ Newman on the date men,
toned, and that a mistake was made
in the marriage certificate. the name
Of Charlotte being written instead of
Agnes. When Agnes died in 1901 she
was buried under the name of Agnes
Collins.
That Collins really did marry Char
loLNe ana tiCL n EncS newman seems
certain from the statement of Thomas
T. Curran. attorney, who was Collins
best man. Curran says he knows Char
lotte and that he knew Agnes. and that
there is no doubt that the first named
was the bride at Collins first wedding.
Now comes another strange part of
the tale resting on the death and the
settlement Of the estate of Agnes New
man, or whatever her name may have
been when she died. Collins is alleged
to have obtained from the Hfbernia
Bank balance left there by Agnes at
the time of her death. For this act.
Tobin & Tooin. attorneys for the bank.
last year began disbarment proceedings
against him. The Tobins filed an af-
hdavit alleging that Agnes was never
the wife Of Collins but that he was in
fact married TO Charlotte.
Charlotte makes the statement
which adds TO the melodramatic situa-