WAS HE A VICTIM OF "SLOW MURDER?" - Col. Milton B. Green

In doing research for this blog I came across an interesting photograph from 1938:

along with this caption:

I had never heard of Col. Green or his slow murder, so I decided this would make a good story of this blog, and I was right.

Before we look further into the death, burial and exhumation of Col. Green, let's see what else we can "dig up" about him:

Milton Buris Green was born January 4, 1860 in Montford, Grant County, Wisconsin.  His parents were Rufus Pratt Green (1838-1915) and Jenette Kiterus Berdine (1837-1928).  Rufus Green was a farmer by trade.  Rufus and Jenette married September 17, 1855 in Berrien, Michigan.  It was said that they had nine children, but I could only find eight:  Uri (1856-1856), Milton B. (1860-1938), Benjamin Stiles (1862-????), Rufus Grant (1864-1885), Harriet May/Mrs. Ralph V. B. Dunlap (1867-1962),  Alice Jeanette (1869-1870), Myrtle E. (1874-1973), and Burrel Pratt (1878-1930).

Milton makes his first official appearance in the 1860 US Census.  The family was living in the Town of Clifton, Grant County, Wisconsin and consisted of:  Rufus (27 years old), Jenette (22) and Milton B. (6/12).  Rufus said he was a Farmer and had Real Estate worth $1,000.00 ($39,000 in today's funds), and Personalty of $500.00 ($19,000 in today's funds).

In the 1870 US Census, the Green Family was living in Fennimore, Grant County,  Wisconsin.  The family consisted of:  R. P. (37 years old), Jenette K. (32), Milton B. (10), Benjamin S. (8), Rufus G. (5), Hattie M. (3), and Alice J. (1).  Living with the family was Laborer Alex Howard (19).  Now Rufus said he owned Real Estate worth $4,500,00 ($110,000 in today's funds) and Personalty worth $1,000.00 ($25,000 in today's funds).

On October 3, 1879, the Boscobel (WI) Dial newspaper reported the following:

Fanny Clarissa Hubbard (1860-1924) was born in May of 1860 in Richland, Ithaca County, Wisconsin to Delos L. Hubbard (1821-1899) and Theresa Elmira Shepard (1831-1876).  Delos was a minister in the Methodist-Episcopal Church.  Delos and Theresa had married October 7, 1849 in Blac River Falls, Wisconsin.   In addition to Fannie they had two other children:  Mary Theresa (1857-1866) and Byron Lamertine (1864-1866).  

The 1880 US Census has the newlyweds living in Alexandria, Thayer County, Nebraska.  The family consisted of:  M.B. Green (21 years old) and wife Fanny (20).  M.B. said he was a "Laborer"; Fanny was "Keeping House."  None of the other columns of information for this census were filled out.

Milton and Fanny were blessed with a daughter in 1880 that they named Merle Green (1880-1905).  Merle's first name is sometimes spelled "Mirle."  Some sources say that Merle was born in Illinois, other sources say Iowa, still others say Nebraska.

On November 12, 1898, Merle Green married Thomas Leonil McGrath (1872-1920) in Chicago, Illinois.  The bride was eighteen; the groom was twenty-six.

The 1898 City Directory for Sioux City, Iowa shows that Milton B. Green was a Travelling Agent for the Standard Oil Company.  They were living at 210 Ninth Street in Sioux City.  That number no longer exists in Sioux City.  

On September 27, 1899 Merle Green McGrath gave birth to a daughter in Sioux City, Iowa that they named Manjonita McGrath.

Milton and Fanny Green were also said to have had another child, "Maneta" born in Iowa in 1899.  This is obviously their granddaughter, not daughter.  This will become more apparent later.

The 1900 US Census shows the Green family living at 311 9th Street in Sioux City, Iowa.  That number no longer exists on 9th Street.  Since Merle had married in 1898, the family consisted only of Milton B. (40 years old), and Fannie C. (40).  Fanny said she had given birth to one child, and that child was still alive in 1900.  Milton listed his occupation as "Traveling Salesman," and said he had been employed for all of the previous twelve months.

