Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-24
pR. JoHN JosEpA E0WARDs.
He CoHfesses to an Atlanta Reporter that
ue Has Two WIYes-His Excuse.


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He Coufes.s. 70 au Atlanta Reporter that
Eie Has Two wIYes-His Excuse.
Or. John Joseph Augustus Edwards, who
II wanted here TO answer the Charge oi
bigamy and attempted murder, and who
was arrested at Atlanta. was Interviewed
by reporter OF the Constitution OF that
city on the 2Ist. He said that bis name
was Edwarls; that he had made q good
deal Of moueg; that in April be was IN
Richmond and stopred at the ST. Charles,
where he met Miss Ierona Bootwfight,
who was employed there rs the liueu-
woman; that he became acquainted with
her. and that their acquaintance gipened
into intimacy, and That they went TO Pc
tersburg and stayed some time at the Bol.
liDgbrooke Hotel as man aud wife.
Said the "DOct0r": Z" la NAY we re-
turned 20 Richmond and put up at the st.
laire. She was helr to some property,
and while at the hotel became sick and
willed me all she had. She thought she
was going 10 die, and sent for her brothers,
who came to Richmond. ard after learning
TIE facts. forced me TO marry her. told
them Ihad wife, but they paid no a'len-
tion to It, aud threatened to kill me II ! did
not marry her. They even accused me OF
attempting 10 poison her. l took my first
shapee ard talaC b Aih5t1 Do goN
think they viii haJdcuH nc When they
take me backf"
"No. | guess not. You appear 60 be
gentleman. But why 10 you ask
"Because il they doa't | viii iuipp OF
the train. Can they do anything With
mef"
"Gucss not, II you are well heeied"
"Well..I have got ten thousand dollars
10 fight the ease with, il that Is whas you
mean by being heeled."
"Who was your first wife: and where
are you fromY"
II am originally from North Carolina,
and ny folks are wen on. Ny wife and
child are there now. My wife is a good
woman. tell YOU. sac Is q Georgia lady.
| married her in Griffin. Her maiden
name s Doyal.'
AT THE ST. CLAIRE.
Edwards went 70 the 81. Claire Hotel
here to board on May Sth. lie said that
his wife would Join him in short time.
MAY 18th he brought Miss BoOtwrlgbi in,
and asked thai her meals be sent to her
room. as she was sick. She was confined
/ to her room the whole time OF her stay
there. st one time Edwards said that he
/ feared she would never recover; that was
/ about the day Mr.. Cardwell was sent for
l TO write the will. On the 26th Of May she
/ was married to Edwards; the hotel people
/ knew nothing about it until DR.. Tupper
} came down into the Office and mentioned
| that he had just married couple upstairs
| Tnen the manager was very indignant,
I and took an early opportunity 10 see Ed
wards. and 10 tell him that he and his
| wiie must leave that house; tint he had
been deceived INTO believing that they were
married people when they came there. Ed.
/ wards said So they were; that the lady had
| been married to him in North Carolina by
| q magistrate, and that his wife's aunt, from
| whom she had property expectations. was
| not satisfied with that marriage, and wished
| TO have Il done by minister. This eXplI-
| nation was not satisfactory. He was or
| dered to leave and take his wife with him +;
/ hut he pleaded that she was too Ill to be
moved, and that appearing 10 be the flct,
/ they were allowed TO remain until the 3lst,
when they went to Mr.. Wigands.
GONE AFTER MIN.
II there Is any truth at ali in Edwards
statements about Miss Bootwrigbt's bro-
thers, no one here seems to be informed
about it.
Policeman sweeney yesterday went 70
htlant, With the Governors requisltiOu TO
! lring Edwards on here for trial.
DR.. L. II. Syll, who has an Office in the
/ 81. Claire Hotel. went with Dir. Sweeney
to identify accused.