Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-02-20
COLENIAN'S WIVES.
Unhappy Conclusion of a Romantic Mar
T.iGOe Behind the Bars.

Unhappy Conclusion of q Romantic Mar
s.iaOe Behind the Bars.
washington Republican,
1t is scarcely reasonable to suppose that a
man, while confined in prison, serving out a
sentence for violation of the law, would de-
liberately commit another crime having for its
effect similar punishment, only the penalty
being more severe. But from evidence recently
come to light it is evident that such case
exists, and that the offender entertained neither
fear nor dread of the law when concentrating
his willingness. On the 18th inst. John B.
Coleman, a well-dressed and good looking
colored man, hailing from Cincinnati, O., was
convicted in the criminal court of uttering
forged order on Col. Charles NJ. Alexander for
the balance of wages due a woman named
Garter, who had been performing services in
his famify.t His counsel, represented that he
was man of most excellent reputation, and
that instead of being the principal in the Of
accepting these statements as true, was lenient
IN imposing sentence, and sent him to the
Albany penitentiary for one year.
i 1t seems that before the trial he had been
paying attention. to Miss Alice +: Bradley, of
New Athens, O., and matters had progressed to
betEothal While waiting in jail to be trans
Eferred to Albany Miss Bradley gave evidence
ceremony should be performed ere her lovers
departure. license was procured on Thurs
day, Jan. %, and Sunday last, aocompanied by
J her mother, she proceeded to the jail to have
the knot tied. There Rev. VIM. Gibbons, of
the Zion Baptist church, in the presence Of
several witnesses, at O'Clock, did the work.
One hoor;was permitted the bride and groom
for honeymooning, and then ensued separa-
tion-he to enterthe' penitentiary and she to
Five and wait his release. The new-made wife
took in the situation very philosophically, re-
.splving to make the best of it, and at the same
Gtime try and secure his release by pardon.
This would all be very fine and proper could
The the . ssb.sa$eat asysl9p~eets % geft
f seems that Coleman had been previously
married and was not free to wed again, although
in jail. The records at the clerks office show
that on Sept. l, 1874, license to marry was
taken opt i2 he-psp q 3 Of yehp F. Coleman, of
this cfty, and tai Oh The same day The couple
were married at the Fifteenth Street church by
REV. George Van Dews.
On Sept. a, 1878, Mrs. Amelia Ann Coleman
Golemap 81 thSRos1d ofdseltiSp and .ban-
donmens. After reciting that they were mar
1fed in 1874 she stated that they fHed together
their child. This suit is now pending and has
been referredf 60 Exaf1i1sr Brown t1gs Ett6 faEe
testimony, aud he has liked: the sheariug for
II Monday next.
(: i It is reported that these are 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
sof. From the deliberate manner he entered
.ihtethe recent marriage j. not difficult 70
suppose that Coleman much cliifn 70 Tie
excellent reputation given him before the court.
He is not likely to be pardoned, and if he
should ,Ie vii be eomnha to stand triarfor
,bigamys withthe eyidenes yf hifgpiltpqsitive
'agains& hi Sa1othkr tap tos tsha .penitanz
;tiary certain.