Merle Green McGrath died May 9, 1905 in Lincoln, Nebraska.  She was twenty-five years old.  Here is her obituary from the Saginaw (MI) News of May 16, 1905:

At her request she was buried in Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois:

Photo courtesy of Find a Grave volunteer Wittenized

As indicated in her obituary, Merle's parents would take over the raising of her daughter Manjonita.

The 1910 US Census contributes to much of the confusion about "who's who."  The census finds the Green family living at 322 N. Baum in Saginaw.  A parking lot occupies that space today.  The family consisted of Milton B. (age 50), wife Fanny C. (49) and "Daughter" Manita (11).  Fanny said she had given birth to one child and that child was still alive in 1910.  

This is why I always warn about using census data as hard facts when working on your family tree.  One could tell the census taker virtually anything and not have to back it up.

Milton Green reported his occupation as "Salesman" and the Industry "Traveler."  He said they rented their house, and it was not on a farm.

In 1913 Milton Green went to work for the Imperial Oil Company in Canada, and in 1916, they transferred him to Calgary, Ontario, Canada.

Here is a sworn affidavit he had to provide to the Canadian government to register as an American citizen living in Canada:

They state in this Certificate that Manjonita is their adopted daughter - not their granddaughter.  They said they had officially adopted her; they may have or they may have not.  This is partly how the confusion about the number and names of their children came about.

Milton's father, Rufus Pratt Green died December 31, 1915 in Fennimore, Grant County, Wisconsin.  He was eighty-two years old.  His lengthy obituary was in the Fennimore (WI) Times of January 12, 1916:

I love small town obituaries because they provide so much wonderful genealogy and family history data - and this one even has a photo of the departed.

Here is his tombstone in the Ebenezer Cemetery, Annaton, Wisconsin:

Since they had moved to Canada, Milton Green and family did not participate in the 1920 US Census.  They did, however participate in the 1921 Census of Canada.  They were living at 530 4th Avenue West in Calgary.  A parking lot now occupies that space.

The Census form indicates that Milton Green was 61 years old, as was Fanny.  They came to Canada from the US in 1913.  They told the census taker they were Methodists, that Milton was a Manager for an Oil Company and that he made $1500.00 per year (about $24,000 Canadian in today's funds).  They said they rented their five room apartment for $75 per month rent, and that the apartment building was brick.

Fannie Hubbard Green died in Los Angeles, California on August 25, 1924.  She was sixty-four years old.   The Cause of Death was bladder cancer, but she had previously had radium treatments for uterine cancer.

Fannie Hubbard Green

Here is her Death Certificate:

She has decided to be buried next to her daughter in Illinois - at Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park.  When her information was added to the monument she had her husband's information added to the stone as well, except obviously for the Year of Death.  She assumed that when his time came he would want to be buried with his wife and daughter.

On August 3, 1927 Milton B. Green married Ruby Elizabeth Hardy Pickens (1893-1948) in Los Angeles.  The groom was sixty-seven; the bride was thirty-three.

Ruby Elizabeth Hardy (Hardie, Hardee) was born in Texas on October 8, 1893.  On April 5, 1908 when she was fourteen years old, she married J. Claude Pickens, Jr. in Freestone County, Texas.  The groom was twenty-one and a clerk in a local hotel.  J. Claude Pickens, Jr. died on January 3, 1912 in Teague, Freestone County, Texas.  He died from spinal meningitis and had only been ill for one day.  He was twenty-four years old and Ruby was a widow when she was only nineteen.  The quarantine in Teague was immediate and it does not appear that anyone else was stricken.

The 1920 US Census shows that widow Ruby Pickens was still living in Teague, Texas.  She was living with her mother-in-law Mary Pickens, who ran a boarding house.

When she moved to California sometime between 1920 and 1927 she reverted to her maiden name Ruby Elizabeth Hardy although newspapers occasionally referred to her as Ruby Pickens.

