The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-17
THE BIeAMIsr coNrAR1N1.
Examinatior Yesterday Before the Recorder
Lively Evidence by One o, the Wives.


Examinations Yesterday Before the Recorder
Lively Evidence by One o, the wives.
PoU0HKREPsIE. June 10. 1871.
The case OF Louis Giuseppe Contarini, arrested
here on the charge OF pgamy, is exciting general
interest lie was brought out this morning for a
preliminary examination before Recorder Robert F..
Taylor, at the county Court House at eleven O'Clock.
Alarge number OF persons were present. His conr-
sci ID ex.District Attorney William J. Thorne. The
counsel for the prosecution Is Daniel w. Guernsey
When
CONTARyNI
entered the court room all eyes were centred upon
him. He was Rather flashily attircd in black vel.
vet coat white vest ana drab diagonal pants which,
with his Burnside whiskers and heavy mustache
made him appear quite nobby. AS he became
seated
HIS THIRD WIFE,
she who was Mary Diston, took chair beside him.
she was attred IN straw-colored walking suit and
latest style Jockey, and wore heavy gold watch
aud cham and other ornaments ViS.a-cts with
Contarini. and about six feet away, sat
HIS SECOND WIFE,
now known rs Louisa Eicke. Sne was dressed In q
DARK drlb travelling suit, with fashionable jockey.
AS Contarini entered the dock he gave one quick
glance al her, and then his eyes wandered every
where but towards the spot where she was located.
at MIN, and AT times smiled broadly Presently his
counsel whispered, "HaYe y,u ever seen her be-
1ores' he replying "No, never" The counsel Tor
the prosecution next whispered to Mrs. Eicke.
'Have you ever him Defolesn she replying,
"Ncn, 1 rather Kilkerlate | have.r and still Kept
gazing al him, he at all times avoiding her glance
LOUISA EICKE
was the frst witness sworn AS she assembled 10 the
Wltness stadd IT was apparent that she meant
by her III . tree and bold manner. The COlnsel for
the prosecution, after sne mad Kissed the book.
sald:-"Look a. that man tcontarni rising); have
you seen HIM before ~
Wilncss-les SIR, 1 have, at No. 81 White street.
New York, In 1861 lConaflni sat down, with y de-
rsvc smile upon his lps> my parents resided there;
he left me- IN 1862, but ! ran ioul OF HIN
again N Dece alber last; ne recognized me. but I
would not MIN; was married To him on the 2ist
day OF December, 1851, In st. Johns church, Varck
street New YORK cry; we lived together as man
aud wife TIL March %, 1862, at No. 50 Lispenard
lett me; never had any communication with him
since ne married mo under the name OF Louis G.
mistaken; / ain positive.
oss-cxamined--l first saw him at No. Ga White
street. he came alone; caut tell the month or daY;
/ never SAW heard vi him before that time; dare
say were mafred III two months after he gave
recommendations to my parents; they now live in
Second avenue, between fOrtY-SiXth und Forty
seventh slrees; NY father rs IN Indiana; been there
eight OF ten days; have never seen me clergyman
who married Us since; we never kept house: he
hadn't money enough TO Keep house with;
tlaugnterJ; had TO paw out money to get his boots
repaired (great laughter) / got the money from
mother; Pn married again; never had any children;
was between fourteen and fifteen years CT age
when Inarr.ed Contri, my parents told me TO say
sixteen aud did laughter) Louis was lieutenant
in the Union army wnen married nm; toward the
last he belonged &c what were called
''1HE LOST CHILDREN"
Great lauyhter.)
Counsellor Ilorne-Ee's among that GLASS now,
amt her (Laugnter)
Witness (contnuingl-l have been married twice
since ne left ne-once in 1868 aud then III ls1l the
day / cot divorce from Contrl; I've got three aus
bands now and all living twitness and audience
laughing,; my par nts supported Contrl: they
ried him. then ne gave up his position and laid
around the house doing nothing: don't know Ire
main Van Vaikcnbargh | don't know any man
third husband: lie Is a carpenter: was formerly
dressmaker; l gave M certificate vi mar
got nv divorces got a separation bill
from mg second husband; lawyer House got
my divorce for me; told them wanted a divorce
from Contll on the ground OF deserlon, aud got L.
ssOrcer Graham next testified to the arrest OF
Contar4ni, when the Court ad burned TIL three 4. M
The Court reassemblel Ut three r. NJ, when
Louisa Eicke was again called, but her evidence
was simply reference TO parties with whom sue
moay being brought out by tue counsel
Tor tine defence Tor probaue future re,
so amt the On Of inc ws g She n
swered all OF the questions IN very straightforward
ana unhesit.ting manner. The pitn OF the evidence
Is gwen peow in a statement which she made 10
Us aiter dinner at the foughkeepsie Hotel. She
said:-"l was forced To marry Coatri oy my father.
father said must marry him or go to the House OF
Refuge. was young then, and didn't know as
much as l do now. Ccntii told nv father
wilful lie, but married him because did not wish
to go TO the House OF Refuge; After married him
avoided him all could, and every time saw him
coming would leave the Rouse. One time was
gone seven days and one knew where was.
Finally he enlisted In the Mounted Rides ana
sent q letter to me by Charles Eugene
Anchise, revenue officer, saying that lie
knes 1 did not love him AMI he was going
to leave me forever. Why, when l married
HIM my father had to pay the dominic. In relation
to this man, Lyman Van Vakenburgh, may say
that alter obtained my divorce from COntri gen.
tleman called 10 see me, the lady saying that the
man wanted TO talk with me about Contri. She did
not tell me the gcntieman's name, but have been
informed 1t was Lyman Van Vaikenburgh. lie said he
would give me 500 II would go to Matteawan and
identify COntrf some time after he called again
and said he would give me $50 II l Identified him,
ana S25 II did not. He told me he had paid his
addresses 10 Miss Dlston, ana had given her piano
and money, ana Contri had cut him out, and owed
him money winch he wisned to get. did not go TO
Matteawan. Oh I'm so glad j got rid OF
That fellow. l don't want him to be sent
to Sing Sing on my account. The world Is
wide enough Tor both OF rs. lie never gave me one
cen: from the time he married me Till he left me- lie
tod me one day he would sell his sword and get Inc
par OF shoes. but he didn't PIN happy now. I've
got a good husband aud / love him. l wish
they would call my mother up here she would
identity Contrl right away"
further examination OF the case has been post
poned Till Tuesday next at ten a 81.