The sun., 1873-02-08
THE FITZGERALD BIGAMY.
DEBUDIN0 A CALIFORNIA WIDOW
AND THEN ROBBING HER.


Proceedings In n Cape Town Court.
On the 2d of March, 1874 Mr.. Michael
Fitzgerald and his wife arrived In this city In the
steamer Henry Chauncey from California, en-
route for the Cape Of Good Hope. As the steami
er for Southampton was not yet ready TO sail,
their trunks were sent down TO the steamship
once, and they took rooms at the Grand Central
Hotel. On the 9th OF the month Mr.. Fitzgerald
disappeared, and II was subsequently ascertain
ed that he sailed that morning, abandoning his
wife.
About ten months before Fitzgerald, who is an
Englshman, arrived In San Francisco from the
Cape Of food Hope. He went to board in the
Lick House. lie lived like a prince, and al
though he Is over nfty years OF age, was very
fast man. Four months after his arrival In San
Francisco he was introduced to a charming and
well-to-do widow, Mrs. Gracic. A general
round Of amusement followed the Introduction,
and soon afterward Fitzgerald
PROPOSED MARRIAGE,
but was rejected by Mrs. Oracle. Nothing
daunted, the gay cavalier renewed his atten-
tions with redoubled yigor. He told her OF his
immense wealth, aud pictured to her the beau
ties of the climate and the pleasures attending
. residence at the Cape OF Good Hope. He per-
severed and married the widow. But there
were certain little provisions TO be made in the
marriage contract before she would yield her
hnal compliance. Mrs. Oracle was too old a
bird to be caught with chan, and she did not
Senturer Mr.. Fitzgerald was the possessor OF
certain property at ne Ca Cape r,o, oi Good Hope
coveted, and she would not agree to marry him
until he had given her an absolute deed OF the
Cape Of Good Hope property, He yielded, aud
ger OF San Francisco, and the deeds conveying
the property 20 the widow were signed aud de-
wedding witch was TO be soleu nized the nj ght
before the steamer sailed on which they were to
take passage for this city. At the appointed
THEY WE'RE MARRIED
by Justice OF the Peace and they sailed on the
following morning at O'Clock.
When he left the hotel on the morning Of his
disappearance from this city, Fitzgerald told his
wife that he had a draft on LONDON which he
wished to sell, so that he might buy tickets for
Never mind don't sell the draft until we
t7OO you can have until we reach London" She
gave him the money and he vanished.
Capt. Samuel Levons found the deserted wife's
open and reS n. deed. 70 the sse Cape Of Good
s.. worth a%e
was thus left at the hotel with only $50 and
friends came m % 20 her % rescue and .sc started in
few days for the Cape OF Good Hope In pursuit
OF her recreant spouse.
THE suN OF March Q, Is72
Mrs. Fitzgerald arrived in due time at Cape
Town On her arrival there she ascertained that
Fitzgerald
HAD BEES MARRIED BEFORE,
and that his first wife and her two children were
living in that place She lost no time In calling
| upon Mrs. Fitzgerald No. I and revealing to her
the existing state Of affairs. And now comes
sequel plumber two, the scene Of which is at the
Mrs. Fitzgerald number one instituted pro-
ceedings before the Supreme Court for divorce.
that she might Il so inclined be at liberty TO
marry again and that she should have the Gus
,Gdy OF her iw9 surviving eadrsn by the %t
vs.. Michael Seabright Fitzgerald was called. Mr..
Cole, who appeared for the plaintiff, said that
opening the case said the parties were married
on the Both OF November, 1850, In st. Georges
gether man and wife in Cape Town and several
other places In the colony and elsewhere In
fcndant left the colony. lie mad subsequently
| gone through the ceremony OF marriage at san
| Francisco with lady named Mrs. Oracle. That
| lady was III Cape Town al present, and was
| sUBPHsAEp TO GIVE EVIDENCE,
| but he expected there would be some trouble
with her, a. she refused 10 testify, appearing TO
cause she was an American subject. Probably
| word from their lordships would convince her
Of her error In that respect, as she evidently
| labored under some erroneous impressions as
| TO her duty In case like this.
The Rev Canon Lghtfoot OF St. Georges
Cathedral, having been called, produced the
marriage register OF that church and read from
Z the entry of the marriage; after banns. of
Michael Seabright Fitzgerald, bachelor, with
] n - Al. = H..n
i , iS a. ~ Ue pei,k t,en ~ W, ase'
hy entIy ~ ma5 vi 'ne W nIi , aus,, n
n. A tnis sme uleIA ~ ~ tne ,nuiCn a,u Sie"eu pS
Dssu i,u ne ", III lno m..hss MY NJ .ny @ niu
VII mlI'ns m W peah Hiiu ", ''r' aus
anu IvCotniHeu t ~, thcm ia I,s enVy, ~ @ alsu
recoghLeu tne sHhhlures OF MI; anu Mrs ausei
az witnesses 10 the marriage. inere W's tnltu
W,Lhess; a Mr. iSIeua- OF Wnotu ne knew notning
MIS-. Fitzgerald the piaintin' was then called
ana sworn ...-. .,
Iht Lawful hAnhA".'
She testified TO her marriage: that she had
two children living; that her husband left hei
in lbtS and went To the Mauritus; that since
then she had heard from him from the Mauritius
sidney, oueensiaDd, Melbourne, Auckland new
china a., ssn Ersncsnco III iss, late, hsina
dated Aug. "a, ISL that during ali that time he
had sent her H45 for her support; and that she
had seen Mrs Oracle, and had recognized por
traits in her possession as those OF her (wit
! ness'sl husband, and that Mrs Oracle told hei
that Fitzgerald had said she Mrs. F. was onl,
his housekeeper.
| Mrs Mary Ciracie was called, and after much
dniculty and many threats OF punishment foI
| contempt OF court she consented 10 answel
auestions To one she answered:
-, n,,,,,o,.s ,,,,n,.o-
| rhh n'oAho's "AhA"h
81 didn't say Fitzgerald was my husband
but that's portrait OF the man that spent IN,
$500, / gave him $25Oo for our expenses II
san Francisco and New York and trayellinI