The San Francisco call., 1905-03-26
.DUPES RICH
FARMER FOR
THOUSANDS
Denver Woman a
Rival Of Cassie l.
Chadwick.
When Taken to Jail She In
duceS Alleged Victim to
Bail Her Out.
Mrs Scott medley Said to Have En-
shared Many Wealthy Men of
the Middle West.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


LINCOLN. Neb., March 25.-Nebras-
ka has developed a second Mrs. Chad
wick in the person of Mrs Edith Smed-
ley, who to-day occupied the guest
room of the County Jail here. Mrs
Slnedley is accused of having obtained
$4,000 from a wealthy retired farmer,
Joseph Wells by name. Scott Smedley.
husband of the woman. is supposed to
have aided and abetted her.
The marriage of Mr.. and Mrs. Smed-
ley followed a two weeks courtship
The woman is said to have had two
former husbands at Topeka, Kans. Her
power over Wells was supreme After
her marriage in Lincoln, she and her
husband lived in a house belonging to
Wells, who collected the rent and soon
became enamored of the woman and
asked her to become his wife. She
told him she must have money in order
to get a divorce and he gave her $1,000.
With this the Smedleys moved to Den
Yer and went into business. Wells be-
lieved the woman was in Illinois get
ting her divorce.
A little later she wrote to him again
that she had piece of property in
Florida mortgaged for $4,000 and wished
to clear off the mortgage that she
might sell it. This sum also was
forthcoming, as well as several other
amounts.
Finally she wrote from Denver that
she was in business there and needed
$4,000 Immediately TO pay off pressing
obligations. On her statement that the
divorce had been obtained and that she
would return to Lincoln the following
Sunday and marry him, Wells sent her
the $4,000 and when the woman did not
keep her part of the agreement he went
to Denver to learn why.
In Denver, Wells found the Smedleys
living in considerable style. They en-
tertained him literally, but when he
became importunate Mrs. Smedley ap-
peared Indifferent and her husband
'jollied" the Lincoln man on the ease
with which he had parted with his
money Wells returned home and war
rants charging Mrs. Smedley with en-
bezzlement and her husband with con-
spiracy were sworn out. The couple
spent the day in the Lincoln jail, but
tonight Wells himself came forward
with a $4,000 bond and they were re-
leased.
Mrs. Smedley is a tall blonde, whose
extensive and gorgeous wardrobe is the
wonder of every one at the jail, where
she wears a pale blue silk tea gown
ruff1ed with lace.
DENVER, March 25.-Following the
denouement in the career of Mrs Edith
Smedley, Denver creditors have swoop-
ed down upon all attachable property
of the woman they could find The
bank account of the Smedleys at the
First National has been attached by
the Lewis Jewelry Company to secure
payments on notes for $3.50 given by
Mrs. Smedley to Joseph 1. Schwartz, a
jeweler, in part payment for $1,000 worth
of jewelry. The automobile purchased
by Mrs. Smedley has been attached for
garage charges.
Late developments indicate that
Wells Is not the only man whom Mrs.
Smedley, or Mrs Simmons, as she was
then known. ensnared. Those whose
names are now connected with the case
are: Joseph Wells. Lincoln, Neb.; E.
w. Hooker, Center, Tex: J. H. James,
San Marcial, N. M; N. NJ Elliott, Mil
waukee, Wis; Lewis Jewelry Company.
Denver; Emory Willets, Topeka, Kas
S. ]. w. Bundy, Ellis, Kas.
Hooker, a Texas lawyer, was her
latest adnirer. ]. II. James, son Of
mine owner, met her in Salina, Kas.
n. M. Elliott was travelling man, who
married her while she was the wife of
Emory Willets, a farmer at Grants
vile, Kas., and while she was being
wooed by James. Bundy was a station
agent at Junction, Kas-, who, because
she would not wed him, is said to have
taken poison. but recovered.
Mr.. and Mrs. Smedley and Wells will
arrive In Denver in the morning. Wells
signed the bond Of both in Lincoln to-
day, after Mrs. Smedley and he had
talked in her cell a while. She was
seated beside him when the train left
Lincoln and her husband was in the
background.
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