15. The Dying Stoney’s Miraculous Recovery
When Andrew Stoney was “mortally wounded” while defending Mary Bowes’ honor in a duel, she granted him his dying wish to marry her, figuring that the marriage would only last a few hours. He was carried down the aisle of St. James Church, Piccadilly, on a stretcher, but soon after the vows were exchanged, Stoney made a miraculous recovery. Back then, husbands had the right to control their wives’ finances, but Stoney discovered that a prenuptial agreement stood in the way. Undaunted, he forced Mary to revoke the prenuptial and hand control of her fortune over to him.
Stoney then began squandering Mary’s wealth like a drunk sailor on shore leave, and kept her a prisoner in their home. Over the next eight years, he made his captive wife’s life a living hell, abusing her emotionally and physically, while raping and impregnating her maids. He also brought prostitutes home, carried on numerous affairs, and fathered many illegitimate children.