, 1872-10-30

One of the Most Remarkable
Bigany Cases on Record.
The Parties All Past Middle Age, and
Several Of Them in Jail.

GEftliA VI 1utu III U1l1s
a very singular, and yet dual, bigamy case is
now awaiting trial in the Criminal Court, and
will give the lawyers ample opportunity to dis
play their ingenuity. The plain facts are as fol-
lows: An old gentleman named Amos E. Jilson,
aged s. years, Of serene aspect, and wonderful
reticence ut times when he ought to use his
tongue, vas married o few months ego to an old
widow lady, Mrs. Newburn, who lives with her
son on West Harrison street, near Aberdeen.
The marriage was between old people, the bride
being 50 years Of age, and having 9 son now
working in the Post Office, but even that did not
allow the happiness Of the loving pair to remain
unmolested.
Some time ago. about three weeks perhaps,
Mrs. Jilson received the unploaslng intelligence
that, whereas, she had agreed to take Q vacant
situation as Hrs. Jilson No. 1, she had been un-
warily led into the position of Mrs. Jilson No.
2. This discovery vas the source OF great men-
tai suffering to herself and son, and they de-
termined to escape from the odious relations
existing between the husband and wife, who
were not legally husband and wife. With this
intent young Newburn swore out warrant
against the stop-father, who was not his step
father, On the charge Of bigamy.
In the meantime, the aged gentleman, who
ried second time after previous experience,
bethought him Of some means Of escaping the
penalties which the law (except when one ia
senator) provides for tho folly Of assum-
ing o second partner before the trst
ments made by him are to DO relied upon, was
perfectly clear It seems that in the year Of
grace 1868, on Dec. S, he had taken unto himself
a wife, also widow, q trife over the traditional
forty and wanting in the usual attributes of fat
ness and fairness, without which no widow y!
should be wooed. He paid the penalty Of his
raslness by discovering that he was not
altogether bound to this lady for life, inasmuch
as she was still the balance Of another existence,
or in other words, that besides being neither
fat, fair, nor forty, she WAS not even widow,
but that her husband to whom she was still
bound legally, was not only living, but carry
ing on a respectable business in town.
It was with full knowledge Of the deceit that
NAL misfortunes that he committed the unpar-
donable error of entering the state second
time. He claimed that he was not married to
Mrs. Wilbur, and, therefore, that he was free to
marry again, ob1ivious Of the triding fact that
the Courts like to Investigate these points
little.
Mrs. Wilbur had been married to Mr. Wilbur,
who is now doing business On State street, near
Twentieth, on Dec. 28, 1860, just three years
previous to her union. which was not an union,
the fire, when she thought that Chicago
not because OF the triaing blaze Of
October, but because her second husband
had accidentally stumbled upon his predecessor,
would be provided her for some time in limited
apartments in the County jail. With rare ap-
probation OF the eternal fitness Of things, or
led there by instinct. Mrs. Jlson:Wi1b
Heayen-only ly-knows-what-else sought the fruit
ful plains Of Utah Territory, and finally situated
herself in Salt Lake City. Not that she was
Mormon. She shrinks in horror from being sus-
pected Of Mormon p1ocliyities, but she had
friends in tho land Of promise who were willing,
even anxious, to do all they could to relieve
Chicago sufferer.
So Intense was her disgust Of Mormon prac:-
tees that, about two months ago, she returD=d
to the city and took up her residence pesfna.
nently in town. She rejoiced ia the p.me OF
JIson, and went by it for time, until Mrs. Jll-
son No. 2 who was actually Mrs. Jilson No. l,
came to hear about it and felt very badly.
The injured Jilson determined to establish his
character, and consulted Mr. Lyon, . lawyer III
the city, WHO, on learning the particulars, de-
clined to conduct the case as it threatened cer-
tain dirty developments, including divorce, and
referred AIr. Jilson to Mr.. Goodrich, who under
took the case, end fled bill Of divorce against
Mrs Wilbur Jlson. But the divided husband
went further than this, and procured warrant
for her arrest on the charge Of blsamy, upon
which she was arrested and examined before
Justice Scu1ly, when the prisoner IVES held for
trial in the Criminal Court.
10uuE NeWDuIn laQ Ill Llle uleEuLll46 procured
warrant for his stcp-father's arrest, ready for
service when that unfortunate victim OF feri-
nine duplicity in the husband line should appear
in Court to testify in the divorce case: It was
served few days ago, and then Nr. Jllson
found himself transferred to quarters but little
removed from those Of his former roommate,
Mrs. Wilbur Jilson. And there they are to-day.
It only remains for hrs. Nnbur-Jlson's other
husbands to come forward and record their
names to make the case complete. How tho
case will eyentuate remains to be seen. It is
question Of law whether the victim was at liberty
to marry again without formal release. At
any rate, it brings home to more than one the
occult wisdom Of A1r. Weller's perternA advice,
q Samivel, beware Of vidders.'
Now that Jnson is in jul and has experienced
the unp1easantnees Of the position, he has ex-
eressed determination not to prosecute her on
whom he once 1avished conjugal caresses, even
though the sweets we're obtained Oh false pre-
tencea AL be wants is to be free to live with
his second wife; all Mrs. Wilbur wants is to get
out of Jail. She will not be interviewed, on the
ground that she will not furnish evidence to
her opponent. He will not be interviewed, be-
cause he does not want to pass under that oper-
alton. He lies between his blankets in the mar
row, dingy cell, raising himself when spoken to.
Here he has ample time to reflect upon the folly
OF not being off with the old love before he ia on
with the new. His hair is white, and gray hairs
Ill become certain parties-biganists, for IN
stance The real trouble falls upon his real
wife. Her grief cannot find alleviation by plac-
ing her husband in confinement. But then
81 Revenge is eweet-especially to women, and
it may be q consolation.