So About that Duel…
We mentioned Andrew Robinson Stoney faked a duel to dupe Mary Bowes into marrying him. Well, the story is way more intricate than that. Mary Bowes’ wealth was no secret, and Stoney was set on getting it for himself. While courting her, Stoney published articles under false names both praising and dragging her name in the press. What happens when someone besmirches a woman’s good name? A duel, of course.
Stoney defended Mary’s honor in a “duel” and was “mortally injured.” Spoiler alert: there was no duel and Stoney made a miraculous recovery after Mary promised to marry him as a dying wish. Stoney then spent the rest of Mary’s life trying to take her money. She wasn’t even able to finalize a divorce before she passed away in 1800.