The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-15
COURT REVEALS DOUBLE LIFE OF
 TROLLEY VICTIM Contest For Compensation Between Women Who
 Claim To Be Widows. AFFIDAVITS FILED
 WITH BUCKINGHAM Triangle in Career of Shaw Causes Queer Complica-
 tion In Court.

When Compensation Commissioner E.. T. Buckingham opened the hearing on the case of Walter M. Shaw, the Connecticut Co., conductor who was killed several weeks ago when caught between two cars, he found that two widows were claiming damages under the Workmen's act.
 Sally Elizabeth Hobbs of Norfolk, Va, says she is the widow of Conduc- made to prove it. Rosalind Stevens Hewlett of Providence, R. l., says she is the widow too, and her attorney has presented statements to rove it.
 Attorney M. J. Murphy of Provi- dence, represents the Rhode Island widow and Attorney Clarence E. Hall of this city has the case of the Nor folk widow. Attorney Murphy pre- pared his clients claims to damages. unaware that there was any other. and Attorney Hall did likewise. l. The hearing was called for March 8 in the office of Commissioner Bucking- ham. Attorneys Murphy and Hall ap- peared, each representing a widow. Then it was learned that there were two widows.
 The Providence widow with her brother, Russell B. Stevens, were at the hearing. The widow testified that Ehe never heard of the, Norfolk claim ant. She appeared surprised at the turn of events. Attorneys Murphy and Hall were undoubtedly surprised. Only the testimony of the Providence widows side was taken and the hear ing adjourned until March 16 for a further investigation.
 Since then Attorney Hall, the com pensation court records indicate, has been seeking facts on the history of MT. Shaw. It has been learned that aff1davits have come into his posses -Q17I- I father, and stating that on Sept. g., 1908, at Elizabeth City, N. C., Sally Elizabeth Hobbs was married to Wal ter M. Shaw. The father declares in the affidavit that his daughter claimed the body and that both he and his daughter identified it as that of the man who had married into the Hobbs family.
 Registrar I. J. W. Munden of Eliz- abeth City has sent documents to thds city which purport to prove the mar riage.
 The affidavit of the Hubbs woman set forth that she had her husband arrested for non-support. She alleged too great familiarity with a woman to whom she referred as "I.osa Hewlett g
 Her husband left her after that, the assertion is. She was left with three children, two of whom, aged seven and -four, are living.
 The sworn statement of the Provi- denec claimant is that she was mar ried to Walter Shaw in Elizabeth City, N. C., July 5, 1912 She swore she never heard of the Norfolk woman. The latter, however, expressed the be- lief that Rosa Hewlett and Rosaltnd Stevens Hewlett are the same, and she says she wrote her many notes asking her to rememA Aer, that Shaw was married to herself
 A peculiar feature of the case is that trolleymen, impressed by the pathetic circumstances of Shaw's death, have announced a benefit dance to be held netx week for the Providence widow. They hadn't heard of the Norfolk claims.
 The hearing is called for tomorrow, but it is likely that it will be again continued to allow the reception of more evidence.
 Shaw was killed at Ash Creek. He was standing at the rear of his car changing the trolley pole, when an other car crashed into him. He was mangfed and he died soon afterward Coroner Phelan exonerated the crew of criminal. liability