Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-07-23
DIVORCED IN DAKOTA.

DIVORCED IN DAKOTA.
Tho Decree Set Aside by an Eastern
Court-A Romance with an Enter
tainin. Dakota Chapter.
Poughkeepsie, N. Y, special: Detec-
tive Hartman, of Chicago. this morning
entered the Office of John w. Phelps,
superintendent Of the Fishkill Landing
and Matteawan water works, and ar
rested Mr.. Phelps on the charge of big.
amy. The story told by the detective
covers period of ten years and is
spread over several states and territories
and places on the European continent.
The detective says that in 1876 MIR.
Phelps was resident of Springfield,
Mass, and president of line of railroad
running through that place. In 1865 he
married Helen 3. CLARK, aG Nor.hamp-
ton, and in 1876 they were living in one
OF the finest places in Springfield, worth
$4,000 or 100000. They had a sewing
girl at work for them named Fannie
Ihayer. She was handsome and viva
cious, and Phelps, becoming infatuated
with her, went away with her
to Paris, remaining there two years.
While there he sent for his
wife to came to Paris, to effect if posi-
bic reconciliation. They met in Liver
pool, but she returned to America with
out him. He followed soon after and
went back to his home in Springfield.
In the meantime child had been born
to him by Fannie Thayer in Paris.
Phelps lived with his wife some time, or
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 Philips and
his father, Willis Phelps, who was one
of the Oldest railroad contractors in
America, were building railroad. From
Maryland Phelps went to Evanston, ILL.,,
twelve miles from Chicago, taking Fan
ME Ihayer and colored servant with
nlm. From Evanston he went to Fargo
with Ken Webster, chief of the Spring.
tield detectives, and unknown to mis-
wife started divorce suit, alleging in
his affidavit that he did not know his
wife's whereabouts, when the fact was
that he had met her only few days be-
fore at the Grand Pacific hotel, in Chi
cago.
The suit for divorce came up at the
proper time, and he received decree.
His wife, learning the fact, procured the
services of Detective Hartman. This
was in 1881.
The detective went to Fargo and en-
ployed ex-Gov. Austin as counsel, and in
January, 1882, the divorce obtained was
set aside on the ground of perjury, con-
spIracy, and fraud. Phelps next went
to ST. Paul, Mimi, with Fannie Thayer
and married her, and went with Ter to
Washington, where they learned that
the divorce had been set aside, and at
once started for Canton, In the north
west backwoods of Dakota, and Phelps
there started another divorce proceed
ing, and asserted that he had the Judge
fixed" and that if the proceedings were
not made known to his wife he would
have everything all right. He told De-
tectiye Hartman he had paid lots of
money for help to get the second divorce
started, and offered the detective money
| il he would not tell his wife of it. a
man named Tripp, of Yapkton, Dakota,
was Phelps attorney in the case.
Detective Hartman had put another
| man on Phelps. who tracked him to
| Canton and saw his connection with
Trip and the Judge referred to. the
suit was started at Canton and came up
within sixty days after tor trial, no de-
| fense being expected. At the opening
| of the court, however. Judge Mart Bangs,
formerly United States district attorney
in that locality, got up and told the
Judge that he represented Helen u.
Phelps, who was the legal wife OF Phelps
and was ready for trial. This was q
bombshell, and at once the case on the
part of Phelps was adjourned and has
not come up since. Then Phelps went
to st. John: New Brunswick, with
FANNIE and remained there until recently
when they came to New York.
Two months ago the legal wife OF
Phelps aocidentiy met him on -Four.
| teenth street, New York, and attempted
to follow him, but losing track of him
she wrote to Detective Hartman, at Chi
cago, and asked him to come on to New
York and help to locate her husband.
The detective did SO, and finally learned
that he was superintendent of the Mat
teawan and Fishkill landing water works
and the arrest followed.
| Mr.. Phelps came to Fishkill Landing
aboutfour months ago with his alleged
wife and one child, little girl ten years
of age. He procured board at DR.
Young's house, where he has boarded
ever since. He is large, heavy man
square shouldered, and weighs 100 OF
2U0 pounds. His Office is in the Mem.
bers' building, FIshkili Landing, where
he was arrested. Those at the Landing
who know him say he is quiet, gentle
manly man and very attentive to bust
ness. His alleged wife. Fannie Thayer
is young and handsome woman.
Phelps has son by wife number one
who has Just graduated from Yale col
lege, snd is now boarding at the Mount
Glulian house, Fishkill Landing. The
father OF the accused man died OF Spring.
| field, Mass, two years ago, and left q
will giving his son Henry, who is q
wealthy citizen of Minnesota, $250,000
and to his son John W., the accused man
the same amount, in trust, the estate
being valued at over $500,O0O, and the
will further states that under no con.
lslieration shall any part of the money
tgo to Fannie Thayer. The document il
now being contested in the Massachu
setts courts.
When Detective Hartman and Officer
Willis Van Buren entered Pbelpss offic.
this morning the latter was busy writ
ing letters. Looking up, he recognized
the detective, with an expression O
astonishment on his face. The office
made known his business when Phelpl
said: well, / am ready to go, bnt
would Like to go to see lawyer, and 81
to the house and change my clothes an(
get some papers, The detective allowed
him to do SO in company with Office
1 Van Buren, and Phelps secured the ser
vices OF FL. FL. Hustis, of Fishkill Land