Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-11-30
The Wife Declared Wife and Awarded
a Divorce with AlimOny-Chureh Ger
emonies not Necessary to Bind Mar
riage in Law in New York.


La the case of Beatica Bliss ell
against John BisseIl, the plaintiff
claimed that she was the wife Of the
defendant without any ceremony,
but simply Of consent followed by
her recognition openly as a wife.
Bissell, on the other hand, claimed
there was only an ordinary seduction,
and that the wife part was merely
TO throw dust in the eyes of strang-
ers Since then he has been ceremo-
nially married to another woman.
Judge Barnard has decided that Mrs
Bissell was legally married, and i,
entitled to divorce and aIimony.
1t is shown on the trial that BIZ
sell, III January, 1867, while The o
was residing in Brooklyn IL capacity
81 nurse, began paying his attentions
70 her, which continued tor several
months, and resulted 10 an offer OF
marriage in the latter part Of June.
1867, which, after some hesitation on
the part Of the plaintiff. by reason Of
the difference in social station he
tween herself and defendant, was
FL ally accepted BY plaintiff. Very
soon after the engagement, Bissell
told the girl that he did not believe
IN marriage ceremonies +, that they
might be legally married without
any ceremony; that there were many
such marriages, and he wished her
to waive the ceremony. This at first
she refused to do, but series OF con-
versations followed, during which
the subject was discussed, Bissell
urging his views and cOntending that
such a marriage as he proposed
would be perfectly valid under the
laws Of the State of New York, and
that they would be as validly marri-
ed as if three clergymen should mar
ry them, and as much husband and
wife as his brother and his wife
were.
BisseIl's arguments finally prevail
ed, and about the lst of July the
marriage day was appointed. The
time fixed was the 18th Of July.
Bissoll furnished plaintiff with
means to procure her marriage out
fit, and with the assistance of her
married sister, Mrs. Stiosi, the girl
made her preparations for the mar
rage. On the 18th of July, the day
appointed, the plaintiff left her SIS
ter's house, telling her that she was
going TO be married. She met Bis
sell in New York, and they went to
Central Park, where they took an
open carriage, and while in the car
riage Bissell produced plain gold
wedding ring, which had been made
from another ring which she had
given him for the purpose about
fortnight previous. He placed the
ring upon her finger, saying, This
is your wedding ring we are mar
ried." She received the ring as a
wedding ring.
Bissell then said eve are mar
ried Just as much as Charles is to his
wife (alluding to his brother and his
sister-in-law). | will live with you
and take care Of you all the days OF
my lie IS my wife," To this she
assented, and they thereupon went
to 10 Naverly place, whore be had
previously engaged board for himself |
and wife. Some time in August,
Bissell on the pretense of having |
met with pecuniary losses, induced |
the plaintiff to 20 and live with her
aunt until his circumstances should |
improve. Then be abandoned ana |
repudiated her, and entirely neglect
ed TO provide for her or his chHd,
which was born about May 1868 |
Shortly before abandoning her, he
induced her to sign a paper, drawn
up by himself, confesoug that 40
marriage ceremony had been per-
formed between them.