Daily globe., 1879-02-16
COLEMAN'S WIVES.
Unhappy Conclusion of a Romantic 1ynr.
rSaDe Behind the Bars.
Washington Republican,

Unhappy Conclusion of a Romantic lfa7-
1saOe 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-
rberately commit another crime having for it's
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
lear nor dread of the law when consummating
hls 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 a
forged order on Col. Charles M. Alexander for
the balance of wages due woman named
Garter, who had been performing services in
his family. His counsel represented that he
was man of most excellent reputation and
that instead of being the principal in the Of
tense was the victim of others. Justice Wylie.
accepting these statements as true, was lenient
IN imposing sentence, and sent him to the
Albany penitentiary for one year.
1t seems that before the trial he had been
paying attention. to Miss Alice f. Bradley of
New Athens, O., and matters had progressed to
betrothal. While waiting in jail to be trans
ferred to Albany, Miss Bradley gave evidence
OF constancy by consenting that the marriage
ceremony should be performed ere her lovers 8
departure. license was procured on Thurs
day, Jan. 49, and Sunday last, accompanied by
ner 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 hour was permitted the bride and groom
for honeymooning, and then ensued a separa-
tlon-he to enter the penitentiary and she to
i've ana wait his release. The new-made wife
took IN the situation very philosophically. re-
solving to make the best of it, and at the same
time try and secure his release by a pardon
This would all be very fine and proper could
the subsequent developments be left out of
the romance.
1t seems that Coleman had been previously
marrled and was not free to wed again. althouoh
IN jail. The records at the clerks Office show
that on Sept. |, 1874, license to marry was
taken out in the names of John B. Coleman Of
Cleveland, Ohio, and Amelia A. 7. Hickman Of
this city, and that on the same day the counle
were married at the Fifteenth Street church bv
Rev. George Van Dews.
filed bill in equity for divorce from John r.
Coleman ON the ground of desertion and aban-
comment. After reciting that they were mar
lied in 1874, she stated that they lived tooether
until February, 1876, when he deserted her and
their child. This suit is now pending and has
peen referred 10 Examiner Browning to take
testimony, and he has fixed the hearing fo,
Monday next. ~
1t is reported that these are not all the NAV
rlages that Coleman has contracted, and thai
search might reveal that more wives exist than
either Misses Hickman or Bradley had any idea
OF. From the deliberate manner he entered
into the recent marriage 1t is not difficult To
suppose that Coleman has much claim to the
excellent reputation given him before the court.
He Is not likely to be pardoned, and if he
should, he will be compelled to stand trial for
bigamy, with the evidence of his guilt positive
against him and another trip to the peniten.
tiary certain.