Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-07-27
A COMPLICATED CASE,
About to Come to Trial Over at
Bridgeport.
II the Alleged Criminal is Not Guilty,
He Bears a Remarkable
Resemblance to the
Real Cuiprit.

Jpss aex Bridgeport has on hands what
her Oldest snd sblest lawyers consider the
most eonplitated case they have ever seen.
The case 10 against one George Abbott. The
charge is bigamy, and theprosecutori is one
Hannah Abbott, of Durham, England.
The evidence, al circumstances thus far
developed shows, seems to- be against the
man, but the fact that he las known for the
past three months that the charges were
pending and the. manner which he displays
since his arrest seem to go q great way
toward provi Dg
HIS INNOCENCE.
Early last spring Postmaster Todd received
a letter addressed tc.the Registrar of the
county, asking for information concerning
the last resting place Of one George Apple
ton Abbott. No such'nsme could be found
on the books of the Comfy Trustees, and
the Postmaster wrote to Mrs. Abbott &C
cordipsly. Not long after Marshal McCon-
naugkey received a letter from Mrs. Alb
bolts father, John Cumnins, also of Dur
ham, giving q description which comes very
nearly talyiDg with the man who has ince
been arrested. He is described by Me.
Cummins as being FIVE feet ak inches tall,
q musician who plays the organ well, and
who bad a stoppage in his speech. In an
other'lsttez he states that Abbott
MARRIED HIS
in May. 1878, and that ore year after,
having treated her badly during that time,
he left her and went to America. After be
arrived in Bridgeport the letter states he
opened a correspondence with his wife, two
Of his letters being sent to the Marshal as
evidence. In one of these he talks very
a~ffectiosately, and in the other is a graphic
and rather amusing description Of the way
tropical fruits grow ~hereabouts, the fine
street railways, and the wild beasts which
ROAM THE WOODS
Of Belmont county, is given. In one of
,hese letters is a picture which, though it
may bear some resemblance to the q is
not q coed enough Likeness to convict him.
This picture was taken in st. Clairsville.
and represents a man with q beard and
mustaehe while Abbott wears only q mus
tache.
In the last letter which Mr.. Cummins
sent to the authorities here, he tells them
o apprebend their man Immediately and
10 let him know how soon himself and
daughter would be needed in Bridgeport
to attend the trial and testify in the case.
Mrs. Abbott says that about a year ago
last April her husband ceased writing to
her, and that she found out from his people
that be had died in Bridgeport, Ohio. She
accordingly wrote to the County Registrar
as mentioned above. From the answer she
received and the facts which have since
came to light, she feels positive that the
man now in custody is
HER HUSBAND.
George Abbott, the man arrested for the
crime Of bigamy, is an Englishman, and
cam to this country from Durham, he
claims the name of George Abbott, but says
he has no middle name. he arrived in this
country in 1878 and says he was working
on the Flushing tunnel on the C. l.. & W.
railroad in that year. He has a stoppage
in his speech and plays the orgaR, and has
given lessons on that instrument. About q
year ago he married Irene Yost, one of the
most respected young ladies in Bridgeport,
and it is for this that he is charged, as he
is by Mrs. Hannah Abbott, with
6igamy. The wife is almost heartbroken
over the affair and her family are plunged
into the deepest sorrow, but still they hold
him in perfect confidence, which has appar.
emily not been shaken in the least by
THE ARREST.
In conversation yesterday Mr.. Abbott
said he felt very badly about the matter,
principally on account Of his vile and her
family, but said he: Il would not leave,
and l defy anyone to prove what l. am
charged with to be true"
His fstherin-lsw, Peter Yost, went his
bail in the sum ofS4O0, until tomorrow at
4 o'clock, the time set for his preliminary
hearing. On the whole it is
AVER COMPLICATED CASE.
At first, from reading the letter and seeing
The cireumstsntial evidence one would al
mott instantly conclude that the man was
guilty, but when his acquaintance is made
and bis side Of the story is heard it seems
that he can hardly be guilty of the crime.
If he is guilty be has the most assurance
and self 60 troll of any one we haver met
He has retained Messrs. Alexander and
Mckee for his attorneys, while the prose-
cution will be represented at the preliminary
hearing by George Duncan, ESQ.
River News.
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