The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-03-01
Planned a Raid on His New
Wife's Millions.
SEPARATION WAS RESULT
Former Widow of Millionaire Yerkes
Discovers, When Too Late, That.
She "Tied-Up'' to a Rank
Fortune Hunter.

A New York special says: The real
cause of the separation Of Wilson Miz-
ner and the former widow Of Charles
T. Yerkes, together with the true story
Of the sensational wedding less than
a month after the traction magnate's
death, has been disclosed for the first
time by a person who was present at
the marriage ceremony. The revela-
tions are amazing.
For fourteen months prior to his
nuptials, it appears, young Miner had
teen a constant visitor to the Yerkes
mansion, remaining each day from
luncheon until almost midnight. From
the moment following his presentation
to Mrs. Yerkes, just after his arrival
from California, by "Ned' Greenway,
of San Francisco, he cultivated the
friendship of the woman assiduously.
He proposed within a week after the
death of her husband and asked her
to be welded then and there. She
was startled by the proposition, and
although he had won her heart by
his kindness and attention in her hour
of trouble, she positively declined to
defy the ,conventionalities Of society
to that extent. Day after day thence:
forth, it IS said, he importuned her:
She showed no sign of yielding. He
became fearful that she would slip
from his grasp, so, after about one
month had elapsed, he determined to
risk all in a final attempt.
Rushing into the house one after
noon in an excited manner, he threat
ened, it is said, that he would not
leave the mansion until she became
his bride.
sBut am not ready to marry you,"
answered the widow. "I haven't any
thing to be married in
"Wear that dress you wore the
night Il first met you," replied Mtz-
Ter.
The unsuspecting widow, never for
a moment dreaming that the young
man was anything but noble and sin
cere, yielded. Miner dashed from
the house in search of a clergyman
and witnesses. Within three hours all
was in readiness for the ceremony,
and the young Lochinvar had taken
to wife, and had sworn to love, honor
and cherish till death the widow OF
the traction king.
By those who had advised him to
! marry the heiress, it had been con-
templated that young Miner would
seek control of the Yerkes estate by
acting as the representative Of his
wife. It had been discovered by his
friends, it is said, that the Yerkes
estate was not ten million dollar or
fifteen million dollar estate, as esti-
mated by the lawyers, but that It's &C.
tual value was nearer seventy mil
lions. With Miner practically the ex-
ecutor under the will, it is believed
that the missing $5O,000,000 or $780,
100000 could be found and that In the
saving of It all would benefit mate
rally.
Leaping from bed one afternoon, be
determined to bring matters to a cl-
max then and there. Entering his
wife's room, it is alleged, he demand
ed a settlement Of million dollars.
The bride refused his demand. He
flew into a towering passion, and, 1t
is said, made all sorts Of threats. The
maid, it is alleged, intervened, and
she in turn was threatened.
The scene became fearful. The
bride convinced at last that the man
who had told her repeatedly he want
ed her and did not care a rap for her
money, was a fortune hunter, ordered
him from the house. Realizing that
he had played his last trump, he left'
speaking gruffly to the servants as he
swung through the front doors out
into Fifth avenue and on to the Penn
svlvania station, where he took a
train for Washington.