The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-09
scHxRMKRHORNs TWO WIVES.
Probably the Mo.t Remark able OF all Rseeat
IaAIelments for IiRnnay.

YoRKvILLR, Ill. Jan. "a veteran OF the |
war OF the rebellion. so manned in battle as 10 |
be unable even TO stand erect. was tried In this
town yesterday for bigamy.
James 5. Schernierhorn. the defendant. was
one OF the frst 10 respond To President Lincoln's
first call for yolunte He soon attracted the
notice OF his superior officers. aHd was made
one OF the color guard Of his regiment In
every action in which he was engaged he proved
hts bravery. At the taking u Arkansas Post.
early IN 1868 the color sergeant Of the regiment
dropped tho flag but Schermerhorn picked 1t
up and rushing forward with IT, WAS the first
man ci the entire Union army 10 mount the
r,,Del hreastworks and there h" hold his ground
against a score of assailants till his comrades
came up This feat made him known 90 the
commanding Generals.
s,.hrrmerhorn was with his regiment through
out the Nlckshurg campsign. In the aSsanlt on
May H. be WAS wounded ani maj" h"lprss
cripple for life Since that time he has not
stood on his feet, the surgeons having cut out
several inches Of his back bone. thus rendering
IL impossibl for him 10 stand upright lie has.
however, invented n steel truss or brace. 10y tue
help Of which lac sits IN chair with tolerabie
Gen sherman has always kept the crippled
soldier in mind. and on the occasion of tho
great fair az the sanitary Commission IN chi.
cago. near the close II tn" war, the General paid
Schrrmerhorn = visit. anil gave MIN n massive
In September 1876. Schernerhorn married
Margaret Iarris in Macomb McDonough Conn
|
Of afinence. At the brcakins oslt OF the war she
| was married to Mr.. Mcknight, who entered
| the army and was killed. hho then became
| hce pitgl nurse and was specially detailed To
| wait upon Srhrrmerhurn. This WIS while he
| WAS in Douglas place. Chi ago whrrc the Gov
eminent had bulk n little house for bis own use
| in QUE corner OF the grounds. while STATE
| there Mrs Mcknight was married u one Hhr-
| ris, who subsequently abandoned her And went
| 10 California She told Schermerhnrn that shc
| had procured n divorce from Harris. and they
| were married.
| Not long after the wedding Schermerhorn AS
| certaine1 Nlat the alleged divorce was worth
| less and began TO suspect his VITO Of unfaith-
| fulness. He abandoned her In May. 1871. and
| began suit for divorce In due time his lawyers
told him that divorce had been decreed. and
came TO Kendall County and In tn" town Of
| Plano, in Scpiemb 7. 1871. he married Miss
| Cora Y. Athcrton. and they went 20 hons"k"cp-
| ing on a little patch Of land near this place.
| month had not elapsed belor" the nrst wife
| appeared in the county. and told her story
| Schermerhorn WAS arrested on charge OF big
| amy. sort of peace was patched up, Scher-
merhorn giving the woman Harris \ note Tor
| tl75 and she giving him paper releasing HIN
| from all claims and promising never 10 molrst
him in regard to the Plano marriage. The $40
| WINS given in the form of n note payable 10 her
| lawyer in one year and was secured by a chat
| tel mortgage ON "A horse. buggy and harness
that Schermerhorn used in going about the
| country.
| property few months Hfterward. Ito sun re-
tains H. Tho Grand Jury met II few weeks ago
and information was laid before them In regard
to Schcrmerhorn's two marriages, He, was IN
dicted for bigamy. Aftor formal trial he was
| however. acquitted