The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-09-07

a HUNTINGDON COUNTY BIGAMY CASE
The scene of the following rural Romance.
the details of which we find in the editorial
columns OF a recent issue of the Ph:ladeiphia
Times, Is not so far distant but what IL NAV
very appropriately be given a place in our
local department
Outside the dominions of the late Mr.. Brig.
ha m Young there is popular belief that one
any one man, and very often that is a greater
luxury than one man can deccntly and ude-
nationalities who settled this county started
out with the monogamic system and adhered to
iIizat ion it became one of our Institutions aud
while n few ambitious men have sometimes
sought to enhance domestic bliss with an addi-
tiona wife. they have not only invaded the Ia w
and generally been pursued 10y Ii, but they have
always received, the seycrest punishment. The
careful reader of the daily papers has dou ubtless
observed that of late mans discomfort with one
wife Is apparently on the increase, particularly
in Petnst ltania, where lovely woman is much
more lovely than in general and therefore more
thin ordinarily interesting.
Rchecting upon these Facts is proha Sly what
led Mr. John }. Wilson some time since to insti-
tute some proceedings in the Huntingdon coun-
~ court which have dcv eopcd raI her Singular
ly. H. the northwestern portion of the county
seve.ul families of the name of RandoIpb
said TO I've more or less descended from the IN :
nous John Randolph Of Roanoke, but whether
story. In August, 1876. a young mci,tijer Of one
Of these families. named John A Randolph
ried Belinda Ferterman. In February of tins
year young woman of good. but possibly not
eminent family. named Pamela Crownover.
was married to John y. Randolph II will ap-
pear very evident to even the casual observer
that there must have been two John A. Ran
doiphs, which Is not Impossible thing, or that
the one John A. Randolph had married two
women within the brief period of six months
which Is also not impossible MIR. Wilson, who
lives in the neighborhood. took the latter view
of the case, and procured the Indictment nf
John A. Randolph for bipamy. The case went
to trial last week, and at the outset the defend
ant admitted his marriage To Belinda FetIer-
ceremony for John a. Randolph and PAMELA
Crownover then testified that he recognized
the defendantn ns the party who had married
Pamelid. He was tain he could not be ms
taken. and he was the more positive because
the young lady had once been pupil of his.
Ihe counsel for The defendant at this point ad-
mtttpd the identity of the lady that she was
Pamela Crownover and is now Mrs. John A,
randolph, and that the justice performed the
marriage ceremony as he had detailed. The
admissions of the attorney for the defense. and
OF the defendant himself. seemed To establish
the cnse :or the Commonwealth, hut il really
only had I he effect TO thrown the prosecution
of guard. The defense called first PAMELA
Crownover, who testified TO her marriage with
John A. Randolph. but when asked II dpfpn-
No sr M he 'r IS nos th" s hn Si.h ,bs
her husband was another Randolph. who lad
deserted her and of whose whpreabou she.
was not infoi med. The de- endant ON the stand
acknow lptlged having married Belinda Fcttcr-
man, but denied that Pamela was his wife;
he further said he did not know the Justice
who had performed the marriage service Tor
Pamela and John A. Randolph, and had never
spoken to HIM. At this jnncturc Mr.. Wilson.
who had brought the prose cution, was put
upon the stand 10 expain why he had done so.
His story was that PAMELA had told him that
She had married the defendant, and ''she didn't
care who knew it," Mr.. Wilson being a good
man. to use his own words. lit just came into
my mind that no man ought to have two
men ; no man, and that's Just my mind exact
ly; two women are too much for any one man,
and wouldn't allow it,. The only thing that
il was possible tn 90 under the circumstances
was just what was done: Randolph and PAMELA
were informed against Tor perjury and the
matter viii be proceeded with AZ the next term
OF the Huntington county court.
1t is a very interesting case which will attract
more than local attention, but IL will pTOba bly,
not be Il difficult matter to develop the facts,
and when .he mystery, which is now thiniy
hONerinR over these two marriages of one IMAM,
is dispelled, ii will leave nothing but hideOuS
skeleton OF a country romance, which is not
such an uncomm mon affair as public morals
make desirable.