Family Matters

Father and Mother Fight For A Child

Rev. G. Heathcote Hills and Wife Clash in the Depot at West Chester

Beatrice was the Prize

Mr. Hills Brought the Child From New York and the Mother Captured Her.

There were some lively scenes witnessed in the Pennsylvania R.R. depot at West Chester last evening when Mrs. Hills, wife of Rev. G. Heathcote Hills, who is suing for divorce, attempted and finally secured her daughter, whom the father has brought on from New York city.

WEST CHESTER, Pa., March 17. Rev. G. Heathcote Hills, rector of the fashionable Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity , of this place, and his pretty wife, Mrs. L. Caroline Hills, whom he has sued for absolute divorce, were the actors in a personal encounter at the depot of the Pennsylvania Railroad in this place tonight, and the police of the town were called upon to quell the disturbance.

The trouble was caused by the actions of Mr. Hills, who went to New York City today and brought to this place his oldest daughter, Beatrice, who has been in the charge of her mother in that city, and the fight was over the possession of the little one.

CAME TO WEST CHESTER

Granted a Divorce [Hills]

Complete vindication for the Rev. G. Heathcote Hills, of West Chester

Special Telegram to the Times

West Chestser, May 16. The matrimonial ties between Rev G. Heathcote Hills, recot of Holy Trintiy Church, and Carolyn L. Pearson HIlls, his pretty yougn wife, were today severd by a decree of absolute divorce, issued by the Court of Common Pleas.This case has been pendign for two years and attracted wie spread attention The ground for the suit was infidelity, and the co-respondents were a wealthy young theological student, who fled to Paris, France, and two members of the vested choir. The result is regarded as a complete vindication for the recttor.

Mrs. Hill, who is a strikingly handsome woman, is now in London following the profession of a high-class concert singer, andis said to be meeting with much success. Her stage name is Madama Carlotta Reynal.[The Time, Philadelphia ), 5/17/1898

Mrs. Henry Brinton Coxe, Who Was To Have Wed, Restrained

West Chester, Pa., Dec. 30. The jury in lunacy in the case of Mrs. Isabel Brinton Coxe, the widow of the late Henry Brinton Coxe, filed its report in court here yesterday, finding her of unsound mind, and the report recommended that she be given into the care of her son, Alexander Brown Cox. The Girard Trust Company, of Philadelphia, was some time ago appointed trustee of her estate of $1,300,000.
 
Mrs. Coxe is at present in New York, and is said to be in ill health as the result of a stroke of apoplexy. She was formerly Miss Belle Brown the daughter of Alexander Brown, a prominent Philadelphia banker.
 
Some time ago she created a sensation by her determination to marry Dr. Hill, of Liverpool, whom she had met while in Europe.1

  • 1. Trenton Times, 12/20/1906

Mrs. Hills' Visit - The West Chester Pastor's Wife Gets Her Furniture

Says She Will Fight her husband's Divorce Proceedings to the Bitter End.

West Chester, Pa., Feb. 4. "I am fighting for my honor and that of my children," said Mrs. Caroline L. Hills, wife of Rector G. Heathcote Hills, of Holy Trinity Church, who has brought suit against her for absolute divorce, to a reporter this evening.

"This case may be pushed, and I will fight it to the bitter end that I may be fully vindicated before the courts and the people. Howard Garett, with whom I am charged with having been intimate, will never appear against me at the trial."

Mrs. Hills, looking pale and attired in a neat-fitting costume of black, cam e in town this afternoon. She walked to the rectory, where her husband is residign with his other as housekeeper. She rang the bell and was admitted to the room where teh rector sat in an easy chair. Little emotion was displayed by either as they confronted each other.

"Mr. Hills," she said, "I have come to take away the furniture in this house which belongs to me."

"Very well," was the reply, "you can have it."