St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-25
A Wife of John Wilkin Brings
Action for Absolute Di-
vorce From Him.
She Alleges That He Is at
u Present the Husband OF
II Six Wives.
A Gay Deceiver Who Came
I From a Wealthy and Re-
spectacle Family.
An Interview With the Father
q of the Much-Married
%
oe John.

y A very extraordinary and highly sen
sational suit for divorce was yesterday
filed in the district court. The story is
a revolving one, and the details, if true,
tell of most disgusting round of de-
bauchery and crime. Seldom is a case
of this magnitude filed in the courts,
and it is looked upon as something re-
markable. 1t has been in the "wind"
for some time, but was not disclosed
until yesterday.
The case is this:
Lille B. Wilkins is the complainant
against her husband, John wilkins. She
claims that she is thirty-twO years of
age, and her husband thirty-siX, and
that they were married the 27th day of
October, 1870, at FagunduS, Pa, by Rev.
p. p. Pinney, of the Methodist church.
She says that since that marriage she
has ever conducted herself as dutiful
wife, and that the many and divers
wrongs and grievances by him commit
ted, as hereinafter alleged, were wholly
without cause or DrOvOcatiOn on her
part. Plaintiff claims that from and
after the marriage, defendant and herself
lived and cohabited together as hus-
band and wife, up to and inclusive of
the time at which defendant abandoned
her. She alleges that May Z, A. d. 1887,
in st. Paul, he wilfully contracted a
certain pretended marriage with one
Emma StetsOn and committed the crime
of adultery. For a further, separate
and distinct cause of action, she claims
that soon after said last pretended mar
riage he pretendedly married another
woman in st. Paul by the name of Kate
Fox. Be a little patient, for this is not
all. For another separate cause of ac-
ton plaintiff says that between the time
last aforesaid and the 9th day of Oc-
tOber, 1887, the said defendant wilfully
contracted and had solemnized another
pretended marriage with woman,
whose surname is ''French."
NOR IS THIS ALL.
She claims another separate cause of
action, and says that during the sum-
mer of 1887, he wiltully contracted and
had solemnized another pretended mar
riage with a woman named Matte
BOwles. She AYERS that on the 27th day
of October, A. D., 1887, he abandoned
her and has ever since lived and cOhab-
tied in adultery with. at the city of
Cleveland, state of Ohio, with said
Emma StetsOn, and that they are now
living and cOhabiting together as man
eand wife at the place aforesaid. She
claims that she did not learn of any of
these several pretended marriages until
after the said 9th day of October, A.
d., 1887. To end the complaint she
AYERS that the defendant wilfully COM
mitted adultery with numerous other
numerous for the plaintiff, in
the interest of brief pleading,
to particulariZe and enumerate, and the
names of these women are unknown to
plaintiff, but she will make due proof
and fully discover to the court the fact
when on trial in the court.
The above is the complaint entire, but
there are still many Interesting facts
concerning the case left untold.
~. Mrs. Wilkin, the aggrieved wife, is
the daughter OF respected parents, and
is known as noble, patient,
HOUSEKEEPING
lady, who wishes nothing more than a
separation from this gay ''rounder," and
the rights she is entitled to under the
laws of the state and the constitution of
the United States. 1t is also said that
the proof she has of her recreant hus-
bands perfdy and numerous criminal
acts is complete and overwhelming.
Wilkln, the husband, is described as
a handsome, fascinating man, always
we'll dressed and with lots of money.
He is one of those dangerous men of
easy, fascinating manners, who are con-
stantly praying on the morality of So
ciety. He is the son of very wealthy
and influential parents IN Pennsylva-
mia, and it is said that his father is an
Oil man we'll known throughout Ohio
and Pennsylvania. When in st. Paul,
Wilkin led an aimless, dissolute life.
He did nothing but wander around,
spend his money and time in the inter-
est and society of women of questiOna-
BILE repute, and leave his little wife to
care for herself as best she could. This
Mrs. StetsOn, whom, it is alleged, he is
now living with in Cleveland, is, it is
said, old enough almost to be
his mother, and is COM
pletely in love with him.
She is worth $4,000 and has consider
able property and real estate in st.
Paul. Willlin is described, by lady
who knew him when he was here, as
medium-sized man. very erect in his
bearing. He is an elegant looking fell
low, with heavy brown mustache and
deep blue eyes, always dressed ele-
gantly. He lived in st. Paul four years
and claimed to the lady above men,
toned that he was starting an oil estab-
lishment here. He left ST. Paul Nov.
last. Mrs. Stetson, his present wife(?,
is fortysiX years of age, and weighs 2O6
pOuOdc