Here are Milton and Ruby Green about the time of their marriage:

Milton Buris Green

                                           

Milton Green's mother, Jenette Kiterus Berdine Green died January 4, 1928 in Grant County, Wisconsin.  She was ninety years old.  She was buried beside her husband in the Ebenezer Cemetery, Annaton, Wisconsin:

Photo courtesy of Find a Grave volunteer Luxuryliners

In the issue of January 25, 1928, the Los Angeles Evening Express reported under "Notice of Intention to Marry" the names of Ralph R. McCord and Manita C. Green.  Apparently Manjonita had shortened her name.  Ralph said he was twenty-four years old - he was actually one month shy of his twenty-forth birthday.  Manita said she was twenty-three years old, she actually was twenty-eight and older than her fiance.  More on them later. 

I was not able to find either Milton or Ruby Green in the 1930 US Census.  They are, however, listed in the 1934 City Directory for Westwood, California.  They were living at 1714 Warnall Avenue:

1714 Warnall Avenue, Westwood, California

Milton Buris Green died May 14, 1938 in the Santa Monica Hospital in Santa Monica, California.  The Cause of Death was a heart attack and rupture of the heart.  There was an autopsy performed.  Here is his Death Certificate:

Here is his Death Notice from the Los Angeles Times of May 16-17, 1938:

Note that Milton's Death Notice mentioned his second wife Ruby but nothing about his daughter.  

Ruby did not ship his body back to Forest Park, Illinois for the grave awaiting him there next to his first wife and daughter.  Instead she had him buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale in Section M, Map 01, Lot 602, Space 4:

Before he died, Milton Green let his wife and daughter know what he was leaving them.  He showed his daughter stock certificates in an oil company he said were worth $25,000.00.  He said these would be his daughter's after his death.

Then he showed his wife stock certificates in an oil company he said were worth $50,000.00.  He told his wife these would be hers after his death.  

After Milton's death Ruby Green and her step-daughter Manita McCord went to the place where Milton Green kept his valuable papers, but there we no stock certificates to be found.

Manita McCord had had enough.  She went to the local sheriff and accused her step-mother of theft and murder and demanded that her father's body be exhumed:

The Oakland Post Enquirer - 26 Jul 1938

When Milton Green's will was presented for probate, it was found that he had left everything to his wife and nothing to his granddaughter/daughter Manjonita.  She immediately filed a suit contesting his will in Superior Court.

The Los Angeles Times - 26 Jul 1938

Manjonita claimed that Green was going to change his will because he found out that Ruby was having a "clandestine love affair."  Thus she provided what she thought was the motive for Ruby killing her husband.

The Santa Maria (CA) Times - 26 Jul 1938 

Right after he died, an autopsy had been performed on Green's body and no evidence of foul play had been found.  But Manjonita accused her wicked step-mother of killing Green by slow-poisoning - not killing by a massive dose of poison but killing by administering small amounts of poison that would build up in the body over time and eventually kill the intended victim. 

Strangely, starting in newspaper accounts from July 27, 1938 onward, Milton B. Green is now referred to as "Colonel Milton B. Green."  I could not find any evidence that Milton Green had ever served in the military, nor is there anything connecting him to Kentucky, so he was not a Kentucky Colonel.  A clue is found in the article from the L.A. Daily News from July 27, 1938:

Milton Green was a Colonel in the Knights Templar, a group that has evolved into a fraternal charitable organization today.

Here is a photo of a modern Knights Templar uniform.  Colonel Green's body would have been wearing a similar uniform when he was buried:

Also found in Green's casket was this photo of Ruby Green:

Los Angeles Daily News - 27 Jul 1938

It took a little time for the analysis to be completed, but the final results were revealed on August 9, 1938:

The Los Angeles Times - 09 Aug 1938

Colonel Green and his family disappeared from the newspapers until December 13, 1938 when it was announced that everything had been settled before the case went to trial:

The Los Angeles Times - 14 Dec 1938

Colonel Milton Buris Green - oilman and Knight Templar, may he rest in peace.

THE REST OF THE STORY

After Colonel Green's death and aftermath, Ruby Green moved to 11036 Westwood Boulevard in Culver City, California.  

11036 Westwood Boulevard, Culver City, CA

Ruby Elizabeth Hardy Pickens Green died in her home on February 17, 1948, apparently of natural causes.  She had been dead in her home for at least 24 hours before her body was discovered.  She was fifty-four years old.  Here is her Death Certificate:

Here is her obituary from the Venice (CA) Evening Vanguard from February 24, 1948:

As it said, she had no known relatives - I wonder who the Leo Anderson was who provided the information for her Death Certificate?

