St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-17
CUPID IN THE COURTS.
Mr. John A. Phelps En- Route From the
East in Charge of Chicago
Detective.
Despite the Getting Of One or Two Di-
vorces He is Charged With
Bigamy.
Sir Charles Dixie Testifies in His
Own Behalf in the Crawford
Case.
A Brooklyn Divine Charged With
Aggravated NauShtiness by His
Wife.
MIR. Phelps, Domestic Troubles.

MIR. Phelps Domestic Troubles.
PoUGHKEEPsIE, n. Y, July 16.-De-
tective Hartman of Chicago yesterday
entered the office of John A. Phelps, super
intendent of the Fishkill Landing and Mat
tewan water works. at Fishkill Landing,
and arrested him on the charge of bigamy.
The detective says in 1879 John A. Phelps
was a resident of Springfield, Mass, and
president Of a railroad running through the
place. In 1865 he married Ellen e. Clark
at Northampton, and in 1876 they were liv-
ing in one of the finest places in Springfield,
worth $50, 900 or 5000 They had a
sewing girl named Fannie Thayer, and
Phelps becoming Infatuated with her, went
away with her to Paris, remaining there
two years. While there he sent for his
wife. to effect if possible, a reconciliation.
They met in Liverpool She returned to
America without him, but he followed soon
after aud went back to Springfield. In the
meantime
A CHILD HAD BEEN BORN
to him by Fannie Thayer in Paris. Phelps
lived with his wife long enough to get her
to sign away the Springfield home and then
went off again and joined Miss Thayer, the
two going TO Maryland where Phelps and
his father, Wallace Phelps, were building a
railroad. UnbeknOWn to his wife he
brought divorce suit and was given de-
cree. His wife leorning the fact procured
counsel and in July, 1882. the divorce OBJ
tanned was set aside on the ground of per-
jury conspiracy and fraud. Phelps next
went to st. Paul, Mimi, with Fannie
Thayer, and married her and went with her
to Washington, where they learned that
the divorce had been set aside. They at
once started for Canton, Oak, and Phelps
there started another divorce proceeding.
The suit came up, no defense being eX-
pected. At the opening of the court, how
ever, Judge Mart Bangs, formerly United
States district attorney, got up and told the
court that he represented Helen E. Phelps,
who was the legal wife of John A. Phelps,
and was ready for the trial.
THIS WAS A BOMBSHELI,
and at once the case on the part of Phelps
was adjourned and has not come up since
Two months ago the legal wife of Phelps
accidently met him in Fourteenth street,
New York. and attempted to follow him,
but losing track of him, she went for De-
tective Hartman. The detective learned
that he was superintendent of the Mattawan
and FiShkill Landing works. and the arrest
followed. Mr.. Phelps is a quiet, gentle
manly man, and very attentive 20 business.
His alleged wife. Fannie Thayer, is young
and handsome woman. Phelps has a son
by wife No. l, who has just been graduated
from Yale college, and is now boarding at
the Mount Guilian house, Fishkill, Land
ing. The father of the accused man died
at Springfield, Mass, two years ago,
and left will giving his son Henry, who is
a wealthy resident of Minnesota. $500, 600
out and out, and to John W, the same
amount in trust, the estate being valued at
over $500, 900, and the will further states
that under no consideration shall any sapart
of the money go to Fannie Thayer The
document is now bring contested in the
Massachusetts courts.
THE PRISONER
was taken to the Sheriff's Office in Pough-
keepSie and Judge Guernsey of the county
court was sent for, to whom the detective
showed a reQuisitiOn from Gov. L. T. Hub
bard of Minnesota. Then Phelps showed
a certificate of his marriage with Fannie
Thayer i'll Jersey City on June 3, 1885. and
paper certifying that on July 30, 1881, he
was granted a decree of divorce from his
wife, Helen E. Phelps, in Cass county, in
Dakota. He was willing to acknowledge
his identity as the man wanted. After
Judge Guernsey decided to deliver Phelphs
to the detective, Phelps and the latter had
talk, in which the prisoner hoped he
him he would extend any reasonable kind
ness if he would not abuse the leniency
shown. The officer and prisoner started
for the West on an evening train.
ST. PAUL DEVELOPMENTS.
It has come to the surface that Mr..
Phelps first wife and Hartman, the de-
tective who made the arrest were in st.
Paul a little more than a week ago in quest
of evidence against Phelps and they visited
White Bear ana in the justice court there
filed action for divorce. The complaint filed
charges Phelps with polygamy, and alleges
that be is a fugitive from justice. Why
the action was brought in this court is not
quite clear, but it is explained that Phelps
has warm friend in st. Paul who would
have notified him if the application
had been filed in the courts here. In 1881.
Nov 4, marriage license was issued to
Phelps and Miss Thayer by the clerk of the
courts of Ramsey county, and they were
pastor of Christ church, this city. MI.
Phelps is expected to arrive III st. Paul in
a few days in the custody of the officers, to
answer to the complaint made against him.
FROM FARGO.
Special to the Globe.
FARGO, Oak, July 16.-In the dispatch
4lOiiA L OuSllhVClSlC, ~. IO-udy III
ence to John A. Phelps, arrested for
bigamy, on a requisition Of the governor of
Minnesota, reference is made to his Fargo
divorce of 1881. These facts are gathered
in reference to the matter: Phelps came
from Massachusetts to Fargo in the spring
or summer Of 1881, and On the goth of july
of that year instituted suit for divorce
through his attorneys, Benton & Mcconnell
Judge Hudson being on the bench. On
Nov. following the decree was granted.
and the next day in st. Paul he married
Miss Thayer, with whom it is said
he had been travelling in Europe.
Some time afterwards. his wife
having heard for the first time
OF the divorce proceeding. came on to
Fargo and had the decree opened and set
aside, on the ground of fraud and perjury
committed by Phelps in obtaining the same.
She had as counsel Spaulding & Temple
ton. S. G. Roberts and Gov. Austin. The
order vacating the decree was granted and
filed March 4, 1882. While in Fargo,
Phelps bought good deal of property,
some of which, it is said, he still owns. and
like many other moneyed men who engaged
in speculation here during the boom days,
lost considerable.