The Osceola times., 1880-05-29
A NEW YORK SCANDAL.
Tho Marital Troubles Of the Dramati,
News Editor.

wears of age, named Laura +. Jennings
He was a consumptive, broken down il
health, as well as in pocket. Shortl,
after their marriage, Charles A. Byrne,
reporter on some obscene paper, saw
and fell in love with the wife. He en-
treated her to leave her husband ant
live with him as his wife. He resorted
10 all devices to break up the relations
of husband and wife between Timar
and Mrs. TimIan. His hostility extesd
ed 70 far as the maltreatment of the
woman with blows, and in order to drive
Timian and his wife from the various
boarding houses in which they lived, he
visited the places in Timian's absence,
destroyed the furniture, even upsettine
stoves with burning Goals in them, and
otherwise made it impossible for re-
spectacle landladies to keep them in their
houses. Personal encounters were fire.
quent between Byrne and Timian, until
the latter left the country for fear OF
Byrne, thus abandoning his wife.
subsequently Byrne made a civil con-
tract of marriage between himself and
Laura Tlmian, drawing an elaborate
contract, and two years later, in 1873.
upon his furnishing her proof of Timi-
ans death, they were married at st.
AIMS Church, by Father Lake, Mr..
Byrne's mother being the principal wit
ness of the marriage. Since the mar
riage the woman has largely supported
Byrne, chiefly by keeping boarders. She
saved up few hundred dollars, and in
vested it with theatrical manager
known as Josh Hart, in a weekly paper,
which, after considerable struggle for
existence, finally became remune rative.
The means employed to make the paper
successful were of the most dispputable
character. The editor became known
and was generally denounced as black.
mailer.
About year ago Byrne became ac-
ouainted with DR.. Merrill, dentist in
West Thirty second street, who had a
wife ambitious to go on the stage. Byrne
betrayed her, and DR. Merrill brought a
suit for divorce on the ground of her
criminal intimacy with Byrne. 1t was
granted by Judge Donohue about six
weeks ago The wife, Mrs. Tlmian-
Byrne, ON the proof Of her husbands
conduct, refused any longer to live with
him. Asa part owner of the paper al
luded to she demanded settlement
with Josh Hart. A pretended settle
ment resulted not only in depriving her
of her half interest in the paper, but
also IN the institution of divorce pro-
ceedings by her against her husband.
This was for the purpose, as Mrs. Byrne
discovered, of enabling Charles a. Byrne
to marry Alta Merrill, who had been di-
yorced from her husband on account of
her iniidelity. On discovering this, Mrs.
Byrne dismissed her lawyer, A. ii. Hum
mel, employed John d. Townsend, and
stopped the divorce proceedings. She
also began suit for the recovery of her
property on the paper alluded to.
About three weeks ago Ch aries A.
Byrne and Alfa Merrill, accompanied by
Charles w. Brooke and Nav Hart, alias
Mrs. John Saville, went to Niagara Falls,
crossed the new suspension bridge, and
registered at the Prospect House as
Charles W. Brooke and wife, Charles A.
Byrne and Miss A. Humphreys, "Rice's
Surprise Party" The same day they
went to the town clerk at Drummond-
vile, Canada, TO obtain a marriage Ii.
cense. Mr.. Byrne made affidavit, to
the effect that he was bachelor and
that Miss A. Humphrey was spinster
He thus obtained license, with which
he went to the residence of the Rev. Mr..
Ingles, and asked TO be married. The
clergyman refused to marry them in the
house, and the party went to the
church.
In the course of the ceremony Mr..
Byrne was asked several questions,
among others was the lady spinster;
and he replied: "Yes; spinster." "Oh,
L..
been married before" "Oh said the
unsuspecting clergyman, "a widow"
"Yes," said she, "a widow" The cere-
Ipony was then performed and the party
departed, returning to this city and be-
ing present on January 20 at the open
ing of the Humpty Dumpty performance
at Booths theater.
The commission of this bigamy became
known about week and a half later.
Mr.. Charles w. Brooke, being asked il
il were true that he and Mrs. Savllle
stood up with the persons, denied that
he was present The lawyers of Mrs.
pyrne, however, employed gentleman
to obtain the proofs, and he traced the
party to Drummondville, obtained a rec.
ord of the marriage, and brought the
clergyman TO New York. Affidavits
We're drawn up by Messrs. Townsend
and Weed, reciting these general facts,
and warrants were issued by Justice
Duffy against Charles A. Byrne for biga-
INV and Alfa Merrill or Humphreys for
felony Orders were given to the officers
10 secure Byrne at once, although the
warrants were issued at a late hour,
but not to disturb the woman until
.uorning.
,Dvrne evaded arrest the same day by
indnc,' ag an Office clerk named Louis
Post TO u, ,,rsonate him. When the war
rant was se,-ved it was discovered that
the officers ha,!! the wrong man. But
the officers, not to be defeated, traced
Byrne to his home. His residence up
to few days ago had been No. S3S West
Ninety-second street, but IT having been
reported to the police as a disreputaDle
house, the occupants had TO remove
Byrne thereupon had taken nat at NO.
500 Seventh avenue, along with hls par
amour, where he was arrested Dy TWO
officers. Byrne and Mrs. Merrill were
arraigned yesterday morning at Jeiier-
son Market Police Court before Justice
Duffy. The charge against him was Dlg-
amy, preferred bv Laura +. Byrne, his
wife, and against Alta Merrill that OF
felony.
Bail to the amount of 81 800 for each
prisoner was given.
BAsrys ery because they suffer and the