Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-28
UNITED AFTER MANY YEARS.
a Wedding Delayed Because the
Groom was WrOngfulIy Con.
victed OF nurder.

4 special dispatch from st. Joseph
(Mo.) says: A wedding of more interest
than is usually attached to events where
the parties are so little known occurred
to-day about four miles west of st. Jo-
seph. The contracting parties are W. II.
Potter, living near Denver, Col, and Mrs.
Julia Crumm, who for a few years
past has made her home with her
brother, Henry Withers, in Doniphan
county, Kansas. Both the parties are Of
middle age, and had not seen one
another for years until a few months
ago. When they were children they
went to school together in Carroll coun-
ty, Kentucky, and when Potter was a
Young man of twenty-one years and
came West be was betrothed to julia
Withers, who was the belle OF the neigh
bOrhood. Potter went first to Kansas,
and then 10 the mountains, returning to
visit his old home twice in five years.
On the last visit it was agreed that the
marriage should take place the following
spring, by which time he hoped TO have
enough money make his home what he
thought it should be. He returned West
and was not heard from for years. Some
one who had known him in the noun
talns happened to pass through his
Kentucky home and circulated the story
of his death, founded upon a rumor. as
it aiterward appeared.
His sweetheart monrned him as dead,
and in two years welded his rival, with
whom she lived happily for about eight
years. Her husband died in 1885, when
she came TO Doniphan county TO make
her home with her brother, having no
children and no nearer relatives in Ken
tucky. Her husband left her con
siderable fortune, and as her forty years
sat lightly upon her she soon became
the centre Of an admiring circle OF
friends.
A few months ago Pottercam through
st. Joseph, quite accidentally, on his
way to Chicago. He met Withers at the
Union depot, and, what is most singular,
the men knew each other. Explanations
followed, and Potter was driven to the
pleasant country home of the Withers
family. He met his sweetheart of early
days, and the old love, which had not
ceased to burn in their hearts through
long years, soon made itself felt. The
courtship was commenced where it had
been broken off, and the two were mar
ried, leaving this evening for Mr.. Pot
tors home, near Denver.
The strange part of the story is yet to
come. Potter, while working in the
mines, had been accused OF numbering
his partner Not being able TO establish
bis innocence at the trial, he was con-
victed, and the sentence committed TO
Imprisonment for life, several good rea-
sons appearing for this. Too proud TO
inform his sweetheart or family Of his
disgrace, he did not write any let
ters home about it. The story Of
the crime did not reach them. The
murder was committed in a new
claim which Potter and his part
ner had just begun to work in New
Mexico, and it was not known there what
part OF the East he had come from.
After he bad been in prison nearly five
Gears a man who was 10 be hanged made
a confession clearly establishing Potter's
innocence, and he was released. He
went at once to Client, Ky, but found
bis intended bride was another's. With
out making himself known he left the
place and returned to Denver, where
he soon amassed a considerable for
tune by speculation. He was on his way
10 Chicago to dispose of some property
when he accidently met his old school
mate, Henry Withers, in st. Joseph.