The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-03-31
a DOMESTIC DRAMA.
A Wife in Court with Two Husbands
She Chooses her First One.

place, which IN this city, at least, mas
seldom transpired. The facts are these:
About FIVE years ago, man named
Edward Carey left an affectionate and
beautiful wife and three interesting chill
dren, to seek a fortune in the mines of
California. For one year after his arri-
val in the gold country wrote constantly
to his wife, and enclosed frequent sums
of money. Suddenly the correspondence
ceased, and Mrs. Carey, receiving no mo-
ney, was compelled to adopt other means
to obtain livelihood for herself and lit
tie ones. In few weeks thereafter,
Mrs. Carey, received information that
her husband had been killed in the mines,
wich was corroborated by subsequent
letter received from California.
For three years she lived, as she sup
posed she was. widow. Receiving the
attentions of an Italian named Joseph
Reibe, who succeeded in gaining her af-
fection. she consented to marriage, and
about a year ago the two were legally
united IN the bonds of wedlor *, and have
ever since lived quite happily tog ether.
On Sunday last, as the church bells were
summoning to the house of God the wor-
shippers of the True Being, Edward Ca
rey, who had arrived direct from Califor-
mia, by the morning train, was making
inquiries, in the neighborhood in which
his family resided when he left Cincin-
natl, for his wife and children. His
neichbOrs and friends stood amazed, and
trembled upon beholding the man whom
they had long since believed to be dead.
Upon being assured that it was Carey,
who was not dead, but living, he was as
founded with the intelligence that his
wife, who had also believed that he had
"gone to that bourne whence no traveller
returns" was again married to another
man, with whom she was now living in
domestic felicity. Ascertaining the resi-
dence of Mr. and Mrs. Reibe, The aflict-
ed husband hastened to ascertain whether
what he had heard was true or false
Knocking at the door, tall Italian,
measuring six feet one and one half inch
es, came to the door. Carey inquired
"Does Mrs. Reibe live here?"
Italian-"She does. Will you walk
in?"
Carey-''Yes, sir; will you please tell
her that gentleman desires to see herr"
The Italian consented, and going to the
door leading into the dining room, called
his wife by her first name. She answered,
and, all full of smiles, came running into
the parlor. SUpon seeing her first hus-
band who rose from his seat to meet her.
she screamed out "My God, Carey!" and
fell fainting to the floor The husbands
both hastened to raise her from the floor.
When Carey informed Reibe that he was
Edward Carey, the lady's lawful husband,
Reibe also claimed her as wife, and add
ed, 81 shall never give her up" Before
the wife had fully recovered from her
fainting attack, the two husbands had be-
come engaged in angry, violent words,
resulting in Carey drawing pistol upon
Reibe, and in the latter being torcibly E.
jected from the house.
Rcibe, on Monday morning, had war
rant sworn out in the Police Court, charg-
ing Carey with disorderly conduct and
provoking him to commit a breach of the
peace. Carey was arrested, and when ar
raigned before Judge Warren, in the
presence Of Reibe and the wife, he asked
the court to hear an explanation before
he entered his plea. Judge Warren con-
. sented, and Carey stated that he and
Reibe both claimed the lady pointing to
Mrs. Carey-Reibe) as wife, and he, be-
lieving himself to be the legal claimant,
had becoming disorderly in demanding
peremptorily of Reibe that he should
give her up. Reibe, thro' the Prosecut-
ing Attorney, Mr. Straub, exhibited to
the Court the marriage certificate, and
the question was at once raised: "What
further proceedings could be had in that
court?" The wife, who, like Niobe, was
all in tears, was called up and asked by
the court if either of these men was her
husband. She replied that she had been
married to both, but, having learned that
her first husband was dead, she had form
ed an attachment for Reibe three years
afterwards, and married him. After as
; suring the court of her deeply y-seated at
tachment always for Carey, and now her
to her an affectionate and devoted hus-
band, the court inquired of her, viz:
"What do you now, propose to do
live with your first husband, who is le-
gally such, or your last husband, who
by msapprehension and unintentionally,
you have made your husband?
The lady replied, "My duty and my
desire is to 20 and live with my first hus.
band, Edward Carey"
The scene which followed, can never
be described Carey and his wife ap
;. preached each other and wept aloud
while the disappointed Italian, seated in
his chair like a statute, presented pic
ture of despair and disappointment
. Presently his feelings oEercame him. and
he grievously wept eliciting the sympathy
, of all. Carey and bis wife, arm-in-arm
left the courtroom, and Reibe, after re
, ceiying kindly admonition from the cour