The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-14
WILL LITIGATION
REVEALS SECRETS
MAYOR OF WASHINGTON TOWN
FINDS HIMSELF A BIGAMIsT.

i. ~ .
Wife Claims Valuable St. Louis
Estate-Divorce Finally straightens
Out Family ENHANCEMENT. ,.z
Special to The journal. y.9s5.:z,s, ,5f u. "A
Seattle, Wash, Nov. 14.-After fifteen years
of welded life in Washington, where he has
Rssn prae e9sr Of the stats
ent mayor of Tumwater. prosperous town in
Thurston county, about forty miles from Seattle,
Thomas j. Miller finds he is a bigamist. Miller'A
wife No.; 2 has heard his story, believes it and
has gone to British Columbia, where she will,
remain until he secures divorce from Mary
Moore Miller, alias Howard, alias Leafgreen, now
claEaing to be the widow of the late Leclede J.
Howard, a millionaire of st. Louis, whose money
she wants the to decree as her own. g N
Miller is positive the ST. Louis woman Is his
lawful wife, but not aware of it until
few days ago when he was called on by George,
S. johnson. a st. Louis attorney representing
the heirs of Leclede Howard who are, fighting
the claims Of his alleged widow. zs#-s, -. s.. e
In the romance Miller is; now trying to ex-
tricate himself from is death blow to the
claims of the woman on the Howard millions.
afn Miller IS mot WILING to be to
that his evidence is considered vital by the at.
torney for the Howard estate, Miller says he
civil action until he has righted the wrong he
unwittingly did Miss Matte X. Stewart OF
Aberdeen Wash. whom he made his wife ff-
teen years ago, not dreaming that he was then
a married man. ~...-.-s =. ) q -;
In view of the position taken by the mayor
Of Tumwater Attorney johnson has secured
certified copy of the divorce proceedings and
will take it back to st. Louis to use at the
hearing of the suit brought by the alleged
widow. Later he hopes to prevail on Miller
to o., appear in person and give his evidence.
Miller came to Seattle and in interview for
The journal told the following strange
story:
Miller's Strange Story.
Twenty-three years ago Thomas J. Miller, then
just attaining his majority left his home in
Pennsylvania village and went to Harrisburg,
where he applied for enlistment in the regular
army. He given an examination and sent
to the barracks 9a at Columbus Ohio where he
into the army, he saw himself face to face
with hunger, as he was without money. Finally
he sold the soldier suit he had and his return
| ticket to Harrisburg for $50. Realizing that
inns money nc woua o not last long as ne would
work at his trade of cigarmaker, he feared he
might get into trouble be arrested for d
! tramp. To save his father, who was clergy
man. any disgrace, he took the name of Charles
Henry Howard, and under this name went to
st. Louis, where he tried to enter the cavalry,
but was again rejected.
In company with three young men he tramped
to Palmer Ill, where he obtained work at his
trade. There 1t that he met Mary Alameda
| Moore, a girl Of II years. whom he says Is the
| Mohlan HOW lighting lOr tue Lecleue HOWARD MIL
Miller, under the alias OF Howard, married the
girl. 1t was at her request that the ceremony
was performed and Miller, believing a marriage
under an assumed name would be Illegal, grant.
ed the request. 49, 49, Z 49, e.
| The connection between Charlie Howard OF
| twenty three years ago and Thomas j.. Miller,
mayor Of Tumwater, today would probably never
nave been established but TO- athe fact that In
the affidavit Of a marriage license Miller gave
his mothers maiden name correctly. It was
| this clue that led the Howard estate attorney
| to Tumwater. After AIillers marriage he told
his wife she must keep it secret. Both agreed
to this and they returned to Palmer. They
were back but a few days when the girl told
her mother of her marriage to Howard The
parent sent for Miller and he admitted the fact
out said nothing Of his using alias Miller
at that time refused to set up a home, claiming
he did not have the money, and a few days
later left Palmer.
| Agreed Marriage Was Illegal.
Then they met by appointment at Litchfeld
ILL.,, and for few days lived at hotel there
where Miller claims he told her his name was
They both then agreed that, under the circum
stances, the marriage had no legal effect and
with this understanding separated and have new
er seen one another since. .-"
J. In the spring Of 1888 Miller came to Wash
1ngton. he went to Aberdeen and has neve
since been out Of this state. Since the day b,
left Litch1eld he put aside the name of How
ard. In 1890 he was married at Aberdeen t.
Miss Matte X. Stewart, and one. child a boy
10 years Of age, has been born to them.
In all tine years he has lived here. he ha
seldom thought Of the girl he married bacl
In Illinois. In this state he has prospered
He has Quilt himself large cigar. factory a
Olympia. has accumulated property in differ
) ent PARTS of western Washington and has bee,
strong factor in western Washington politics
Last Thursday he celebrated the fifteenth an
r niversary Of his wedding.
4 The following day Attorney Johnston arrived
. and the woman of twenty three years ago wa
= once more brought into his life. From his fac
where he met the woman with whom he wa
boarding at the time of his marriage in Illinois
$ They recognized one another at once after tn
$ lapse of years and there Miller learned of ho1
: Johnson had searched the country for f1y
). months trying to find him and that it wa
: thru his mothers maiden name on the marriag
= affidavit he had been successful.
y Miller went home to his wife at once an
q there for the first time, unfolded the secre
. OF his life. There was a scene, but when tn
wife knew the facts she grew calm and
temporary separation was agreed durin
which she promised to stick to Miller. TIL
husband Is positive the st. Louis claimant
, not his wife, altho she has woven together
, statement in her suit which appears to b
plausible.
Laclede J. Howard. wealthy man Of S.
# Louis, died last April Two weeks later hi
wife died Of a broken heart. Howard left n
I will. AS heir to his $375,OOO of realty an
n | personal property IS q lU-year-Old CIR
u | When, behalf child, attempt vva
&c made to secure possession of the property, tt
n woman. whom Miller declares is his wifi
s, stenped in claiming TO be the real widow
< The story she told that she met Howa,
IT at Palmer. ILL.,; that they went to. Decatu
IL where they were married, he giving the nan
of Harry Howard and gave the correct da
of her marriage to Miller. She then asser
that she met Howard at Litchfeld. where
dvulged to her that his name was not Harl
Howard but Laclede J. Howard Believing Il
as marriage to be a nullity, she asserts they
J. once separated and not until a few mont
On before Towards death she met him again.
One day she him on the street in s
Louis and recognized him ms her husband.
OF the meantime she had married William Lea
Ill green and he was with her at the time
e meeting Howard. The latter. she says. spo
er ~ Nv 80 Nv W |.,t, ~
ri conversation. she says Leafgreen left her, b