The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-05
THE LADY In BLACK
Sweeps Down Upon the Town in
Search of her Husband, who she
Finds Welded to another
Woman.

Can you direct me to good hotel?
am poor woman, andin great distress,
was the way poorly looking elderly lady
addressed an ARGUS reporter this after
noon at the Rock Island 6 Peoria depot.
Yes Madam, will do so with pleasure,
replied the scribe, as he directed her to a
hotel The lady, who was accompanied
by two exceedingly pretty children, a
little boy and and girl, went to the
hotel recommended, and registered After
eating dinner she took her little children
by the hand and went to the Armory
building, where Chief of Police Miller was
notified Of her presence, and hurried to
the ArmOry as fast as he could get there.
The ARGUS reporter smelt mouse-aye
big rat, for that matter-and FASTENED
to make himself familiar with the sur
roundings of the Armory. The scribe
had not been there over ten
minutes before States Attorney Par
menter arrived with the chief of
police, and then the lady, amidst
cOpious tears related the following tale:
Il live at Bromfield, ILL.,, and my name is
Mason. | am married, and have been
married about 10 years, My husband and
| have been living together for
nineteen years. and we always got along
well together About six months ago, my
husband, who is painter by trade, kissed
me and the children good by (here she
broke out into tears again) and went to
Rock Island to get work. He got work
here, it seems, for he sent me money right
along almost every week, until about two
months ago. Then he stopped writing to
me, and never have received word
from him. | wrote to the chief of police
here, and he Informed me that my hus-
band was here and was married to another
lady. but he had changed his name. He
was still following his trade as a painter
under his new name. This is all have to
say, but want to see my husband"
Chief Miller left the woman in care of
Parmenter and went out and
got the festive painter and
took him to the armory. Miller
didn't tell him what was wanted and the
first thing the husband knew the wife had
her arms around his neck, and his little
boy and girl had hold of his hands. all
crying as if their hearts would break
After embracing each other a little while
| the woman unwOund her arms from Ter
husbands neck, and he took a seat, the
little children climbing up on his knees.
| They were left alone a little while to-
| gether, and then Chief Miller went into the
room again. The man then made the fol-
| lowing statement; Nineteen years ago
l left my first wife, from whom | got a
divorce. | met this lady. She had
been married but had left her husband for
some cause, 10 me unknown. If she had
cause for leaving him she never told me.
We went to keeping house. We lived
together happily for about eighteen years,
The fruits of our union is three children,
two of which you see before you. About
a year ago this woman and l had quar-
rel. After this first quarrel we had sew
eral other quarrslsa and then to cap the
climax got out of a job. packed my
traps and came to this city and got work,
For a while I sent her money. l had
only been here tour months until I met 8
young lady formed an attachment for hel
and married her, as | had right to do.
This is all | have to say. You can ask
this woman if what | havn't told you i:
true"
The lady said such was the case. She
han never been legally married to thu
man, and also that she never got divorce
from her first husband who was still
alive, but who had about five years age
got divorce from her This she thought
| left her free.
This is one of the most peculiar cases
that has ever contender our observation
1t shows the fckleness of man ana the
waywardness of woman. The lady vii
return to her country home tonight &C
companied by her children sad, broken
hearted woman, while the husband viii
still continue to reside in this city with hi:
newly welded wife. The new wife is il
perfect ignorance that her husband had {
paramount mistress-in times past. anG
it remains to be seen whether she will
forget and forgive, for she will know al
when she reads this evenings ARGUS.