The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-14
A MAN WITH MANY WIVES.
Trial of John L. Lee, Accused of Having Matri-
mOnial Relations with Four Women.

In the Criminal Court yesterday, before Judge
Norton, the trial of John L. Lee. for bigamy,
was on until the hour of adjournment in the
afternoon. This is a case of pitiable features.
The prisoner is charged with accomplishing the
crime within short distance Of his legal wife's
home. The victim, Della Haines, is quite young,
while the prisoner is past middle life. With ex
cuses of being off at his work as carpenter,
which would detain him for days at time, he
managed to keep up both homes, with his legal
wife living on Hoyt avenue and Miss Haines
staying with her mother on Greenwood street.
Witnesses testified that Lee had claimed Miss
Haines as his wife. Lawyer Hadley, who two
years ago filed petition in divorce for
Mrs Lee, was conversant with the prisoners
relations with that lady A few months since
there was trial before magistrate in reference
to the Haines property. Miss Della, on one oc-
casion, gave as witness, her maiden name, but
within day or two, when called again to the
stand, she hesitated about her name and wanted
to give that of Lee, but he would not permit her
to do 30, saying that as she had once styled her
self Haines, it would cause confusion to appear
under the name of Lee. At that time Mr.. Had
ley said the prisoner told him he was married to
tuo CIR. Ibis gave DepuLy SnerlH Ryan a cl6W,
which he used in tracing the particulars of the
allegations upon which he based the arrest of
Lee.
Miss Haines said they were married by a min
lister, but she could not name him, and the only
description she could give was that he was tall
and had black mustache. Other testimony
equally strong was brought out by the State.
The examination developed the fact that Lee
had had four women claiming him as husband.
One is, or was, in Kentucky; another met hor-
rible death, on Virginia avenue, by being burned
while attending a coal-oil stove; the third lives
on Hoyt avenue and the fourth is the proeecut-
ing witness, Miss Hanes.
A singular phase of the case is that the legal
Mrs Lee is taking the part of her husband. It
is understood that this is on account of prom
Use made by him to deed to her all his property.
and then leave the State if he is acquitted. She
does not propose to have anything more to do
with him.
The arrest occurred on the goth of August
this year. and the alleged marriage with Miss
Haines dates two months before that day, but
no one Is accurate about it. The de-
tense is trying to prove an albi in relation
to the date of the marriage He claims he
was with his wife several days preceding, as we'll
MS on that day. He wont on the stand and de-
MED the marriage, saying that his relations with
the Haines family did rot begin until after the
father had been sent to the Insane Asylum.
Mr. Haines suffered from blow on the head
caused by accident. Lee claims that his
living with Miss Della had her mothers consent
When he made this statement Mrs. Haines
tainted in court. and the feeling against the
man became intense The women present
wanted to get at him and tear him to pieces
The anger of the lawyers was only q little short
of this. The case will be renewed this morning