She was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, in the Commemoration Section, Map 1, Lot 3136, Space 3:

Manjonita McGrath McCord died July 7, 1969 in El Cerrito, California.  She was sixty-nine years old.  Her husband Ralph R. McCord died February 14, 1984 in Los Angeles, California.  He was eighty years old.  I was unable to find any interment record for either Manita or Ralph.  They had no children.

AN IDEAL WOMAN AND MODEL WIFE - Mattie M. May

Probably the most well-known monument in Chicago's Rosehill Cemetery is that of Frances Pearce Stone and her infant daughter:

I have written about it for this blog:

https://undereverytombstone.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-most-photographed-monument-in.html

As I have said before, everywhere you look around Rosehill Cemetery you see history and magnificent examples of Victorian funerary art.  One monument I am fond of, while not as striking as the Stone monument, is the monument in Section R that Harry May erected for his wife Mattie M. May:

The monument shows Mattie relaxing on a couch.  Under that, Harry May had this inscribed:

In Sweet and Loving Remembrance of My Wife

Mattie M. May, Born Sept. 5, 1873 - Died July 13, 1893.

She Was An Ideal Woman and Model Wife.

What a beautiful testimonial to his wife who died at the age of twenty.  Let's see what we can "dig up" about the "Idea Woman and Model Wife":

Mattie Swanson was born September 5, 1873 in Adrian, Michigan to John Swanson (1841-1873) and his wife Mathilda Skoglund (1848-1909).  It is not known if Mattie's parents had married in their native Sweden, or in the U.S.  Since all of their children were born in the United States, they emigrated prior to 1867 when their first child was born.  

John and Matilda were blessed with four children:  William J. (1867-1944), Charlotte "Lettie"/Mrs. William H. Newman (1870-1909), Mathilda Augusta/Mrs. William Swanson (1872-1955), and Mattie/Mrs. Harry A. May (1873-1893).  John worked for the Star Brewery in Adrian.

Mattie's father, John Swanson died in Adrian, Michigan on April 7, 1873.  He was thirty-two years old.  The Cause of Death was listed as "Congestion and chills." 

As mentioned above, Mattie Swanson was born September 5, 1873, five months after the death of her father.  She makes her first appearance in the 1880 US Census.  The Swanson family was living at #8 Erie Street in Adrian.  That number no longer exists on Erie.

The family consisted of Mathilda (38 years old), son William (13), and daughters Lotha (10), Mathilda (8), and Matha (6).  Also living with them was Mathilda's father-in-law Benjamin Swanson (62).  Mathilda reported that she was a widow and her occupation was "Housekeeping."  William and Lotha were "at school."  Benjamin Swanson was unemployed due to "Rheumatism."

Mattie Swanson married Harry A. May in Chicago on May 13, 1889.  

Harry A. May was born March 14, 1862 in Kentucky (some sources say 1864, others 1866).  Harry's likely parents were  James (1811-1890) and Elizabeth "Lizzia" Powers (1818-1889).  Harry had two brothers:  Leander Cox May (1857-1937) and Harmon (1859-1940) and one sister, Prusilla/Mrs. Felix O. Craft (1855-1901).  James May was a farmer by trade.

Harry makes his first appearance in the 1870 US Census.  The family was living in Salyersville, Magoffin, Kentucky and consisted of:  James May (59 years old), wife Elizabeth (59), daughter Prusilla (16), and sons Leander (14), Harmon (11), and Harris (9).  James was a Farmer, Elizabeth was Keeping House, no occupation is listed for Prusilla, and the boys were Attending School.  James may reports Real Estate valued at $2,000.00 ($50,000.00 in today's funds) and Personalty valued at $550.00 ($13,500.00 in today's funds). 

The 1880 US Census finds the May Family still living in Salyersville, Magoffin, Kentucky.  The family consisted of:  James (68 years old), Lizzie (62), Leander (23), Harmon (20), and Harry (18).  James was still a Farmer, Lizzie was still Keeping House, and the three boys were Labourers.  Neither James nor Lizzie could read or write - all three boys could. 

