Athol Porter

In 1887 William S. Porter eloped with Athol Estes, then 17 years old and from a wealthy family. Her family objected to the match because her father & his mother had suffered from tuberculosis. Athol gave birth to a son in 1888, who died shortly after birth, and then a daughter, Margaret, in 1889.

Porter was granted bond, but the day before he was due to stand trial on July 7, 1896, he absconded to New Orleans and later to Honduras. However, in 1897, when he learned that his wife was dying, he returned to the United States and surrendered to the court, pending an appeal.

Athol Estes Porter died July 25, 1897. Porter was found guilty of embezzlement, sentenced to five years jail, and imprisoned April 25, 1898 at the Ohio State Penitentiary. He was released on July 24, 1901 for good behaviour after serving three years.

Links

• http://www.portitude.org/literature/henry/
• http://www.greensborohistory.org/archives/mss/html/MssColl-011--OHe...