Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-05-02
A mAREM-scARPEM TIME.
The wives OF Mormon ON the
Hampage three OF Them Give
Him the slip In Michigan.

n llttlc lHCluent Unopened Az tnc
Grand Trunk junction, Friday evening,
which gave hundred passengers any
Quantity Of fun and merriment, and re-
suited in the reclamation Of three wo-
men who have for several years past been
living at Salt Lake City in the capacity
OF wives toa Mormon elder named Cole
man. 1t seems that Coleman left Salt
Lake City some days ago for trip to the
East, having some church matters to see
to ON Long Island What is little un-
usual for Mormons TO do, the elder de-
cided to have his three wives accompany
him, it being his intention, as is learned
from one OF the wives, to use them to
assist in securing the conversion OF other
women.
The party came along to Chicago, and
there stopped for day or two, taking a
look around the city, and tho elder max
ing some purchases to send to friends at
Salt Lake. They left Chicago Friday,
It being the intention to change off at
the Grand Trunk Junction, and take
that. route, the elder claiming that he
had friends at Port Huron. The four
occupied seats as near together as pos
sible, and, to avoid remark or ridicule,
each one was furnished with a ticket,
thus seeming to be going along like or
binary travellers At Chicago only one
OF the wives was registered as Mrs.
Coleman" the other two giving other
names, and occupying a separate room,
Coleman stating to the clerk that they
were his nieccs. 1t seems that while the
elder was out trading, during their stay
i'm Chicago, the women got their heads
together and determined TO give him the
slip. One had been married to him five
years, and the other two less than a
year, one being a native of England and
the other two were born in this country.
They planned to don their things, take
to tho street and state their case to the
frst policeman encountered, but were
met by Coleman just as they were
descending the stairs. His inquiries
we're answered by the statement that
they were going out for walk, and
he was thus suited, although appearing
suspicious thereafter. In coming over
the Central road, the four occupying two
seats close together, Coleman went for
ward to take a smoke, positive that there
was no such thing as losing his four hun
dred pounds of matrimony on a train
running thirty miles an hour. The
women were thus given an opportunity
for another confab, and they improved
it by laying another plan. He had in
formed them previous to departing from
Salt Lake that polygamy was now a re-
cognized institution in the land, and that
Congress had sanctioned it. While they
did not believe, they could not dispute,
as none of them were ever allowed TO
read any other than Mormon publica-
tons. They determined to boldly refuse
to proceed with him further than the
junction, and trust to the chivalry of
the passengers and the law of the State
to prevent maltreatment or being forced
on. When the train arrived the elder
found that he must wait couple of
hours before connecting with the Grand
Trunk. The quartette sat down in the
hotel parlor, and the elder then pro
ceeded to lay down a programme for
the balance of the journey, telling
his wives that the least show of insubor-
dination would result in their arrest.
They did not reveal their plan until the
four we're on the platform, and the train
within a few minutes of starting The
oldest wife then plainly told him their
intention in quiet, even voice, and
added that if he wanted to create
"scene" they were ready for it. Cole
man was at first thunderstruck, and then
gave way to burst of rage. While thus
excited one of the women disappeared,
and the other two walked into the ladies
sitting-room, filed with passengers, and
sat down. He followed them in, threat
ening them first with arrest and then
with instant death, if they did not i'm
mediately get aboard the tram with him..
Having taken the first step, the women
were plucky enough not to back down,
and deiied him to do his worst. His loud
and passionate conversation at length
attracted the attention of railroad man,
who walked up to him and in his English
way exclaimed:
See ere, you feller, wot you fooling
around ere for2 Hif you don hexer-
else little care, hin knock you hinto
the middle hof next Monday"
Coleman saw that he was helpless, and
was fairly white with rage. He tried to
reason, offered money and promises, but
the women were firm, and warned him if
he did not quit their presence they
would expose him to the passengers and
secure his arrest. What could he dof
ANY white man would have mashed his
head in q minute, especially if asked to
by female in distress, and Coleman
saw that to use force would end IN his
arrest. Having said they wouldn't,
he felt quite sure that his wives would
not 90 on, even though the trunks in the
bageage-car contained all their fnery
except what was being worn. He was
making one last appeal, when bluff John
Bull came back again and stormed:
"See ere, you blasted swell hof q
hif you don't be hout Of
ere in two minutes, hill break hevery |
bone in your body, hi will
The game was up, and, as the eonduc-
tor yelled "a-l-l board" Coleman |
sneaked out and get aboard the train,
not caring to lose his baggage aud wives
both.
As for the women, they looked over
their pin-money, found that they had |
about $40 between them, and determined
TO come 10 the city. The missing one
was found in the wOod-hOuse, where she
had taken refuge, and the three walked
to the street cars, on Michigan avenue,
and then rode in. One Of them passed
over TO Windsor after dinner, and the
other two were at an intelligence Office,
ON Woodward avenue, during the after
noon, to secure places as house servants,
to remain in the city until
some better arrangements can be made.
The PcriIs. of CircumstantiaI Evi-
demce.
From the Cleveland Hcrald.l
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