At some point Harry May decided to come north, to the "big city" of Chicago.  History does not record where or when he met Mattie May, but we do know they were married in Chicago on May 13, 1889.  Their Marriage Record said that the groom was twenty-five; the bride was sixteen.   The groom was actually twenty-three; the bride was fifteen.

The 1890 US Census for this area is of course, lost.

Mattie Swanson May died July 13, 1893 in Chicago.  She was nineteen years old.  Here is her Death Notice from the Chicago Inter Ocean newspaper of July 16, 1893:

The Death Notice reported that Mattie and Harry May were living at 834 Rebecca Street in Chicago.  

According to William Martin's comprehensive list of Chicago Street Name Changes, Rebecca Street became 15th Place.  The  Renumbering Table showing new and old house numbers does not list a new number for 834 Rebecca Street - the building must have been gone prior to the 1909 renumbering.

Upon Mattie's death, Harry May bought a plot in Section R of Chicago's Rosehill Cemetery and commissioned a monument befitting his dear wife.  History does not record how long after Mattie's death the monument was erected, nor does it tell us who created it.  Unlike the monument to Frances Pearce Stone, Mattie's monument is not enclosed in any kind of protective covering and has been subjected to Chicago's brutal winters and torrid summers for over 100 years.  Today it looks somewhat the worse for wear.  Here are recent photos:

I did not place the flowers on the monument but visitors often leave flowers for Mattie as well as for other noteworthy residents of Rosehill.

Mattie Swanson May - An Ideal Woman and Model Wife - may she rest in peace.

The Rest of the Story:

Harry May's name does not appear in any newspapers until the Melrose Flats fire which took place December 21, 1898.  A six-story apartment building at Thirty-Eighth and Ellis was completely consumed by fire in thirty minutes.  

Chicago Tribune - 22 Dec 1898

The building was owned by Dr. E. M. Rosenkrans and was constructed one year before the 1892-1893 World's Columbian Exposition, to accommodate visitors from abroad.

Miraculously, only one person, Annie Hansen, lost their life in the fire.  Miss Hansen was born in Norway and was sixty-three years old.  She worked as a domestic. 

While arson was originally suspected, further investigation determined that the cause of the fire was caused by an explosion of natural gas.  Sixty families were left homeless by the blaze.

What does this have to do with Harry May?  The Chicago Inter Ocean newspaper reported on August 26, 1899 that "Harry A. May, a bicycle dealer at 3747 Cottage Grove Avenue, which is just back of the site of the Melrose Flats." was called to testify at the Inquest about the Melrose Flats fire.  Here is what was reported:

Chicago Inter Ocean - 26 Aug 1899

A parking lot for the Mercy Family Health Center occupies that plot today.

The Cedar Rapids (IA) Evening Gazette has some interesting news about Harry May on August 4, 1900:

Apparently Harry's desire to move to Iowa did not come to fruition because the 1910 Census shows him still in Chicago.  

The 1910 US Census shows that Harry A. May would try anything once.  He was a Boarder living at 3517 N. Clark Street and reported his occupation as an "Actor in Vaudeville." A UFC Gym occupies that plot today.  Harry May was not working at the time of the 1910 Census (April 20, 1910) and reported that he had not worked the previous 52 weeks.  It was not easy to find work in vaudeville.  

Harry A. May died August 6, 1914 in Chicago.  He was buried next to his wife Mattie at Rosehill on August 11, 1914.  He was forty-eight years old.

Even though Mattie and Harry May are long forgotten, we have the beautiful testimony to his wife that Harry left us to mark their graves at Rosehill Cemetery.

May they both rest in peace.

EX-MAYOR OF EVANSTON HAS WIFE ARRESTED - Part Two - Harry Putnam Pearsons

Former Mayor Harry Putnam Pearsons

Last month I told the first part of the story of Harry Putnam Pearsons.  Born in Evanston, Illinois in 1873, he was an alumnus of Northwestern University, an attorney, and Mayor of Evanston from 1915-1925.  I ended last month's story with this comment:

Starting in 1929 (Pearsons') name appeared in the newspapers on an almost daily basis.  His good name and reputation were rocked by a scandal from which he never fully recovered.  That's it for this month, but come back on August 1 when I will tell you "the rest of the story" of Harry Putnam Pearsons.

