Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-07-21
MARITAL EFTA
A Man Named Phelps Arrested for Biga-
myths History.

my-h1s history
PoUeHKEEPs1E, N. Y, July 16.-De-
tective Hartman, of Chicago, yester-
day entered TIE Office of John A.
Phelps, superintendent of the F'ishklll
Landing & Mattewan Water Works,
at Fishkill Landing, and arrested him
on a charge of bigamy. The detective
says that in 1876, John A. Phelps was
q resident of Springfield, Mass, and
president of a railroad running through
that place. In 1865 he married Helen
E. Clark, at Northampton, and in
1876 they were living in one
of the finest places in Spring
field, worth $4,000 or 100000.
They had q sewing girl named Fanny
Thayer, and Phelps becoming infatu-
ated with her went away with her to
| Paris, remaining there two years.
While there he sent for his wife, to ef-
feet, if possible, a reconciliation. They
met in Liverpool. She returned to
America without him, but he followed
soon after and went back to Spring
field. In the meantime child
had been born to him by Fan
ny 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
ioined'Miss Tnayer, the two going to
Maryland, where Phelps and his father,
Willis Phelps, were building arailroad.
Unbeknown to his wife ne brought a
divorce suit, and was given decree.
His wife, learning the fact, procured
counsel, and in January. 1882, the
divorce obtained was set aside on the
ground of perjury, conspiracy and
fraud. Phelps next went to ST. Paul,
Mimi, with Fanny 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, D. IT,, and Phelps there
started another divorce proceeding.
The suit came up, no defense being ex-
pected. At the opening of the court,
however, Judge Mart. Bangs, formerly
United States district attorney, got
up and told the court that he repre-
sented Helen E. Phelps, who was the
legal wife of John A. Phelps, and was
ready for the trial. This was bomb
shell, and at once the case on the part
OF Phelps was adjourned and has not
come up since. Two months ago the le-
gal wife OF Phelps accidentally met him
attempted to follow him; but losing
track OF him she sent for Detective
Hartman. The detective learned that
he was uperintendent Of the Malta
wan and Fishkill Landing works and
the arrest followed. Mr.. Phelps is a
quiet, gentlemanly man, and very at
tentive to business. His alleged wife,
Fanny Thayer, is a young and hand
some woman. Phelps has son by
wife No. /, who has just been gradu-
ated from Yale College and is now
boarding at the Mount Guilian House,
Fishkill Landing. The father of
the accused man died at Spring
field, Mass, two years ago, and left q
will giving his son, Henry, who is a
wealthy resident of Minnesota, $780,
600 out and out, and to John W., the
same amount, in trust, the estate
being valued at over 100000; and
the will further states that under no
consideration shall any part Of the
money go to Fanny Thayer. The
document is now being con-
tested in the Massachusetts courts.
|
the sheriff's Office in Pough-
keepsie, and Judge Guernsey. of
the county court, was sent for, to
whom the detective showed a requisi-
ton from Gov. L. E. Hubbard, of Min
nesota. Then Phelps showed g. certifi-
cate of his marriage with Fanny Thay-
er in Jersey City, on June 3, 1885, and
a paper certifying that on July 2g,
1881, he was granted decree of d.
vorce from his wife, Helen E. Phelps,
in Cass County, Oak. He was willing
to acknowledge his identity as
the man wanted. After Judge Guern-
sey decided to deliver Phelps to the
detective, Phelps and the latter had a
talk in which the prisoner hoped he
would not be bandcuffed The officer
told him he would extend any reason
able kindness If he would not abuse
the leniency shown. The officer and
his prisoner started for the West on
an evening train.