The Portland daily press., 1882-01-28
THE ARoosTooK BIGAMIsT.
His sixth Wife Now Brought to Light
Story of His Escape from the
New Brunswick Jail.

The exploits of Thomas j. Melvin, whose
five marriages and consequent troubles have
been described in the PRESS, continue to de-
velop new and interesting features. The latest
discovery in his eyentful career is that OF
another marriage, which took place away over
on the New Hampshire instead of the New
Brunswick border of our State. On the day of
the escape from Andover Jail the postmaster
there received letter from woman in South
Eliot, York county in this State, who declared
that she had once been the wife OF the much
claimed Melvin. From her story it appears
that sometime in 1864, after Melvin had al
ready buried his first wife in Monticello, he
took up his residence in South Eliot under an
assumed name and employed himself chiefly
iu preaching and praying for the religious
minded citizens of that place. After
short time he began to address lovers atten-
tions TO the writer of the aforesaid letter, and
in the fall of that year they were married,
Melvin having first diyulged his real name, de-
claring that he had assumed another name III
order to avoid complications with his relations
in Monticello. They lived happily together
(says the writer) until the following April, when
Melvin one day departed, remarklng that ne
was going to Bangor to purchase a larm ana
would soon return. From that day the South
Eliot bride has seen or heard nothing OF her
Melvin, but she thinks he must now be about
go years old. Her letter declares that she is
not at all anxious to have him restored, as she
has long since put an end to her sorrow Dy
marrying another. She only hopes tnat ne
will receive the reward which his pranks de-
serve. and thanks God she has done with him.
This story, if true, adds another wife to the
large number with which Melvin has been
credited, and makes six in all, OF whom four
are living and three undivorced.
The story of Melvin's escape, as told by the
officers at Andover, wou1d seem to indicate
that his residence in Maine has taught him
the proverbial ingenuity of the Yankee. After
being confined nearly two weeks (the story
goes) the prisoner suddenly began to show
signs of approaching sickness, and begged Tor
a more spacious apartment where fresh air and
exercise might be more easily obtained. his
reouest was granted, and the large corridor OF
the iail was assigned for his use. An iron door
separates this corridor from passageWay lead
ing into the jailyard This door was fastened,
when closed, by dropping bolt through Two
staples one of which was attached to the door
and theother to the jamb The upper part OF the
door contained an orifice large enough TO ad :
nit mans arm. Now, on the night OF the
18th inst Melvin procured file (hoW he pro-
cured it the officers do not state) and, reaching
through the orifce, filed off the head CT the
bolt which held the door closed. The head be-
ing off, the bolt fell by its own weight, the door
swung open and Melvin was at liberty. He
then started for Monticello, and, though the
distance is more than twenty-five miles, reached
home BY daylight. 1t looks as if horses could
be obtained as easily as files in Andover. It is
hinted by some that Melvin used something
more substantial than pretence OF sickness IN
effectng his escape, but this is not probable as
the wealth of a Monticello farmer is not suffic-
iently great, as rule, to influence the action
of the Queens officers. 1t is most likely that
the Provincial Government advised the pris-
oner's release in order to avoid trouble with
the United States, and its action in so doing
was certainly opportune IS we'll as wise.