Edward Macomber Padelford

The following marriage notice was received last night at the office of THE NEW-YORK TIMES: 

WOOLSEY-PADELFORD - On Wednesday Feb 5. By the Rev David Mitchell, Fannie M. Woolsey and Edward M.Raddleford. 

The report that Mrs.Woolsey and Mr.Padelford had been married yesterday and had sailed for Europe on the White Star steamship Teutonic, caused a vast amount of talk. At the clubs where Mr.Padelford and Mrs.Woolsey are known to hundreds of members, the gossips found is a choice morsel. They did not know the particulars of the wedding, but they had been expecting it for some time, and that it had really taken place was readily accepted as true. 

The names of Mr and Mrs Padelford did not appear on the passenger list of the Teutonic, but that is not proof absolute that they were not among her passengers. The marriage notice was indorsed by A.B.Jones, New-York Yacht Club. Mr Jones could not be found last night to give particulars. In the directory no such clergyman as the Rev David Mitchell is given. 

The domestic affairs of the Woolsey and Padelford families have furbished food for gossip for several years. Mr.Woolsey is a wealthy man, having inherited a large estate from his father, who owned a great deal of property in Astoria, and had one of the finest places in Lenox. Mr.WoolseyÆs position in society was good, and he was able to afford his wife an opportunity to be a prominent society woman, which she did not fail to improve. 

The Woolsey home at 8 Lexington Avenue, opposite the residence of ex-mayor Hewitt, is a large and elegantly-appointed mansion, and for a number of years after her marriage Mrs.Woolsey presided over it in apparent content. Before her marriage Mrs.woolsey was Miss Fannie Smythe. She is a daughter of Henry Smythe, who, under President Grant, was Collector of the port of New-York. She is now about forty years of age, and is an unusually handsome woman.

That Mr. And Mrs.Woolsey did not agree began to be noticed about a year ago. Then Mrs.Woolsey began a suit for absolute divorce in the Supreme Court. Mr.Woolsey was prompt with counter-charges, mentioning the names of Frank K. Sturges, President of the stock Exchange, and Edward M.Padelford. Last November the case was called for trial before Judge Ingraham. Howe & Hummel were the attorneys for Mr.Woolsey. They made no appearance when the case was called, and Mrs.Woolsey secured her divorce by default. In the decree she was allowed $6,000 a year alimony. 

A few days after the default was taken application was made, on behalf of Mr.Woolsey, to have the case reopened. It was declared that notice had not been given of the trial and that neither Mr.Woolsey nor his lawyers knew that the case was coming up. The judgment was reopened and the case sent to a referee. When it got there Mr.Woolsey changed his mind, and decided that he did not care to go on with his defence. 

He stated that the reason why he dropped his defence was that if he persisted in defending the action matters would be made public that would cause pain and annoyance to his children. 

Mr. And Mrs Woolsey had two children, now boys grown. When Mr.Woolsey decided finally that he would not make no defence to the suit Mrs.Woolsey's decree of divorce stood. 

At about their troubles became public, Mrs.Woolsey left the Woolsey house at 8 Lexington Avenue, and went to live at 337 Lexington Avenue. The sons remained with their father. The Woolsey house is now labeled "For Sale or To Let," although Mr.Woolsey and his son Edward still make their home there, Mr.Woolsey, however, spending much of his time at the Union Club. 

The Padelford family troubles came before the public two years prior to the time that those of the Woolseys cropped out. Edward M.Padelford was as prominent in society as Mr.Woolsey, although not as wealthy. His income was derived from the estate of his grandfather, who made his will in favor of Edward and his brother Arthur. The property is held in trust, and from his share Edward receives an income of about $23,000. 

Mr.Padelford married Miss Florence McPheeters of Baltimore. They had one child, still an infant. Mrs.Padelford sued for a divorce in this city in 1890. Frederic R.Coudert took testimony as referee, and made a finding in her favour, which was confirmed by the Supreme Court. Mrs.Padelford was awarded alimony at a rate of $6,000 a year and an extra $2,000 for the care of the child. 

Lately Mr.Padelford and the then Mrs.Woolsey were seen much in each other's company at places of amusement and other public places. The wise ones of the social gossips all said that they would be married in a short time. 

The house at 337 Lexington Avenue, where Mrs.Woolsey made her home after leaving her husband, is an unassuming three-story building. The shades were all drawn close last night and there were no lights except in the servantÆs quarters. The maid who came to the door said that Mrs.Woolsey was not at home. When asked if she could give any particulars she said that she had received strict orders not to say a word to reporters, and slammed the door. 

Edward Padelford's brother Arthur also had a romantic marriage. He married Bettina Ordway, the daughter of Gen. Ordway of the United States Army, afterwards known on the stage as Betty Padelford. After a divorce Betty Padelford married J.J.Raffael, an opera singer. That was in 1890. She is now dying of cancer in a hospital in the city. 

By 1920 Edward M.Padelford had remarried again, this time to Sophia de Borda, who was a divorcee. Edward M.Padelford died in 1921, his obituary in The New-York Times stated that he died following an operation for appendicitis at the age of 61.