Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-01
AN UNCONSCIOUS BIGAMIST.
Story Of a Man Who Lost His Memsry
Through an Accident
fDeuyer Neyal

Story Of a Man Who Lost His Memsry
Through an Accident
denver News.l
The following remarkable story was
told to Nsps reporter yesterday by
the hero or victim Of the strange cir
cumstances which befell him. His
story was as follows was build
ing contractor in St. Louis for num-
Der of years; was doing q thriving
business, and making considerable mo-
ney. had q comfortable home near
the outskirts of the city, and .
dear little wife and one child,
and was as happy and contented
as a man could be who had
everything one could want in this
world. The chain Of events which al
tered all this was the most peculiar,
and l doubt whether you have ever
heard Of anything so strange. One
day whilst upon the scaffolding of
building / was erecting heavy storm
OF wind arose, and before could de-
scend some Of the supports gave way,
and was precipitated to the ground,
distance of forty feet, striking upon
my head. For long time everything
was blank. From what / have since
learned, however, it seems that 1
lowered for weeks between life
and death, and when / finally
recovered from the physical injuries |
had received my mind was entirely gone.
At times | was so violent that it became
necessary to place me in an asylum.
How or when escaped from the insti-
tuition | do not know, but escape | did,
taking a western-bound train and
coming to Denver. Here I secured en-
ployment and worked along quietly for
some months apparently as sane as
ever, but, strange to say, my
memory was entirely gone and
the past was all a blank. The
loving wife and child, the beau
tiful home and friends, all were as if
they had never existed. 1t was, per-
haps, three months after my arrival
that | became acquainted with young
lady living on California street, near
Fifteenth. In short time we were en-
gagged and the wedding followed soon
after. On the very night of the we'd
ding, however, while walking on FIJI
tenth street, was felled by a heavy
blow on the head from footpad and
was carried home insensible.
1t was some days before 1 recovered,
when, strange to say, the memory of
my old and other life returned. Oh!
the horror and agony of the moment.
l had deserted good wife, innocently,
it is true, and had unwittingly commit
ted bigamy. 1t was some time before
/ dared to face my second wife and tell
her the truth, and was at times tempted
to adopt the cowardly expedient Of
silence and endeavor to forget those to
whom l was rightfully bound by every
tie of duty and love. l fought off the
horrible temptation, however, and sum-
moned up courage to see the woman I
had so unintentionally wronged. She
came into the room where was lying,
and l shall never forget the painful
scene THAT ensued. ooh! Charles 4"
she said, coming up as if to caress me.
Then followed look of wounded love
and pride as l turned away coldly,
with guilty feeling mixed largely
with fear. "Am | not your wife,"
she pleaded in piteous tones, "Why do
you treat me SEP"
Finally told her the whole dreadful
story. With blanchsd face and staring
eyes she sat like q statue through it all
and then, giving one mighty shrek, fell
TO the floor in a swoon. The next day
she left the city, and in spite of every
effort to find her whereabouts for a
week l was compelled to abandon the
search. / have written home to St.
Louis and shall leave Denver tonight.
1t will be as if | had arisen from the
dead when my dear ones see me.