The New York herald., 1871-06-17
THE BIGAMIsT CONTARINI.
ExaminafioS Yesterday Before the Recorder
Lively Evidence by One 0f che Wives.


Examinations Yesterday Before the Recorder
Lively Evidence by One of che Wives.
P0U0HKREPsIR, June 10. 1871.
The case OF Louis Giuseppe Contarini. arrested
here on the charge OF ngamy, is exciting general
interest lie was brought out this morning for a
preliminary examination before Recorder Robert f.
Taylor ut the county Court House at eleven O'Clock.
large number Of persons present. His coun-
sci u ex-District Attorney William J. Thorne The
counsel for the prosecution Is Daniel W. Guernsey.
When
CONTARyNI
entered the court room ali eyes were centred upon
HIM. He was Rather nashily attired in black vel.
vet coat white vest and drab diagonal pants, which,
with his Burnside whiskers and heavy mustache
made him appear quite nobby. AS he became
seated
MS THIRD WIFE,
she who was Mary Diston, took chair beside nim.
she was attred IN stvaw-colored walking suit and
latest style jockey, and wore q heavy gold watch
aud cham and other ornaments VtS.a-piS with
Contarlni, and about six feet away, sat
HIS SECOND WIFE,
now known as LOUISA Eicke. Sne was dressed in
DARK drab travelling suit, with fashionable jockey.
As Contarlnl entered the dock he gave one quick
glance at her, and then his eyes wandered every
where but towards the spot where she was located.
at nim and al times smiled broadly. Presently his
counsel whispered, "Hage yu ever seen her be-
foreYn he replying "No, never" The counsel Tor
..Have you ever him befolcsn she replying,
"weil, rather Kaikerlate have" anu still Kept
gazing al him, he a1 all times avoiding her glance.
was the Erst witness sworn AS she ascended TO the
witness stafd 1t was apparent that she meant
business aud that all questions would be answered
BY her i'll q free and bold manner The counsel Tor
the prosecution, alter sne mad Kissed the book.
nth. ~ n lnnfa Nrl. hnua
Wilness-les. sir, / have, at No. 64 White street,
New lOrk, in 1861 Contaflni sat down, with a de-
rislve smile upon his ps; my parents resided there;
he left me III 1862 but l ran iOul or him
again N Dece .lber last; ne recognzed me; but |
would not him; was married to him ON the 2lst
day OF December, 1851, In ST. Johns church, Varick
street New YORK ciy; we llyea together as man
and wife TIL March 2S, 1862, al No. 80 Lispenard
street; slaid there two or three months after he
lett me; never had any communication with hIn
since; ne married me under the name OF Louis c.
Contti; he Is the man married, l think; am not
mistaken; an positive.
Closs-exainiped--l first saw him 40 No. Ga White
street: he alone; caut tell the month or daY;
never saw or heard o him before that TIME; dare
say we were mafred III two months after he gave
recommendations to my parents; they now live in
Second avenue, between Forty-siXth and Forty
seventh streets; NY father IN Indiana; been there
eight or ten days; have never seen The clergyman
VINO married since; we never Kept house; he
hadn't money enough to keen house with;
laugnterl; had TO pay out money to get his boots
mother; Pan 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 laughterl Louis was lieutenant
in the Union army when married him; toward the
last hc belonged t0 what were called
"IHE LOST CHILDREN"
Great laughter.)
Counsellor n.orne-He's among that GLASS now
Mltness-l should say so. More laughter.)
Witness (continulngl-l have been married twice
day aot divorce from Contrl; I've got three aus
bands now and all living twitness and audience
are aa W;ay y hs Wa Wnen
rled him; theu ne gave up his position and laid
around The house doing nothing; don't know Ire
main Van Vakcnpmgh, | don't know any man
named van VaiKenbursh; am living with my
tnird husband: he Is carpenter was formerly a
rase wn Gns Gon 70 'en,n'Iss tne swyer % Mno
got my divorce; got a separation bli
y e toa wsl
from Contl on the ground OF deserlion, and got Il.
.sOncer Graham next testified to the arrest OF
Con. n when the Court ad journed TIL three +. Nj.
Tho Court reassembel ut three +. NJ. when
Louisa Eicke was again called, but her evidence
was acquainted IN New York city, the tesu-
moay beng brought out by the counsel
isr e asienGc az orGr Gr u'e ena
nav lu the credihillty OF the witness She an
ana unnesatlng manner. The pitn OF the evidence
Is gwen below in a statement which sac maue 10
Us alter dinner at the foughkeepse Hotel. She
s4id:-"i was forced 10 marry Coatri oy my father.
Contr had told him thai he had seduced me- when
father said must marry him or 90 10 the House OF
Refuge. l was young then and didn't know as
much as l do now. Ccntif told my father q
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 house. One time was
gone seven days and no one knew where was.
Finally lie enlisted In the Mounted Rlnes and
sent letter TO me by Charles Eugene
Anchise, q revenue ofilcer, saying tnat lie
KNEE L did not love him AMI he was going
to leave me forever. why. when i married
HIM my father had to pay the dominic. In relation
to this man, Lyman Van valkenburgh, ! may say
that alter obtained my divorce from COntri geIl
tleman called 10 see me, the lady saying that the
man wanted 70 talk with me about Contrl. She did
not tell me the gcntiemans name. but have been
informed 1t was Lyman Van Vakenburgh. He said he
would give me 500 ii | would go to Matteawan and
Identify Contri. some time after he called again
and said he would give me $50 II identified him.
ana S25 If did not. He told me he had paid his
addresses 10 Miss DlSton, and had given her piano
and money, and Contfi had cut him out, and owed
him money wnich he wIsned to get. did not go to
Mateawan. oh, I'm so glad ! 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 u.s. lie never gave me one
cen: from the time he married me I'LL he left me. lie
told me day ne would sell his sword and get Inc
PAIR OF shoes Dut he didn't. Pm happy now. I've
Eot u good husband aud / love him. l wish
they would call my mother up here; she would
identity Contn right away"
further examination Of the case has been post
"A rtil AhnIfY no as ran