Believe it or not, quiet, sedate Evanston, Illinois would be home to a protracted series of lawsuits that would be more appropriate to the Kardashians than to a former mayor of Evanston.  The first indication of the matter that would cause Pearsons such distress, came in the Chicago Tribune of March 2, 1929:

Pearsons had been married from 1900-1922 to Frances Keyes Pearsons (1878-1959).  They had one daughter, also named Frances (1901-1992) and divorced in 1922.  It was not unusual for a divorced man to remarry, even an ex-mayor, but it is unusual for the groom to refuse to name the bride.  Furthermore, the groom said he and the "mystery bride" had already been married for six months when the news broke.

As it is said, "There is nothing older than yesterday's news," and so Harry Pearsons and his second wife faded into the background until November 5, 1929:

After this incident, the second Mrs. Pearsons was put under a $400.00 Peace Bond and given instructions not to disturb or talk to her husband.

In the midst of all this drama, it was time for the 1930 US Census.  The enumerator (Alice S. Neilson) came to the Harry Pearsons home on April 24, 1930.  Pearsons was still living in his home at 1816 Chicago Avenue in Evanston.  The family now consisted of Harry P. (57 years old), and a man-servant, Rufus Moody (33).  Pearsons said he owned the house and that it was worth $50,000.00 ($962,000.00 in today's funds).  Surprisingly, he said he did not own a radio.  Pearsons said he was single (he was not).  He said he was a Lawyer in General Practice, and Rufus Moody said he was a Servant for a Private Family.  Harry Pearsons said he was not a Veteran; Rufus Moody was a Veteran of World War I.

What about Elizabeth Pearsons and her three children from her first marriage?  Did they answer the door for the census enumerator?  No.  There is no Elizabeth Schmitt or Elizabeth Pearsons listed in Evanston or anywhere else, in the 1930 US Census.  

On July 13, 1930 Elizabeth Pearsons sued for separate maintenance after alleging that her husband was having an affair with an unnamed woman who lived at 489 Briar Place, Chicago.  She admitted that shortly after their marriage, her husband moved her into a house he owned at 2752 Garrison in Evanston:

2752 Garrison, Evanston, Illinois

But she reported that in 1930 Pearsons was trying to have her evicted by allowing a foreclosure of the mortgage on the house to proceed.  She said that her three children from her previous marriage were now living with her in the Garrison house.  She asked that a Receiver be appointed for the property so that she would not be evicted.  For more details of the sordid story, here is the Tribune article from July 13, 1930:

Chicago Tribune - July 13, 1930

Former Mayor Pearsons responded that the "marriage" was only a business deal, and that he allowed his wife and her children to live in the house while she acted as his agent to try to sell the house for him.  He also said that he could not afford any alimony due to recent business problems.  

Mrs. Pearsons pointed out that her husband had enough money to be a member of the University Clubs of Chicago and Evanston, the Glenview Country Club and the Vista del Lago club.  More details in the Tribune article from September 25, 1930:

Chicago Tribune - September 25, 1930

When Harry Pearsons agreed to marry Elizabeth Schmitt both parties signed a pre-nuptial agreement.  Under the terms of the agreement, Elizabeth forfeited any dower rights she had in exchange for $30,000 that would be paid to her when Harry Pearsons died.

Despite their pre-nuptial agreement, Judge Harry A. Lewis decreed that Harry Pearsons must pay Mrs. Pearsons alimony in the amount of $40.00 per week ($770.00 in today's funds).  There was no child support because Mrs. Pearsons three children were from her previous marriage.

Chicago Tribune - October 11, 1930

On December 19, 1930, Harry Pearsons made good on his threat to have his wife evicted from the house he owned on Garrison Avenue:

Chicago Tribune - December 20, 1930

When she moved in, Elizabeth Pearsons knew that her occupancy of the house on Garrison was only temporary.  When Harry Pearsons allowed Elizabeth and her three children to move into the house it was up for sale, and Elizabeth agreed to act as his agent by showing the house to prospective buyers, etc.  

