The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-08
A STRANGE CASE OF BIGAMY.
Missing Mrs. Graham Last Heard of with
Her Husband in st. Louis,
Who at that Time Was Married to Another
Woman-Singular Circumstances Con-
nected with the Case.
st. Louis Republican.


Private Detective Frank Erskine and Mr.. d. S.
Gorham, of South St Louis. the latter an uncle
of the missing lady, have been prosecuting what
so far appears to be vain search for her. The
circumstances connected with her disappearance
are. to say the least, peculiar. From Mr.. Cor
ham, who lives on Vulcan street in Carondelet,
Republican reporter obtained statement yes
terday that ran about as follows: In the year
1872, Sarah Gorhaln, my niece, was married at
her fathers residence near Fort Wayne, Ind, to
young man named George e. Graham. They
to the penitentiary on the charge
of stealing horse. After this
misfortune of Mrs. Graham brought suit for a
divorce. which she obtained. AS soon as Ora
ham was released from the penitentiary he made
love to his divorced wife secretly and won back
her love. In 1878 the couple were remarked and
lived together until about year ago, when the
lady left her husband at Washington, Kan. Last
fall the couple met in this city. Mrs. Graham
wrote two letters from ST. Louis to her sister in
Fort Wayne, after which the correspondence
suddenly ceased Nothing more was heard of
her, and no one has been able to obtain the
slightest trace of her since that time. Her
friends have almost despaired of ever learning
her fate A strange circumstance connected
with the affair is that Mr. Graham was suddenly
wanted in Springfield about the time of the dis
appearance on the charge of forgery. 1t was
charged that he forged two notes for small
amounts. This case was placed in the hands of
Mr.. Erskine.
Graham took his two boys. one nine and the
other six years of age, to Brookline, Mo-, and
gave them to a family. After separating from
his wife the last time he went to Springfield,
Mo-, and married Miss Cora Lee. an adopted
daughter of Mrs. Emma Molloy, the temperance
lecturer. It was after this marriage that he met
his first wife in this city and lived with her two
weeks. 1t is strange that he took his two chill
dren from this city to Brookline without also
taking with him his wife. No one has yet been
found who can tell where the couple stopped
when In St Louis None of their relatives APP
pear to be able to throw any light whatever on
the subject.
Mr.. Gorham said he believed Graham edited
temperance paper at one time in Elgin Ill,
where he also worked for large publishing
house.
When the case was put in the hands of Detect
i've Erskine the following description of the
missing lady was given him: Maiden name, Miss
Sarah Gorham age, thirty four years; height
five feet and five inches; weight, 100 pounds; eyes
very light blue, approaching steel-gray; complex
ion somewhat sallow; nose slightly turned up and
nostrils thin; lips very thin; mouth large; wears
false bangs; bends upper part of the body for
ward considerably in walking; dresses almost
always in black cashmere; fathers address, Mar
brothers, Alfred and Wakefield Gorham, etc
When excited her face wears pinched look.
In response to questions asked Mr.. Erskine re-
ceived the following letter on the Goth of Janu-
airy last from the Mrs. Abbie Bruse of Fort
Wayne, the missing woman's sister:
Mr.. Frank Erskine-Your letter just received.
My sister left here Fort Wayne) Sep %, taking
the o'clock train on the Wabash road. George
met her [meaning Grahaml on some bridge just
this side of st Louis, taking her to some hotel
ha of
noon of the next day. When she
wrote me they could not 60 to my
uncle's in the morning account of the rain,
but started in the afteroon and missed the train
She did not say where they We're stopping, nor
when they expected to go on to Springfield. We
have never heard from her since the Goth of
September I will send you a letter George
wrote, telling why she could not write. We have
had several from him, always saying she was
with him. No; the children are not with me. I
have written several times for them. don't
know whether those women will give them up OF
not If not we shall force them to do 80. You
could, perhaps, get some information by writing
to Mr. John Potter, of Brookline Station. and
having him question Charles. We heard there
was an unknown woman found in the Mississip-
p about the last of September or first of Octo-
Der, in your town, with shawl tied around her
head. This seems to be all the information
can give YOU Praying God you may restore her
to us alive and we'll, remain yours,
MRS ABBIE BRUsEn
Acting upon the suggestion in the above letter
Mr.. Erskine then wrote to Mr.. John Potter, of
Brookline Station, Mo-, and that gentleman re-
piled in these words:
Dear Sir-I can't get to talk with the children
at ALL as they are watched and kept away from
here. / think if You could send somebody
around and get the confidence of the boys the
matter can be unraveled. fear / cannot do
anything with the boys"
Mr. Edward c. Davis, of Sprins field. Mo-.
wrote this statement and forwarded it to Mr.
Erskine:
Some one has been to see some of Mrs Mol
logs folks. and the two boys, sons of the miss
ing woman, refuse to say anything about their
mother, but have got an appointment with one
of them, and will get everything out of them
that | can, and let you know the result If
Mrs Graham is found George Graham is guilty
of bigamy. Frank, will do all can to help
you find the missing woman. am going to try
and get hold of George Graham, and l think
will in few days. as / have got some very good
points. Yours respectfully, ED c. DAVIS"
Late in January the Fort Wayne Daily News
significant. Among the number was the fol-
lowing from Graham's little boy to Mrs. Abbie
Bruse:
Dear Aunt seat myself to let you know
that me and Roy is we'll at present and hope this
may find you the same Mother came to St.
brought Us to Brookline, Mo. We have never
heard of mother since Pap married Cora Lee
July 49, 1885"
A letter from George E. Graham to Mrs.
Brese, dated Paola Kan, Jan. IA, 1886:
Dear Abbie-Since writing you few days
since have concluded that / am about tired of
your folks writing about the country about me-
and we have decided to take walk and go far
enough this time so we will not be disturbed by
your heathenish letter-writing. AS you didn't
seem inclined to give me any information about
our goods. will send an officer after them when
we want them. When you hear from us again,
you will be civilized enough not to act so cranky.
Now go ahead and write to all the people of
Brookline or Springfield If you want to-"
John Potter Of Brookline No., to Mrs Abbie
Brnse, of Fort Wayne, Ind: You will find
inclosed an account of check forger, which was
published this morning in our county paper
sent Mr. O'Neal, constable of our town, to the
farm last Tuesday, and Mrs Graham No 2 told
him to cali On Monday Jan. Is. as Mr.. g.
was gone to Indiana, and would return Monday
manning Int hx thu inclosad xha+