The daily gazette., 1881-07-22
MaHIFIRTa's TWO WIVES .
THE tsINGULAR MATRIMONIAL
DILEMMA OF A RESIDENT
OF PATTERSON.


After Living Here Ten Year He II
Claimed ~ Husband by an Eng.
lfshwoman and Arrested for
Bigamy.
PATERSON, N. j., July 18.-For ten
years past . man, who gave the name Of
William L. Montfirth, has been living
an apparently irreproachable life In this
city. he held good position - silk
warper in Meysnberg's Mill, earned first
class wages and lived in comfortable @
style, with his wife and stepdaughter, at
No. 5 Garrison street. The family were
very pious members Of Dominic Robin
sons church, sang In the choir, took q
prominent part In the prayer meetings,
and were looked upon as model Chris
tians. When the Dominic married the
lady who used to be organist in the
church, and started for Europe, be ap-
pointed Mrs. Montfirth organist during
his 'wife's absenee. But storm burst
on them on Saturday, and now the
family is broken up, Montfirth and his
"wife" are In jail, and their fifteen-year-
old girl aimost is heart-broken al the
disgrace that has befailen her.
Monttirth's right name, 1t is alleged is
George Thomas Williams. His father
was an officer In the British army, and
the son was born in the East indies
about forty years ago. When he reached
manhood he engaged In mercantile pur-
suits In England, and was for leng
time successful. He married and had
fourteen children, and was, as far q
can be learned, model husband aud
father until misfortune began to over
take him. ORe after another of his VEN
lures failed, and he took to drink. His
means were rapidly squandered, and but
for the labors Of his wife the family
would have been destitute.
At this time Mrs. Jane Fox, neigh
bor, began to como about the house to
help Mrs. Williams with her work. She
was . comely young woman of 20, and
Williams fell In love with her and she
with him. The result OF this attachment
was that the pair csme to this country
and At once settled In Paterson, bring
with them. He took she name OF Mont.
firth, and she represented herself TO be o
widow. Immediately upon their arrival
they went TO- Domino Robinson and,i
is alleged, were married. They then
went to housekeeping, and have steat-
lily thriven ever since. ia, NJ a5s,
Meanwhile, the deserted wife, strug-
glsd to:suppoEt herself and the little
ones. She put them out to factory work
worked herself like asiAve. The esfavery
OF the factories killed ten OF them, lesv-
ing only the four youngest, all ldaugh-
tefs. Some people from the neiQhb0r.
hood, who happened TO come to Pater-
son and vicinity, recognized Williams in
the pions Montfirth and informed her
OF their discovery ? She wrote to Chief
Of Police Grant, and for some years
they have been corresponding On the
entirely to himself. He told Mrs. VIII.
liams that no proceedings could be tn
ken against her husband unless she
came, to this country and made . COM
plaint. This she was too poor to do.-
She wrote to her husband, but he never
answered her letters. ~ last she made
up her mind to come, and with the as
slstance OF neighboEs who heard the
story raised money enough to pay her
passage Of herssli snd daughters. She
This morning Montfirth, alias VIII
liarns, was arrested and brought before
the Recorder. His wife and her four
daughters, ranging In age from 10 to. Is
years, sAt ineide the rail. Mrs, Fox sat
hear. her husband and whispered words
Of encouragement TO him. Eyer and
anon she would east savage glance at
the wronged wife, bat the latter took no
notice OF her. The formal complaint OF
Abandonment having been read, Will
liams wassent to jan until charges OF
bigamy and nonsupport can be- made
against him. Mrs. Fox was arrestsd,
and will be prosecuted tor bigamy g
soon % evidence onn be procured OF her
mafriAge In England. In tho afternoon
Mrs. Williams went up to the house In
Tatowa and took possession OF It, by ad-
Woe OF counsel.