The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-30
BIGAMY IN PORTLAND.
A Woman Claimed by Two Hnshands-A Coo,
Separation from . Home and Two
Children in Nova Scotia.

PoRrI.AND, Me-, Jan. %. 1874
singular and perple king case of inndeuty ON
the part OF a wife, or Of mistaken identity on the
part OF an abandoned husband, Is Just now attract
ing public attention hare In Portland. some
months ago there came TO this city young woman
OF pleasing address and attractive manners, and,
after courtship OF the ordinary kind, she became
the wife OF Mr. Edwin Waite, a young man and a
respected citizen Of Portland. few weeks
ago there came TO the city rom Pictou,
n S. man, named John Waller, who claimed
MRS. Waite as his wife aud also the mother of q
couple OF children whom he brought with him.
The woman, in the coolest manner possible, not
only denied such an allegiance, but insisted that
she never saw nor heard OF the man, and that the
whole affair was either OF mistaken identity
or u deliberate attempt to blackmaii her injure
her reputation. All efforts to convince her 10 the
contrary have been fntile, and now husband No.
has attempted to v1ndfcate himself by lnstItuting
SUIT FOR BI0AMY
against the fair one whom he claims as the part
ner OF his bosom and the mother OF his children.
The case was commenced In the Superior Court
to-day, and long before the proceedings began the
court room, entries and starways were crowded
well as men were mingled In the Jam. ali OF them
equally eager TO hear the particulars OF the scan
daious case.
The defendant, catherine Waller. alias Carrie n.
Kent alias Carrie NJ Waite. was attended by her
counsel Byron ID. Everil and her father-ln-aw
and mother-in-law, Mr. and MRS. Edward Waite.
and another lady. She is about thirty years of
age, nth pale countehance and a firm and resolute
expression when At rest. Her hair is dark, and
was dressed in Pompadour style. She appeared
IN tse p 81
tendance. She neatly and fashionably
dressed AS the case proceeded her usually pale
face became flushed but she betrayed no sign OF
THE ALLEGED HUSBAND NO. l.
Mr.. John Waller, who claims to have married
this woman IN Pictou Nova Scotia, in May, 1862,
came in and sat beside County Attorney Charles F.
n He sSou thirty Of but SSKs
ton chop whiskers and mustache. His two chill
dren, whose mother he states Mrs. Waite TO be,
THE OPENING PROCEEDINGS OF THE COURT.
The jury was soon empanelled and is composed
consider the case with due wisdom and justice.
The prisoner was placed outside the bar as TO
be in full and near. sight OF jury and witnesses
that the latter might be more certain as to her
identity. The indictment was read, charging that
Catherine Waller alias Carrie NJ Kemp, alias
Carrie N. Waite, on the 29th OF May, 1852 married
John Waller at Pctou, Nova Scotia, and On April
"a, 1873, her husband living and no divorce having
been granted TO either party and no seven We years
+. Waite, OF Portland felOnt0usly, knowingly and
unlawfully committing the crime OF blgamy.
government, in substance stating that he eX-
pected prove that the maiden name OF the de-
1882 when but about sixteen years of age, she
married at Pictou John Waller, young farmer,
in moderate circumstances, and unacqualnted
much with the ways OF the outside world. They
lived together seven years. Two children were
born 10 them, who were now In Court.
two boys. eleven and seven years OF age.
In November, 1888, Mrs. Waller came
to the states to earn money to furnish her
monstrances, although he finally yelled. ArrIv-
ing IN Portland she took the name OF Kate Waller,
and sometimes called herself Kate Wallace. She
afterwards went to Boston, and, returning here,
took the name of Carrie NJ. Kent, and refused to
recognize people who called her Kate Waller or
Wallace, but spoke of cousin Kate Wallace,
who, she SAID, had died here. She has told differ
ent stories as TO her origin and early history,
among others that she left Nova Scotia because
HER MOTHER WANTED HER TO MARRY A FRENCHMAN;
come 10 Truro in Nova Scotia, with her uncle aud
orphan brother; that her father was large manu-
facturer In Truro, and after his death her uncle
had robbed her OF her inheritance. During the
1859, to July, 1873, she continued to cor
respond with her husband, John Waller. In
July, 1879, less than three months after her mar
rage with Waite, she made q visit to Truro,
ostensiby to see her uncle, she said but that she
passed on TO Pict0u ana remained four or five days
as Waler's wife, and was seen known and recog
nlZed by her former acqualntances there. After
her return TO Portland Waller heard she had mar
RED again, ana ne came on and ascertained such
was the case, and she was arrested and is now on
trial.
During the address OF the County Attorney Mrs.
Waller was calm and selfpossessed and wlthstood
the searching gaze OF the audience with complete
nOnchalance Mr. John Waller, the husband, was
the first witness examined this afternoon, and his
testimony was substantially AS stated by the
County Attorney He positively identified the
prisoner as his wife. Mrs. Holden next testified
that she was sister Of the prisoner, and also most
emphatically Identified her MS the wife OF Waller.
The case viii continue several days, and excites
the most intense interest.