The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1888-01-25
TOO U C MARRIED.
an Atlanta Fireman Charged with Having
Fonr Wives, One OF Them from Pickens
and Another from Anderson County,

9" N'N'"ta FIREMAN Charged with Having
Fonr Wives, Ono OF Them from Pickens
and Another from Anderson County,
tFrom The Atlanta Journal.)
Benjamin Burton, Il supernumerary OF
the lire department, was arrested and
locked up at police headquarters this
morning on q charge of bigamy.
This morning a'lady called at police
headquarters and had q private talk with
the chief. She introduced herself az
Mrs. benjamin Burton, of Homer, Ga,
and stated that she married MIR. Burton
about two years ago and separated from
him after learning that he had wives
elsewhere. Before marriage sho was
a Miss Lizzie kirKl,y. The lady had Il
little girl with her of whom Mr.. 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 a warrant charging tho
prisoner with bigamy.
Last August Burton married Miss
Della Wilson, daughter Of MI. Riley
Wilson, III 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 margin (, the
- "hi6 lhNilCc.
Miss lizzie Kirkley, of Homer, Ga.
Miss Lula Robertson, OF Easley Sta
ton, S. G.
Miss Lula Hall, of Anderson county,
$. 9.
Miss Della Wilson, of Atlanta.
Burton came to Atlanta three years
ago, and worked under Sanitary Officer
hlng Tor two years, and since last Au-
gust has served as O supernumernry in
the fire department.
n prisoner was seen by q journal
reporter n asked what he had to say
about the charge of too much wife, and
he replied:
"NNby, | have only one wife and never
had but one, and that is the one that
married last August, Miss Wilson. |
have never lived II South Carolina, nor
IN Homer, Ga, and never married any
body in either place"
"How old are yon?'
"Iwcnty-two."
"You must hnvo,married very rapidly"
"1es, 1t seems so from the charge
against me. But | am not the man
wanted by the alleged Mrs. Burton, from
Homer. She has simply made G. mis-
take"
"Wherc does your family live?"
81 don't know. j was born at Powder
Springs, and my people went from there
to Ebert county, and have not heard
from them in several years"
"And the four wives are not yours?"
"Only 4 of them is. Cant you send
word to my wife where 1 amp"
(Which wife,"
81 have told you that | had only ono"
Inquiries were made of some OF the
members of the fire department as to
Burton's antecedents, but no one seemed
to know anything about him.
AT 2.3O o'clock Mrs. Burton, formerly
of Homer, Ga, and working in Lynchfs
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.
81 don't know you. Who are your"
he stammer,d out.
"Oh, it is a great pity you don't" re-
piled the little lady, and she proceeded
a. once to give him q piece of her mind.
Burton, according to the wonan'e
statement, married first in South Cnroli-
M; then married her; returned to South
Carolina, married again, and then came
to Atlanta and married again.
Mrs. Burton No. 2 did not know of
Mrs. Barton No. 4 until yesterday after
noon.