Based on everything I have read, said and unsaid, here's what I think happened.  I think that there are three possible explanations for the Pearsons' marital mess.  

1.  At some point the widow Schmitt found out that she was pregnant - but not by Harry Pearsons.  All-around good guy Harry Pearsons stepped in and offered to marry her so that the baby would be legitimate.  Hence the reason for back-dating the marriage, and Pearsons' unwillingness to name the woman.  After the baby was born, Pearsons would quietly file for divorce and get on with his life.  There is no record of Elizabeth Schmitt Pearsons having any children other than her three with her first husband, so Elizabeth either lost the baby or had an abortion.  Abortions were not easy to obtain in 1930 especially in a place like Evanston.  

2.  Another possibility was that Schmitt was pregnant and Harry Pearsons was the father.  Harry Pearsons had a reputation to protect in Evanston and there is no way it could come out that he had fathered a child out of wedlock.

3.  Yet another possibility (suggested by a friend) is that she made the whole pregnancy story up so she and her children could have a free place to live for a while.  

After Elizabeth was no longer pregnant, there was no reason to continue the "Business Arrangement" as Harry called it.  But when Elizabeth filed for divorce, she also sued for separate maintenance (alimony).  According to the agreement both had signed before the marriage, Elizabeth forfeited any dower rights she had in exchange for $30,000 that would be paid to her when Harry Pearsons died. 

Elizabeth must have decided that she liked the life and house that Harry had provided for her and decided that if she had to go, she would not go quietly.  When Harry objected, Elizabeth probably threatened to make the whole matter public.  Yes, her reputation (such as it was) would have been tarnished, but nothing like the way the North Shore society types would turn on Harry Pearsons after this charade was revealed.

We may never know the true story. 

On May 24, 1931 the Chicago Tribune reported that various individuals in Evanston would make the land they owned available for locals to grow their own vegetables.  It was the Great Depression and many Evanstonians were out of work.  Harry P. Pearsons, too poor to pay $40.00/week alimony, made ten acres of property he owned at Church Street and Hartrey Avenue available to be farmed by local residents at no cost to them.

Both Harry Pearsons and Mrs. Pearsons managed to keep their names out of the newspapers for the remainder of 1931, but this changed on January 29, 1932 when Mrs. Pearsons decided it was time for her to tell her side of the whole story.  The $40/week alimony was only temporary until their case could be heard.  Here's the Chicago Tribune's account of Elizabeth Pearsons' day in court:

Chicago Tribune - January 29, 1932

Chicago Tribune - January 29, 1932

As if the whole sordid mess was not bad enough, the Tribune reported on February 16, 1932 that Mrs. Pearsons had a former Notre Dame football tackle and former Royal Canadian Mountie available to testify on her behalf:

Chicago Tribune - February 16, 1932

Chicago Tribune - February 16, 1932

The very next day, February 17, 1932 it was former Mayor Pearson's turn:

Only Harry Pearsons would think it a good idea to wear spats when he was testifying.

For the first time it was reported that the pregnant Mrs. Pearsons needed to have an "operation."  Could this have been the abortion I referred to above?  Remember, there is no record of Mrs. Pearsons every having any other children than the three she had with her husband who had passed away.

Here's more from the Belleville (IL) Daily News-Democrat from February 17, 1932:

The judge was not impressed by either Pearsons or his spats, and ruled in favor of Mrs. Pearsons, despite the terms of their prenuptial agreement:

Chicago Tribune - March 23, 1932

Buried in the middle of the article above is the following:

"She told him she was expecting a child shortly before they were married in June, 1928 and that she intended to undergo an operation to prevent the birth." .  

The Pantagraph - March 23, 1932

I am not an attorney but I do not understand why the Courts ruled that Mrs. Pearsons was entitled to alimony since she signed the rights away in the pre-nuptial agreement.  Was the entire agreement null and void?  Would Pearson's estate still have to pay Elizabeth the $30,000 provided for in the agreement?  Enquiring minds want to know.

Chicago Tribune - June 17, 1932

The petition was denied.

