The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-01-25
TOO MUCH MARRIED.
An Atlanta Fireman Charged with Having
Four Wives, One OF Them from Plckens
and Another from Anderson County.
(From the Atlanta Journal)

Four Wives, One Of Them from Plckens
and Another from Anderson County.
(From the Atlanta Journal)
Benjamin Burton, supernumerary OF
the fire department., was arrested and
locked up at police headquarters this
morning on charge of bigamy.
This morning a Lady called at police
headquarters and had private talk with
the chief. She introduced herself as
Mrs. Benjamin Burton, OF Homer, Ga,
and stated that she married Mr.. Burton
about two years ago and separated from
him after learning that he had wives
elsewhere. Before marriage she was
Miss Lizzie KirKley. The lady had a
little girl with her Of whom M. Burton
was said to be the father.
1t was at the instigation of this lady
visitor that the chief arrested Burton.
This afternoon Mrs. Burton, of Homer,
will swear out warrant charging the
prisoner with bigamy.
Last August Burton married Miss
Della Wilson, daughter of MI. Riley
Wilson, in Atlanta, and if what Mrs.
Burton, of Homer, alleges is true, this
will make the fourth wife that he has
living.
He will be charged with marrying the
following ladies':
Miss Lizzie hirkley, of Homer, Ga.
Miss Lula Robertson, of Easley Sta
ton, S. C.
Miss Lula Hall, of Anderson county,
s. G.
Miss Della Wilson, of Atlanta.
Burton came to Atlanta three years
ago, and worked under Sanitary Officer
King for two years, and since last Au-
gust has served as q supernumerary in
the fire department.
The prisoner was seen by q Journal
reporter and asked what he had to say
about the charge OF too much wife, and
he replied:
"Why, 7 have only one wife and never
had but one, and that is the one that I
married last August, Miss Wilson. I
have never lived in South Carolina, nor
in Homer, Ga., and never married any
body in either place"
Chow old are you?'
"Iwenty-two."
"You must have.married very rapidly"
tYes, it seems SO from the charge
against me. But I am not the man
wanted by the alleged Mrs. Burton, from
Homer. She has simply made mis-
take"
"Where does your family ive?"
81 don't know. was born at Powder
Springs, and my people went from there
to ElbeDt county, and I have not heard
from them in several years.
stAnd the four wives are not yours"
"Only one of them is. Can't you send
word to my wife where I am?"
(Which wife,"
ssI have told you that had only one"
Inquiries were made Of some of the
members of the Ere department. rs 10
Burton's antecedents, but no one seemed
to know anything about him.
At $50 o'clock Mrs. Burton, formerly
of Homer, Ga, and working in Lynch's
tailor shop, called at police headquarters
and confronted Burton In the presence
of the chief of police, the Journal repor-
ter and others. A stupid stare was all
he could give the woman.
s:sI don't know You. Who are Jous'-
he stammered out.
"Oh, it is great pity you don't" re-
piled the little lady, and she proceeded
at once to give him piece Of her mind.
Burton, according to the woman's
statement, married first in South Carroll
ma; then married her; returned to South
C4rolina, married again, and then came
RI AtloD+o on5 uorrieS aosin
Mrs. Burton No. did not know OF
Mrs. Burton No. 4 until yesterday after
noon.