The Russellville Democrat., 1880-05-13
A NEW YORK SCANDAL.
The Marital Troubles of the Dramatic
 News Editor. " nt rr,....

years of age, named Laura E. Jennings. He was consumptive, broken down in health, as well as in pocket. Shortly after their marriage, Charles A. Byrne, a reporter on some obscene paper, saw and fell in love with the wife. He en- treated her to leave her husband and live with him as his wife. He resorted 10 all devices to break up the relations of husband and wife between Tmian and Mrs. Timlan. His hostility extend ed so far as the maltreatment of the woman with blows, and in orderto 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 upsetting stoves with burning coals in them, and otherwise made it impossible for re- spectable landladies to keep them in their houses. Personal encounters were fre- quent between Byrne and Timian, until the latter left the country for fear of Byrne, thus abandoning his wife.
 Subsequently Byrne made civil con tract of marriage between himself and Laura Timian, drawing an elaborate contract, and two years later. in 1873. upon his furnishing her proof of Timi- ans death, they were married at St. Ann's Church, by Father Lake, MT. Byrne's mother being the principal wit ness of the marriage. Since the mar riage the woman has largely supported Byrne, ch1efy by keeping boardefs. She saved up few hundred dollars, and in- vested it with theatrical manager known as Josh Hart, ill weekly paper, which, after considerable struggle for existence, finally became remunerative. The means employed to make the paper successful were of the most disreputable character. The editor became known and was generally denounced as black mailer. sk5N a
 About year ago Byrne became ac- ouainted with Dr. Merrill, dentist in West Thirty 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. It was granted by Judge Donohue about six weeks ago. The wife, Mrs. Tlmian- Byrne, on the proof of her husbands s conduct, refused any longer to live with him. As a 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 Alfa Merrill, who had been di- vorced from her husband on account of her infdelity. On discovering this, Mrs. Bvrne dismissed her lawyer, A. H. 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 Oh arles A. Byrne and Alfa Merrill, accompanied by Charles w. Brooke and May 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 li- cense. Mir. Byrne made affidavitg 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. Mir. 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 Mir. Byrne was asked several questions, among others was the lady spinster; and he replied: "Yes; a spinster." "Oh, mol" said the ex-Mrs. Merrill; "I have been married before." "Oh. said the unsuspecting clergyman, "a widow" " "Yes," said she, "a widow" The eere- mony 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 a week and half later. Mir. Charles w. Brooke, being asked if it were true that he and Mrs. Saville stood up with the persons, denied that he was present. The lawyers of Mrs. Byrne, however, employed a 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 were drawn up by Messrs. Townsend and Weed, reeiting these general facts, and warrants were issued by Justice Duuy aEdlIlst CldTlcS h. DNfut lOf DlHd- my and Alfa Merrill or Humphreys for felony. Orders were given to the officers to secure Byrne at once, although the warrants were issued at a late hour, but not to disturb the woman until morning.
 Byrne evaded arrest the same day by inducing an office clerk named Louis Post to personate him. When the war rant was served it was discovered that the officers had 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. 333 West Ninety-seeend street, but it having been reported to the police as a disreputable house, the occupants had to remove. Byrne thereupon had taken a fiat at No. S22 Seventh avenue, along with his par amour, where he was arrested by two officers. Byrne and Mrs. Merrill were arraigned yesterday morning at Jefier- son Market Police Court before Justice Duffy The charge against him was big amy, preferred by Laura E. Byrne, his wife, and against Alfa Merrill that of felony
 Bail to the amount of $l ,500 for each prisoner was given.