The Republican journal., 1888-04-05
Murch's Many Wives.
HE LEAVES A LYNN BRIDE ONE WEEK AFTER
MARRIAGE. SHE MAKES A SUIT OF CLOTHES
IN WHICH lie MARRIES ANOTHER WOMAN.

HE LEAVES LYNN BRIDE ONE WEEK AFTER
MARRIAGE. SHE MAKES A SUIT OF CLOTHES
IN WHICH HE MARRIES ANOTHER WOMAN.
LYNN. March 30. In 1885 there came to
Lynn, from the Pine Tree State, man who
called himself George W. Murch. and who
found employment AS a carpenter lie was 40
years of age and appears to have been most
comely to look upon, at least in the eyes of
maidens of uncertain years. At any rate, GER
tain it is that he proved most fascinating 10
one Miss Henley, a tailoresS on Market street.
fairly well-to-do. She had il bank account and
a very comfortable little nest egg for matr-
mony, accumulated by her thrift and economy.
The carpenter was not long III ascertainng
this. He laid siege to Miss Henley's citadel.
and all too quickly her heart succumbed.
They We're married. Murch head of the
house took charge of the account, it would
seem. and then, like the volatile Alfred Jingle.
skipped the town. He had business in Maine
to call him away, and he left his fair bride of
less than Il week, before the honeymoon had
hardly commenced. After brief time there
came a loving opi>tle. Would his sweet wife
in Lynn, knowing his measure, supply him
with a suit of clothes:
Certainly she would. She did. And wove
into gusset and seam who knows how many
signs and heart throbs. The suit was finished
and sent. All me! Could only the fair bride
have seen what part that suit Was to play in
the woodland groves of Maine.
No more was heard from George. Maine
was good enough for him. and he wanted no
more of Lynn. The epi>tlcs grew shorter and
shorter and came at longer and longer inter
walls. When the billet iouN ceased altogether
the kindly offices of District Officer Joe Shaw
were called in. 1t didn't take long for that
lynX-eyed official to dig out George W. Murch's
matrimonial record, and What tale be did un-
fold to the astonshed~ pinster.
In the very first chapter. starting out Oh
youths bright page, George was found to have
married Annie Hopkins, on the banks of the
blue Androsco9gin, and TO have lived with her
until their only child was grown up. Mrs.
Murch. No. l, was found to have rot divorce
from George, but even before she had obtain
ed complete legal separation, that alnorous
gentleman had led to the altar. in the rural
Village of China. fair Bertha Parnienter. The
marriage was not legal. because Annie Hop
knS had not got Il full divorce, her decree be-
ing only nis. but neither George nor Bertha
were up in Latin, and their lack of classical
lore did not disturb their happiness. They
lived together until George wanted to 20 to
Boston to see the elephant. He Went. he saw
it. and he settled i'm Lynn.
Very soon he came back quite flush. lie did
the square thing by Bertha. He married her
been doing in Lynn. at least so the officers be-
leNe. He and Bertha Went TO Burnham. and
far in the woods, away from the noisy. wicked
world. they built their nest close by the bor-
der, of Unity. If Miss Henley could have seen
how we'll her suit of clothes set on her dear
George when he stood up before the altar the
second time with fair Bertha 10 he remarked
All of this the keen-eyed Joe Shaw discover
ed. Then when Mrs. Murch Of Lynn told how
her little store had vanished With her husband,
his symnathie> Were aroused He went to
Governor Ames about it. The Governor felt
bad too. lie granted rcqli>ition and. taking
his brother officer, Batcheltler of the district
force. along With him, Mr.. Shaw wcnl to
Maine. He called on the Governor al the state
House at Augusta and got his signature to Il
little document, and then he dropped down the
Maine Central to Burnham. He got ont there
and found that his man was still further OF on
the Belfast branch. near | nifty.
Mr.. Shaw is noted for one distinguished
characteristic. perseverance. lie W unt TO nifty.
There had been Il fre>hct George Wa still
four miles off in the forest. The only carriage
road crossed the turbulent stream by a bridge.
hut the bridge had gone down in the food.
There was only one thing else to do--foot it,
The deputy sheriff at Eurnham said Murch was
hot tempered and a rough customer to deal
with. He advised calling on George after dark.
especially AS the obligin@ postmaster at lily
knowing there WAS no chief Of police i'll the
village, had taken or himself the responsibility
of opening letter received fortnight before
addressed TO such officer. and after the good
crossroads fashion. all the ncighbors that drop
ped round knew that Geor-e ". Murch had
got another wife up in Massachusetts thai
wanted him to come lack. George heard il
naturally among the rest. and had dreamed Of
blue coats and brass buttons ever since. The
deputy sheriff thought that George had better
be called on after dark. SO the three Officers
walked in the dark over the country road to tn,