The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-10-11
TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.

TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.
-~~~~>~~>o~-~>~~~~~~~~~~
A Question OF Mistaken Identity or OF
Bigamy-A Woman Claims Husband a
Man Who Denies Ever Seeing Her Before.
On Wednesday last q woman who gave her name as
Catherine Peterson, OF prepossessng appearance came
before Justice Shandley, OF the Essex Market Police
Court, and claimed as her husband Norwegian named
Christopher Peterson, to whom she alleged she had
been united in marriage in 1851, short distance from
Montreal Canada and with whom she had lived about
two years and six mouths when phree months subso-
quenty to the birth OF her second child no left her. and
she had not heard OF him until some time
after abe arrived this city In May last period Of
nearly eight years. Christopher Peterson, who had
been arrested on a warrant for abandonment when the
woman had told her storyand there could be no ques
sion her sincer.y-dsnied in the most positive
terms that be had her before,
and that he had ever been In Montreal The
woman however, persisted that he was her husband,
and statements that far toward sustaining her
preensions-so much that the magistrate and those
who hrard her more than half convinced that
Peterson truly her husband and that a. she claimed,
he had abandoned her. To corroborate her story she
presented for the inspection OF the magistrate photo
graphs that certainly bore considerable resemblance TO
the accused Peterson's confused This friends
say through ignorance OF the English laDgage) when
several occasions he was closely questioned by the
Justice, added strength to the impression the woman
made upon the minds Of all IS 10 the truth
fulness Of her statements She also brought forward
her chdren-boy and gri-and there could be no
question TO their close resemblance to the
accused but no argument appeal could move him.
He simply replied the questions that we're put to him
touching his places OF residence during Ghe years the
woman claimed he had lived with her, that opportu-
tunity gwen him he could show that he had lived
only in this city and Chicago The Justice. desirous
Peterson should have the fullest opportunity OF dis
proving If he could the allegations of the complainant
forenoon, when the investigation would be entered into
POSTPONED the further hearing Of the until yesterday
pro forma and notified the parties to have their wit
present. Al the hour named. Peterson. backed
by some fifteen friends. appeared by counsel; and the
woman without legal adviser and with only her sister
IS witness announced her readiness to proceed without
delay.
Catherine Peterson ne. Maher, and all the Illnesses
being swoin, testified as follows
Catherine being examined doth depose and
sn ny s
but once was married on the st day Of neyembe isa
do not know the Of the person Who married me- !
he from
years before married. lived place ese was born
ssssS' nd hss ss be
,s married. long father
not Know wv H. Fame Of sersymsn who married
had marriage certificate; lost it, read myself.
s,s:s, ;sss
servant house, and him about three times
ne 9
he va. about thirty tire. Or shirsyour year: called
s sas to city the
Sas efs MONTREAL about one year ago. lived
from the time was married; after was married we Lived
weeks do know where he went % TN came to the
NJ % % w
e. he 'Sins s. %
f. mot dead hs give me kenessss Of himself M ,. and
Oh his face clean when he got !. taken. and /
% a s % . 5 s. a
him about month as for the aIs time ne f. eight years
Ss vs. Z. work boy VIII u. ~
him Nj. Hans Guam; when saw him he a work;
they asked me what wanted and sold them was look
named rsier.op ne e.er.Snl asked me where came
g 'IDs h% s
names told hum they we're William and a Mary 1 Ann he
washing and ironing ne asked me then where Lived and
then got card and wrote the direction and the chdrens
saying that he would call and see me Il he could find
further conversation between u.s. when commenced cry
baa not for
Ew .ne e ssd pos. % Y
person married in Montreal and the person married
ssse eassS as Of No. m being duly
aSn dssPss A: sss s%
comprinant my sister; have known the delendant
Canada East kept boarding and he boarded
with he boarded with me about four months my s,tsr
Canada married Daniel Patterson present
married is because the marriage certhcate read ~
not the name Of the persGa who h Married
who married my sister cannot tell how long they lived
and hair years ago in Canada; have him say
Cross first saw him years ago;
was in the city Of Montreal ne boarded with me; ne e
s @ the
@ OF on Ssy s .sr said s WAS hso
get married she was M, married ned against our
husband ded y Mon'rs. he LEFT my sister on the 2ss
OF he years the child three months Old when he
away ihc child win be eight OLD on the af,eent
seven years ago last june since last saw hm do not
IN The city Of New York few months ago. do not rscoeci
the name Of the person 10 the marras certificate cho mar
Maher and Daniel Peterson. las, him n Canada the
AZ ced heard him that
was bis wife he would SAY 70 me that he Do and bis
any parcuar time when he said lido not remember
sso om many mes As said ss
in the sn s so Af lived ssen n ssd n
street do how long they lived in Glengary they
u @ n % vice. Sey as
married. them few days after they mere !, msrss
e street did no, see him from the time he left my sister
be s s .easeT aud u al Change Si ''''
Cathafine Peterson, being recacdTherc sre no marks
person OF husband that Of he has got
hair his lip and hs hair II thnncr he had all the scars
and then that no has he has not changed In sp
pearaDcc.
Hans DUANE Of No rs President street. in the city OF
Br1kyn being duly sworn, says-I know the parties 70
this acion have known Mr. Peterson since 1874 ~ Nor
way; hrst him In this country the OF 1884.
hs IL Christopher Peterson have known him
BY other he s about forty 1--WE forysiS years
old be lived Ia New York for from 1854 he mar
risd here and bad two children, and he and h s
10 tailor; ! am . tailor; worked with him;
Peterson not cutter AZ time NEXT saw him In
of 1859 the month OF
oetcber he was then working 10 store Broadway No
782 kept by man named Clark. he took place; saw
him from October 1852 nearly week 20 the present
time his wife back with him from the West know
HIS wife from the time she 10 this country abe vas
born IN Eorway know that they had three chdren his
wife died In the 1881 when the complain
called ~ the store No lb Ch1rch street. she came into
the store and asked for named Peteon she saw the
alc far