Fergus County argus., 1906-03-23
WILL MAKE A
STRONG FIGHT
Mrs. BeIcher to be Represented by
Able Counsel in the Damage Suit
Brought Against Her.
Something About Her Career-Once
Taught School-Twice Married.
Now in Hospital.

| 80 lar, Mrs. Auelhe1d ThedOre Her.
mine Belcher has not filed any answer
III the suit brought against her in the
district court to recover $25,OOO for the
alleged alienation of the affections OF
/ her husband, DR.. X. S. Hedges, but
she has plenty of time to do so, and
statements made to a Lewistown party
| by both Mrs. Belcher and her hus.
band indicate that when the answer
does come in, it will be a very inter
esting document-what is known as a
warm number. Until the answer is
filed. no further developments are ex-
pected in this sensational case, but the
action has caused some comment. es.
pecially in the Billings papers.
Eoth Mr.. and Mrs. Belcher have
stated that they intend to employ at
tcrreys of the highest standing to de-
fend The action, which the husband
seems to think is without merit. A
dispatch from Billings to the Great
Falls Tribune says:
Has Been Married Twice.
Mrs. Belcher, the woman mention
ed in the Lewistown dispatch has
been married twice in Billings, and
man who is well acquainted with her
says that her friends have been scour-
ing this city in search of her during
the past week. believing that she was
concealing herself here. Mrs. Belcher
has been twice married in this county,
as the marriage license records in the
office of the clerk of the court show.
Her first marriage created quite a
STR on account of the violent opposi-
tor made by both her own and he-
intended husbands relatives to the
Consummation of the affair. This was
June 81, 1899. The lady then gave her
name as Adelheid Theodore Hermine
SCHNEIDER, and the man who desired
TO wed her, and finally did, was Will
liam II. Seibert. Both of the par.
ties We're children of wealthy parents.
Miss Schindler's father having been a
banker in the city of Brooklyn, N. Y.
Her father wired and wrote many let
ters here, objecting to the match, and
offered all kinds of money to anybody
who would prevent it. He said his
daughter had not reached the legal
age, but she took an oath that she was
is years of age, and the license was
issued. The Office of the clerk was
filled with people at the time, who
had been attracted by the notoriety
stirred up in the case by the girls
father. AS soon as the license was Sc
cured the couple hurried to the Office
of Justice Fraser, where the ceremony
was performed
He Was a Piker.
''In the language of the west Sci
bert proved to be piker.' He lived
with his handsome wife about year
only. In the meantime his wealthy
father in New York had been urging
him to come back and he finally de-
serted the woman and returned east.
. Some time thereafter Mrs. Seibert Sc
cured divorce from him, presumably
IN FERGUS county.
"Four years and six months after
. her marriage to Seibert, Mrs. Seibert
was again party to the issuance of a
marriage license in this country. This
license was issued without protest
from anybody and the groom was Mr.
Belcher. her present husband. Mr.
Belcher is now engaged in business al
Lavina, having bought the store OF
Scott Bros. at that place a year OF
mere ago. Prior to that time ne was
in business at Roundup and it was
there he became acquainted with Mrs
Seibert, who was teaching school in
that neighborhood The couple were
married in this city December %, 1904
ana nothing further has been heard OF
Mrs. Belcher until the unfortunate in
cident at Lewistown has again
| brought her into the limelight.
Broke the Will.
| "It is stated that after she obtain
, ed a divorce from Seibert, and before
; hel marriage to Belcher. her father
died in brooklyn. cuttNsfer off with
. cut a cent. notwithstanding she was
: the only heir She went back to
) Brooklyn and hired eminent lawyers
: and succeeded in breaking the will and
t securing the estate, which is estimat
cd to have been worth more than $50,
, 900. At the time the first license was
granted. in 1899, she gave her age to
). the clerk as IS years, and when she
l came back for the second license, in
1904, she gave in her age at 81 years
5 Ii is thought she is only about % al
, the present time.
5 Her husband is respected either
J of the Lavina neighborhood.
= "Mrs. Hedges, in her complaint, al
| leges that Mrs. Belcher arrived il
iewistown in December, from hel
: ranch home, and was under the pro
, fessional care of DR.. Hedges for sew
: eral weeks: that she became infatuat
Cd with her medical adviser, and Law