Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-15
MINISTER LowEIn INDIGNANT.
An Alleged Bigamist Makes a Scene at
the Embassy and Demands His Wife.

the Embassy and Demands His Wife.
LONDON, Jan. ia sad story of do
mestic misery between an American
couple has just come to light through the
intervention of the American Legation in
London. The husband is H. S. Hicks,
who was married at Buffalo in 1873 to
Miss Caroline Sloane, daughter of Judge
Sloane of that city. 1t was known that
Hicks had been married before, and,
in order to satisfy the scruples OF
Miss Sloane and her relatives, he
made an affidavit, just before his SOC
ond marriage, that he had not seen his
first wife for seven years, and that he be-
lieved she was dead. Soon after their
marriage Mr.. and Mrs. Hicks came to
England, and for the past few years they
have lived in London. During this time
three children were born to them. From
the first, however, Mrs. Hicks had been
haunted by the fear that the first wife
was alive, and that Hicks would desert
his new family for her. Eleven weeks
ago Mrs. Hicks found in the in
ner band of Mr.. Hicks hat two photo
graphs which had been recently taken,
and which cOrrespOnded with the descrip-
tions she had heard of the first Mrs. Hicks.
Her husband had lately been very remiss
in his attentions to his family, and
was spending more and more of his time
away from home. The second wife became
satisfied that she had been willfully de-
ceived for years and she fled from home,
taking her three little children with her
When Hicks returned to his house be
was maddened to find that his wife had
escaped, and seemed to be especially
angered by the loss of his children. With
the aid of private detectives he secured
London, and finally discovered the fugi-
tives, who had taken refuge in lodging
behind a rag shop in NOttinghill, and
were almost destitute. Hicks ordered his
wife to return home. She taxed him
with his deceit, and he refused either to
admit that he was guilty or to relieve her
fears by denying the charge. He threat
ened to have her arrested and her children
taken from her if she did not speedily re-
turn. In order to gain time she promised
that she would return to Hicks house
with her children on the following Friday.
AS soon as Hicks left the lodgings Mrs.
Hicks hurried to the American Embassy
in the members mansions, Westminster,
and claimed protection as a distressed
American citizen. She related her his
tory, exhibited proofs of Hicks continued
ill usage and expressed her belief that
his first wife was alive and in London.
Mr.. White, the Second Secretary of Le-
cation, champiOned the lady's cause, and
secured lodgings for her and her children
where they would be safe from mOlesta-
tion.
In some way Hicks heard of this, and
he called upon Minister Lowell at the
latter's private residence. Mr.. Lowell
had not heard of the case, but promised
to give it his attention and to meet Hicks
at the offices of the Legation on Monday.
In the meantime Mr.. White explained
the case to Mr.. Lowell, who heartily ap-
proved of Mr.. Whites action. Hicks
called on Monday, but was refused an
interview with Mr.. Lowell. He roared
with rage at this rebuff, and demanded
his wite's address. This was also re-
fused, and Hicks became still more angry. |
He ragged up and down the office, bias |
pheming and vOwing that he would find |
means to smash everybody concerned in !
what he called the conspiracy to rob him |
of his wife.
MIR. White was sent for, and he calmly |
but resOlutely disputed Hicks right to |
the possession of the lady or her chill |
dren. This produced a repetition of the |
yelling en- Hicks part, and the noise |
brought Mr.. Lowell to the scene. The
appearance of the Minister produced an
effect upon Hicks similar TO that caused
by waving red rag before a bull. He
redoubled his stamping and Oaths until |
his face became livid and his speech in |
coherent. Mr.. Lowell cOOlly waited for
him to become exhausted, and then said:
"This lady has not yet put herself under !
my official protection. If she does l will
willingly give it."
He then questioned Hicks, who ad- |
mitted that his first wife was alive. He
protested, however, that he would at
once take steps to geta divorce from her, |
and would then remarry his second wife. !
In the meantime he proposed to continue |
to live with the latter. Mr.. Lowell, upon |
nearing this proposition, Indignantly left !
the room. Hicks became more violent |
than ever, declaring that he would move |
heaven and earth to find his Caroline and !
his children, and swearing that at his |
next visit he would bring a revolver |
and compel the production of in |
formation as to where they were hidden. |
Finally Hicks became so obstreperous |
that policeman was sent for and he was |
eJected from the embassy, still raving and |
VoWlng vengeance. He went to a police |
court and demanded a summons for his |
wife, but the magistrate declined to in
terfere.
Mr.. White has since advanced money
to enable the unfortunate lady to return
to her friends in America, and she is now
on her way, with her children, to New
York. Hicks will probably follow.