Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-01-24
charter of the Northwestern Furniture
compano was indefinitely postponed.
Adjourned until Tuesday a. IN.
BIGAM0US BLAIR.
The Case OF the Army Officer Who Mar
ried Mrs. Gordon Under
Guard on Governors Island.
New York sun.

NWuiu WI WWNtiHOF iSiNHu.
New York sun.
i capt. Thomas Blair, Of the 18th
4 Onned States infantry, is under close
snrveiisnco on Governors island, in
aeoordanee with u military order from
! Nashingtok, Tho intent of the order is
that he shall merely be prevented from
escaping until ono or both OF two sets of
charges, IN contemplation be formulated
against him, and tho proper service and
arrest can be made. Ill
When Gen. Gordon Granger WINS col
onel of the 10th infantry, Blair was II
lieutenant and regimcntal aajutant. He
was y tavorito alike with his colonel and
with tho rest Of the 60 aana. Ii is
said that hu enlisted ana ose from tho
ranks hy his bravery and ability. He
came originally from Scotland, where
most at his relatives reside. Mrs.
Granger, of whom her friends in this
city speak with the highest respect, is u
lmemher of " family well known and
esteemed III Lexington, Ky. Her
maiden name was Maria Lecher. II il
said that after tho generals death she
obtained support for herself aud child
tor ~ short time rs clerk in tho quar-
ternaster generals Office in Washington
Her husband had boon frequent yisi-
tor IN the house Of Commodore Van
dierhl!t anu sho was q friend 81 thoNa
dNrbilt family. While she was employ
cd MS clerk the commodore died, and
sho found that she had received be-
quest from him of two 5000 registered
bonds OF tho Lake Shore and Michigan
southern Railway company This was
~ the spring of 1877. About Il year
ago shc returned 10 her fathers house
IN Lexington, and her friends were soon
informed that sho was 70 be- married To
her late husbands brilliant and amiablo
ndlntant, who had been advanced from
lieutenant to captain. They were mar
rled IN her house, and she accompanied
INN % his post Of duty III Santa Fo,
New Mexico.
Recently tho American consul in
Glasgow returned TO Washington bring
ing news that n woman bearing the
namo " Mrs, Thomas Blair Nichols, Of
Glasgow, claimed, ns IL il reported, to bo
Capt Blair's wife, and that her husband
had dropped his npmo Nichols on com.
Ing to- tho United States. Tho consul il
IS said brought with him documents
tending TO provo her assertions, and
among them paper TINT purporlod to
hn M acceptance bv the war depart
mont, duly signed, Of his resignation
from tho army. AS he has not resigned
| II IL inferred that one of tho charges
that have been prepared Mt the war do
partment against Capt. Blair may bo
TINT Of forgery, which, if ii should be
proved, would ncccssitnte his dismissal
from tho army far conduct unbecom.
iug IN officer aud gontlcm0n.p How
Mrs. Nichols could como in possession
| OF such n document is not known, but il
Is said that he wrote to her that no was
going to quit tho United States to trnvol
and il il nconiecturo that ho may have
thus sought TO deter her from visiting
tho United States III search Of him, and
Tint tho alleged acceptance of his res
ignation from the army was sent TO her
Ms proof of his intention to quit tho
country.
Tho news of Mrs. Nichols allegations,
i u said, was first tolegraphedt Mrs.
Blair in Sanla 10 BY Mr.. William ii.
Vanderbilt, Of this CITY, and il is said
that her reply indicated TINT she was
not unwnre OF the claim upon her hus-
band. She declared her belief in his
innocence, and on this, her previous
knowledge, anti her confidence In him.
Capt. Blnir's friends base tho hopo that
Inc viii bo able TO clear himself Of the
charges ps soon Ms they shall tako def
mite form.
On tho other hand, tho second set of
charges IL reported to be expected to
como from her relatives in Kentucky,
and 10 involve direct accusation Of
bigamy, to be prosecuted in IL Kentucky
criminal court. Whether tho American
consul's inquiries in Glasgow were made
with the knowledge Of Mrs. Blair's rela-
tyes il not yet certainly known. Before
his marriage Capt. Blair obtained leave
of absence To visit Scotland on private
business. Ito and Mira. Blair arrived in
New York direct from Santa Fo in tho
carly part Of last week. lie says that
no was on his way TO Washington. A
few days ago nn officer of the army sta
toned on Governors island called on
him, IN tho Stnrtcvant house, where no
was staying with his wife, and told him
he must accompany him 10 Governors
island, by order of Gen. Hancock.
Since no has been there he has refused
To talk about tho reason for his arrest,
except to intimate friends, and says no
will not do 40 until the arrival 81 the
specific charges from Washington. His
wife. who is yet staying in the Sturte.
want house, visits him every day. She
does not desire NJ present to make pub
lie her version OF tho troubles in
which he il involved.
A bill was prepared 70 be introduced
In congress hist session, the object Of
which was to relieve Capt. Blair
from the necessity Of making good
deficit OF $1,000 OF commissary funds,
ON the ground that they we're stolen
from hIm in such n way that no could
not properly be held responsible. The
bill was not introduced, and q reason
alleged Is that tho member who had it
in charge heard Of the accusation of
bgamy against Capt. Blair, and decided
n. Jaiay tho ,traaapia I,n,, ~ 49,. In