Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-09-21
He Has to Answer TO Fiye.COunt
Indictment, and viii Probably
be Convicted.
The Second Wife Proves to be an
Obtuse Witness-Her Husband
"Might" DO Many Things.


entered plea of not guilty, and the jury
was therefore called.
Clarence p. Talbot, one of the first
twelve, was excused on account Of sick
ness, upon presenting surgeons certifi-
cate Louis Bamberger admitted pre-.
iudice against these cases, and said that
guilty as soon as they are indicted He
was therefore excused. Joseph Foster
and Boman Cannon were then called in
place of these two, and the jury as com.
pleted stood as follows:
Albert Fisher, j. b. Wilson,
Alfred Thompson, George Mullett,
S. c. Underhill, James Winchester,
George Morrison, M. Dusseldorf,
Joseph Foster, Boman Cannon.
The indictment was then read charging
the defendant with living with Julia l..
Bergstrom, Minnie Osborne and Annie
Oman as his wives.
The examination of witnesses for the
prosecution was then begun by Mr..
Dickson.
Julia Bergstrom, the first wife, was
called and said: My maiden name was
Julia l.. Lawson before was divorced l
was called Julia Bergstrom; l was then
the wife OF defendant; l got a divorce
from defendant at the County Court House
about a year and a half ago; before the
divorce Minnie Osborne lived with me
Minnie Osborne was marred to him over
sixteen years ago; she lived with me
from the time OF the marriage up to a
year and = hall ago; many years ago she
went to live III little house at the side
OF mine not testify before the Grand
Jury thai We lived in the same house
the third wife, Annie Oman, lives in a
house on the same lot; my husband mar
ried her about six years ago; she has
children; my husband has not lived with
me since he married his third wife; no,
you bet, he never comes to see me; when
he came from mission he brought Annie
with him, and he lives with her; he has
never treated me as his wife since then;
have never seen him in my house within
the past three years
To defense: | made application for a
divorce on the ground that my husband
had deserted me- my husband has al
ways lived with the third wife since he
married her; don't think he has lived
with Minnie; | own the property on
which live; defendant has not, to my
knowledge, been out with Minnie.
Cross-examined by prosecution: From
the time my husband returned from his
mission up to the present time Minnie,
Annie, defendant and | all lived on the
same lot Excused.
Minnie Osborne, the second wife, was
then sworn | am married to defendant;
at the time of the passage of the Ed
munds law he told me he was not going
to live with me any more; remember
the fact OF the passage of the
Edmunds bill; | left Julia's home
a good many years ago; never saw my
husband in the house since that time;
my oldest child is little over three years
old this child is my husbands child he
must have visited me after the passage
OF the Edmunds law, because the child
had to be born; my youngest child's
name is Ida; my children bear the name
of Bergstrom; have to support myself
my husband sometimes gives my children
something; he never contributed to my
support; my husband has been there
several times during the past three
weeks he might have been in some days
and some days not; have no idea how
often he came; my child was taken sick
about a month ago; up to that time had
not seen him there for four years. have
never met him anywhere in that time.
Mr.. Dickson-Then how do you account
for the birth OF that child, when you say,
as you do, that you have never met your
husband within the past four years?
Mr. Sheeks objected to this, and quite
a heated discussion ensued between Mr..
Dickson and Mr.. Rawlins.
The Judge decided that witness should
answer the question.
Witness then said: 81 can't explain
that"
Mr.. Dickson-In view OF the statement
that your child was born on the 28th of
last month, do you now say that your
husband has not been in your house for
over four years?
Witness-No.
Mr.. Dickson-Was this child begotten
after or before you ceased to live to-
gether?
Witness-I don't remember; my best
recollection is that before the child was
born he told me he was only going to live
with one wife; can't tell whether or not
it was before this child was begotten.
Mr.. Dickson-You said a while ago
that it was possible for child to be be-
gotten without man and woman living
together Now, have you met your hus-
band within three years under circum-
stances that would make the birth OF a
child possible?
Witness-Neyer, since that child was
born my husband was living with Annie
at the time that child was born; he did
not come in to see it; l think he comes
70 see the children about once a week
this has been the case since we ceased to
live together.
To defense | have not recognized the
defendant as my husband during the past
few years; have never gone out with de-
PENDANT for years have never been pres
ent when he went into the house to see
the children; don't remember having
more than one conversation with defend
ant about the separation.
Cross-examined by prosecution: can't
remember having seen defendant in my
house during the time mentioned. EX
cused.
Annie Oman was called and said /
am married to defendant; | live in Il
house on the same lot with the preceding
witnesses; | have TWO children; the
youngest is about Il months old; my
husband lives with me all the time has
done so for five wears. Excused.
Clerk III. G.. Mcmillan TO Prosecuting
Attorney: | know the defendant Mr..
Bergstrom; within the past few days the
defendant asked me to introduce him TO
you and said that he didn't intend TO 90
to the Pen; he said that he was going to
plead guilty and promise TO obey the law.
Objected TO by Mr.. Sheeks.
Witness-He introduced the subject to
me; had said nothing to him before
that. after he mazda tba gtotpmant |