The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-03-13

ers WIDOW, Ellen Howe, for James
Howe's only child, Agnes Howe.
mad struck a bonanza, and struck
1t all at once. l refrained. however,
from displaying the interest | felt In
the matter, asking how could collect
a claim against Agnes Howe. 1 was
told to file 1t at the Office where / then
was. Further information was given
me that Agnes Howe was In poor
health. She was living with her aunt
who was her guardian.
The next question for me to solve
was what poor health in this case
meant. Judging from the call for help.
she was either mental invalid or was
being confined as such for some espe
cial purpose. / had heard of cases
where heiresses had been confined as
lunatics or persons of feeble mind that
some one else might keep control Of
their property, and 1t occurred to me
that this might be one Of these cases.
| concluded to act on this theory.
and, assuming to be Agnes Howe's at
torney, drew up papers that would
require her guardian to bring her into
court. This ledsto an item In news
paper stating that Miss Howe, heiress
to the estate Of her late father, James
Howe, the northumberland would be
brought to court on certain day by
her aunt and guardian, whose the
legal documents had twas keeping
her in duress, for what purpose it was
not known
l was in for it and must see the
matter through. In case my theory
was wrong would make myself a
laughingstock. Nevertheless the APP
peal for help, the fact that the pris-
oner was an heiress, that. she was
supposed to be In bad health, all con-
spfred to convince me that | was on
the right track. Nevertheless / trem-
bled. working on theory as was, and
with no actual proof Of the correctness
of my theory. Moreover, was claim
ing to be Agnes Howe's counsel, while
l had no other commission from her
than momentary sight of card on
which was written the word Help"
w ACA Lie Ouy CdluC IOu10 lOL L41G
production of the body of Agnes Howe
In court found 1t necessary to sum-
mon all the assistance there was In
me- | was in the courtroom when my
assumed client entered in company
with her aunt and guardian, an elderly
lady, richly attired and with cold,
heartless expression of countenance.
Miss Howe was very pretty girl and
evidently In robust health.
Near me at the lawyers table was
Samuel Graves, an attorney whom l
knew / wondered what he was doing
there. / was not long in finding out.
/ was endeavoring to improvise some
way Of opening my case when this at
torney arose and said:
MAY 1t please the court, i represent
the interests Of Robert Ainsworth in
this case, the husband Of Agnes Howe
There was hum Of astonishment In
the court, Miss HoWe's guardian being
as much amazed as any one else.
Robert Ainsworth being sutton for
the hand of Agnes Howe, she was re-
moved from him and the world and
has been kept in seclusion. 1t was not
known to the guardian that he had
secretly married her ward, and he has.
been ignorant Of the place of his wife's
detention. Learning that she was to
Be brought into court-for what reason
Is not apparent he retained me to gain
for him the control Of bis wife as her
husband"
/ was thus left out Of the case, and.
although my theory had been incorrect,
was saved from humiliation A con
ference took place between those pri
fmarily interested, and the guardian.
who had endeavored to prevent mar
riage of an heiress with poor man.
her ward having been welded, gave up
the struggle. The husband, a young
naval officer. was permitted to take
away with him his bride. and the
episode was ended.
Mrs. Ainsworth before leaving court
called for me to be presented to her
and thanked me for the part had TAX
en- in gaining for her her freedom. She
took my address and soon after receiv-
ing her property sent me a check for
fee which set me up In my profess
sion and resulted In a fortune. / have
ever since my efforts in her behalf been
prime favorite with her and her huB
band.