Harry Putnam Pearsons' father Henry Alonzo Pearsons died in Evanston on December 23, 1932.  He was eighty-nine years old.  The Evanston Review published a comprehensive obituary for him on December 29, 1932:

He was buried in the family plot at Rosehill Cemetery:

Believe it or not both Harry Pearsons and Elizabeth Pearsons managed to keep their names out of the newspapers for almost two and 1/2 years.  But they were back on November 24, 1934 because Harry Pearsons would not pay Elizabeth Pearsons the money the courts said he owed her.

Chicago Tribune - November 24, 1934

Chicago Tribune - December 06, 1934

Chicago Tribune - August 03, 1935

Chicago Tribune - August 09, 1935

Chicago Tribune - October 08, 1935

Chicago Tribune - October 19, 1935

Chicago Tribune - November 06, 1935

Chicago Tribune - November 06, 1935

Chicago Tribune - November 07, 1935

Chicago Tribune - February 22, 1936

Chicago Tribune - April 28, 1936

This lawsuit was also unsuccessful for Harry Pearsons.

The 1940 US Census finds Harry Pearsons living at the University Club, 1704 Hinman Avenue, Evanston.  He is a Club Member/Lodger, 67 years old and Divorced.  He is a Lawyer in Private Practice and had been living in the same place in 1935.

University Club of Evanston

Believe it or not, Harry Pearsons managed to keep his name out of the papers until January 12, 1947 when he was pictured at the dedication of the new Evanston City Hall:

In 1951 it was announced that Harry P. Pearsons had been elected Vice President of the Chicago Law Institute (even though they misspelled his name):

Harry Putnam Pearsons died February 2, 1952 at the University Club.  He was seventy-nine years old.  Here is his Obituary and Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune of February 3, 1952:

The Evanston Review from February 07, 1952 published a long obituary for the former mayor listing his many accomplishments.  There was no mention of his ill-fated second marriage and subsequent divorce.

Harry Pearsons was cremated in the Graceland Cemetery Crematorium.  He was laid to rest in the family plot at Rosehill Cemetery:

After extensive research I was unable to find out whether Harry Pearsons' estate ever paid out the $30,000 called for in the pre-nuptial agreement or not. 

Harry Putnam Pearsons - the first half of his life was one of privilege, prestige and service.  The second half of his life was not.  May he rest in peace.

THE REST OF THE STORY

It took extensive digging but based on clues woven into the newspaper stories about her I was able to "dig up" quite a bit of information on Elizabeth Schmitt Pearsons.

Elizabeth Bonaventura Harris was born September 24, 1885 in Michigan.  In about 1912 she married George Adolph Schmitt (1881-1924), a dry goods manager.   They had three children:  Dorothy Elizabeth/Mrs. Michael DeBartelo (1913-2004), Margaret Jane/Mrs. Robert Troke (1914-1996), and Robert George (1918-1993).  George Schmitt died in 1924 leaving her free to enter into an undefined relationship with Harry Putnam Pearsons.  She and Pearsons were quietly married in 1928 and divorced with much fanfare in 1932.

After the divorce, Elizabeth managed to remove all traces of Harry Pearsons from her life.  She reverted to using the name Schmitt and official records referred to her as Elizabeth Harris Schmitt.   I could only find one reference to Elizabeth Schmitt Pearsons and that was when Dorothy Schmitt announced the marriage of her sister Margaret in the Kenosha News from December 12, 1934:

In the US Census she reported herself as "Widowed" rather than Divorced, and even her obituary made no mention of her ill-fated marriage to Harry Pearsons.

In 1935 Elizabeth moved back to Kenosha, Wisconsin.  By the time of the 1940 US Census she was living in Los Angeles, California with her "brother-in-law" John J. Lennon.

In the 1950 Census she was still living in Los Angeles, but with her son Robert, his wife Iris and their son Jerry.

Elizabeth Bonaventura Harris Schmitt Pearsons Schmitt died April 13, 1959 in Los Angeles.  She was seventy-three years old.  She is buried in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Culver City, California, in Section S - Row 45, Grave 76. 

                                                                            Photo courtesy Find a Grave volunteer Kim Jenkins