The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-04-01
WELToN, THE BIGAMIsT.

Story of Two wives-Divorced from the
First through an Infamous Nassau Street
Lawyer-The Divorce Declared Void
Then Divorced from his second WIFE,
Compelled TO support his First.
In September, 1869, Mrs. Mary A. Sears, q
young widow OF rospectabilitY. was married 10
Charles A. Weton, at her fathers house In this
city, he representing himself to be an unmarried
man. About a month after the wedding she dis.
covered, from a report In The Sun Of application
against her husband TO compel him to support
WIFE, that he had been previously married, that
his first wife was still living in Third avenue, and
that he had obtained a divorce from her which was
then being contested as fraudulent and void This
proceeding eliminated In an application before
Judge Barnard, last February, fo- decree to set
aside the judgment OF divorce. The application was
denied, and appeal was made.
At this stage Of the proceedings Mrs. Sears, the
second wife, obtained evidence concerning the char
actor OF the divorce, and concerning Welton's pre-
vious course Of life. Application was then made for
leave TO renew the motion to have the divorce set
aside, and the permission was granted. Afidlvits
were procured from various persons who Ind been
In the employ OF Orson A. House, the notorious d.
yoros lawyer In Nassau street, which proved that
Welton's divorce from his first wife had been pro-
cured In that ONCE, and that the name OF Mckay,
which had been used in the suit as attorney for the
dayit Of Iucien 4. Knowles, who under the name
OF Eugene j. SAWYER testified before the referee 10
tile evidence upon whloh the divorce was granted was
presented stating that he nthe employ OF House:
that be had been requested by House to 20 before
the referee ana make deposition TO certain acts OF
adultery on the part OF Mrs. Weton. and that he had
done so that he had never known Mrs. Welton, and
In fact had the acts which he had testified
to. Afidayits were procured from other persons in
the employ OF Houss, showing that Mr.. Weton came
to Houses ONCE and offered large sum for di
vorce, and that when II WIS sought TO impeach the
divorce, House had employed MIR. Shaier TO de.
fend H.
on these afndavits q motion was made to vacate
Mrs.. Sears, Welton's second wife, then brought an
action to have her marriage with rim declared null
and void, the ground OF an existing previous mar
riage Mi Shnier appeared for the defendant and
tile matter was referred TO judge Leonard who,
amer hearing the case, made his report few days
ago In which he fnds az facts the marriage ceremo-
ny in toe last named marriage, the existence Of a
former marriage, that the former wi is now liy.
ing, aud that the defendant fraudulently obtained a
divorce itom her prior to the second marriage,
and without the service OF summons on
the FIRST wife, although she was resident
OF this city and also that the divorce had not been
set aside at the time OF the second marriage that
Mrs Sears married In good faith. and with the full
confidence and belief that Welton was q single man
she discovered that he was not, she Immediately
separated IRON him, and has not cohabited with him
since and that she IL entitled to decree declaring
the marriage null aud void, together with the costs
OF the suit.
A motion was made yesterday. before Judge In.
graham, To confirm the report OF the referee and 20
issue final decree OF divorce. ne motion was
tlined an compelling him to pay Ter 90 week
her sunDOrt