Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-28
4 Woman who II Very Much Married,

Cases of bigamy are not uncommon but il
is not so often that reporters are called on to
record instances of trgamy. Mr.. Baker, the
Secretary of the Overseers of the Poor, has
however just brought one to light.
| Some ten years ago Amanda +. Henderson
was employed at the Gorham House in Cor
ham, Maine, where she proved smart active
girl, with pretty face and figure and ex-
cited the favorable notice of the visitors and
others, employees Of the hotel. Among 9TH
ers was man named Burns employed also
in the house in some capacity. Burns be.
came strongly attached to Miss Henderson,
pressed his suit, was accepted, and on Au-
gust eth, 1869, the couple were united in
marriage by Rev. c. c. Parker of Gorham.
Amanda was sixteen years of age. The
twain lived together as husband and wife for
several years and had two children who died
in infancy. After the death of the children
Mrs Burns got tired of the seclusion that
Portland grants and she deserted Mr. Burns,
without as much as saying by your leave,
and betook herself to the activity and hustle
that characterizes a city the size of Boston.
Mrs Burns resided in Boston for two years
enjoying life to the best of her ability. At
the end of that period she seemed to think
there could be worse places than Portland
and less agreeable husbands than Mr.. Burns,
so the prodigal returned and found "Barkis
wllin." However the old life didn't seem to
satisfy, and after the birth of a child they
separated forever.
After this separation Mrs. Burns padded
her own canoe for little while. Smart,
good-lookng. notunintelligent she had rather
checkered career until she fell in with W. +.
Osgood of Bucksport. Mr.. Osgood fell cap
tive to Amandas charms, and igns .ant of the
fact that she was married woman and sup
posing her a widow, proposed and was ac-
cepted. They were married April, 1874, by
Rev. DIR. Smaller in Portland AMI proceeded
to the husbands home in Bucksport. Here
she resided for several years, and, by her
husband, had three children, girl and twins,
the latter both boys. Some time after the
Osgood marriage Mr.. Osgood happened to
meet Mr.. Burns in Portland and was informed
by him that Mrs. Osgood was really Mrs.
Burns, that no legal separation had ever been
recorded although a petition for a divorce
was then before the court and that he, Burns,
pending the decree. had married second
time himself The blow was heavy one
but Osgood braced up and concluded to go to
sea- so last winter he departed on cruise
and left Mrs. Osgood with HE children and
the Burns child, to shift for herself. Then
it happened that the woman fell into distress
and she went to Bath where she fell in with a
man named Williams who lived IN Augusta.
Williams took such fancy to her, she,
supposing he was able to support her, agreed
to marry him and they were married in that
city. But Williams had deluded himself, or
deliberately deceived her for he was not in
a condition to take care of family and there
fore she went back to Bath. Here, a short
time ago, she had to apply to the authorities
for aid. They understanding she had resi-
dence in Bucksport notified the Bucksport
overseers and they took her and her children
by Osgood in charge but notified Bath that
city must take care of the Burns child. Two
weeks ago Osgood returned and then on being
cushioned admitted he was not legally mar
red to the woman but that her husband re-
sided in Portland. The Bucksport authori-
ties notified Mr.. Baker and he patiently I'M
ravelled the skein learned the true nwardess
of the whole affair, and brought the family to
this city. Mrs Burns, -Osgood-W Williams was
placed in our Aims House, where she will re-
main until the birth of child. What course
will lie pursued. if any, against her and her
real husband. Burns. if any, remains to be
seen. The Burns child will remain, at pres
ent, in Bath. The Osgood boys have been
placed in the Little Wanderers Home in Bos-
ton, and the girl will go to the Female Or
phan Asylum in Portland.
Burns is said to be engaged by a grain
firm in this city ard has family by his pres
ent wife Portland Press.