National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-01
COLEMAN's Y1vo WIVES
The Sequel 20 . Romantic Marriage Benin,
the Bars,

The Sequel Go - Romantic Marriage Behind
the Bars.
IL is scarcely reasonable to suppose that a
man while confined in prison serving out q
sentence for violation Of the law would delib.
erately commit another crime having for its
eject a similar punishment, only the penalty
being more severe But from evidence recent
ly come to light It is evident that such a case
exists, and that the offender entertained
neither fear Or dread OF the law when consum.
mating his willingness. On the 14th instant
John b. Coleman, well dressed and good
looking colored man, hailng from Cincinnati
Ohio, was convicted IN the Criminal Court of
uttering forged order on Colonel Charles NJ.
Alexander for the balance Of wages due a
woman named Carter who had been perform.
ing service In his family. His counsel repre-
scented that he was q man of most excellent
reputation, and that instead Of being the prin-
cipal in the uflense was the victim of others.
Justice Wylie, accepting these statements MS
true, was leniont in imposing sentence, aud
sent him to tho Albany penitcutiary for ono
year.
1t seems that before the trial he had been
paying attention to Miss Alice F. Bradley of
New Athens, Ohio, and matters bad progressed
to betrothal. While waiting in Jail to be
transferred to Albany, Miss Bradley gave evil
dence of cOnstancy by couscnting that the
marriage ceremony should be performed ere
her lovers departure. A license was procured
OH Thuraday, January %, and on Sunday last,
accompanied by her mother she proceeded TO
the Jail to have the knot tied. There Rev.
William Gibbons, Of the Zion Baptist Church,
in the presence of several witnesses, at six
o'clock, did the work.
One hour was permitted the bride and groom
for hOneymooning, and then ensued n separa-
tion-hc to enter the penitentiary and she to
live and wait his release. Tho new-madc wife
took in the situation very phiosophically, re-
solving TO make the best of il, and at the same
time try and secure his release by obtaining a
pardon. This would all be very fine and
| proper could the subsequent Developments be
| left out of the romance.
Ii seems that Coleman had boon previously
| married and was not free TO wed again, al
| though In Jail. The records at tho clerks Of.
| flee show that on September /, 1874, u license
| to marry was taken out In the names Of john
| b. Coleman, of Cleveland Ohio, aud Amelia 4
| L. Hickman, of this city, aud that on the same
| day the couple were married at the Fifteenth
| Street Church by Rev. George Van Dews.
On September 4, 1873, Mrs Amelia Ann
| Coleman filed bill in equity for divorce from
John b. Coleman on the ground of desertion
| and abandonment. After reciting that they
were married in 1874 she stated that they
IVeu together unIll teDruiry, 1870, When Tic
deserted her and their child. This suit is now
pending and has been referred to Examiner
Browning to take testimony, and he has fixed
the hearing for Monday next.
| 1t Is reported that these arc not all the mar
| riages that Coleman has contracted, and that
search might reveal that more wives exist than
either Misses Hickman or Bradley had any
idea Of From the deliberate manner he en-
| tered into the recent marriage IL is not diff
| cult To that Coleman hna 1OrIgl pln M
10 the excellent reputation given him before
the court. Ho is not likely to be pardoned
and If he should he will be compelled TO stanc
trial for blgamy, with the evidence of his gull
| positive against him and another trip to thC
| penitentary certain.