National Republican., 1886-09-07
GENIAL MRS. GRAY
Finds Her BIgamous Husband with
wife No. 2.
rPlt,sburg Dispatch. !

tPltisburg Dispatch.l
A remarkably handsome colored woman
walked into the mayors Office last evening
and inquired for Chief Blackmore. She
was an octoroon, whose face was intelligent
as well as beautiful, aud whose manners
plainly stamped her as being lady of
culture and refinement. Following the
chief into his private Office she took o
chair and said:
"Chief Blackmore, will you help me?r
"That's what am here for, madam" re-
piled the courteous chief as he stole an ap-
proving glance at the handsome face bent to-
ward him.
~ want to find my husband William II.
Gray, who has deserted me. NY object is
TO get divorce from him on the grounds
of desertion.n
She then related romatic history, Of
which this must necessarily be an epitome.
In November, 1873, she was married to Gray
BY Rev. Duburough, Of Philadelphia
William Fortin, the celebrated colored
orator, is friend Of the family, and she had
been his protege since childhood. She be-.
longed to the aristocratlc colored society of
the city Of Brotherly Love, while the man
she married was not I'm that line. Her folks
objected to her marrying Gray. She knew
he was beneath her socially, yet she loved
him and hoped TO bring him up to her
standard of a man. Her influence through
Mr.. Forth was their talisman.
She got for him n position on the Phila-
delphia police force, and when he got tired
Of that she secured him place in a Wash
ington hotel as waiter.
They had neatand dcomfortable little home,
but this was given up when Gray went to
Washington. His wife remained In Phila-
delphia, living In two rooms aud gaining
a livelihood by needle work. While Gray
was In Washington he became infatuated
with another woman. Reports of his al
legged infdelity reached Mrs. Gray, and she
visited her husband, who, by using adroit
words and phrases, succeeded In disabuslng
her mind OF his perfidy. She returned
home, and soon afterward received letter
from Gray, in which he stated that he had
married his new love and had started south
with her. He returned his wife's picture
and letters to her, and begged her TO not
think hard OF her rival, since 1t was his fault
and not hers that they had eloped.
Mrs. Gray did not do anything rash. She
just waited for time. 1t came at last. A
friend told her that he had seen Gray in
Pittsburg. She knew that the mother of
Gray's first wife lived in Allegheny, and
abe came oil here yesterday to satisfy
herself that Gray was here. She showed
| Gray's photograph TO Chief Blackmore who
told her that he knew the man by sight
and had often seen him on the streets.
He sent Detective Brophy along with her to
show where TO find the Allegheny colored
lady.
When Mrs. Gray arrived at the place she
met young girl who told her that Gray
was living with this other woman as his
wife and that he was working as a waiter In
| the Seventh Avenue Hotel. Detective
Brophy and Mrs. Gray returned to Chief
Blackmore and reported what they had
learned, and the chief sent Brophy with her
to the hotel, where Gray was found waiting
on the supper table.
He was arrested and taken to the mayors
office, where the chief, Mrs. Gray, and her
husband had chat. Gray admitted to
having married the other woman, but at
tempted to deny having been married to
| his wife, but she produced the marriage GER
tiflcate and carried her point She also
showed number Of letters throwing light
on their married relations that staggered
Gray, who ceased his bravado and grew
several shades lighter than his usual saddle
| colored complexion.
81 always knew what you were, Will,n
said his wife. 81 always knew you were
beneath me, but had hoped to educate you
and bring you up to my position. never
intended TO sink to your level. don't want
you. VIII, you are not the man to love and
trust.n swell, must say,n he responded
"that never could live happily with you; but
In spite Of all your dlsagreeable ways you are
decent and respectable as well as beautiful
Still don't want you." Gray was locked
up In the central station last night to await
| davplnnmante