The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-12-06
TOO MANY MRS. SMITHS.
\ " Death Bed Marriage "
Followed by an I'm
expected Recovery.

nndef $4,000 bonds.
Isabella Smith, nee Conerty, of No. ia
Henderson, fair looking, well built
woman, stylishly and neatly dressed,
swore that She was married to Smith
one summer morning about two years
ago. while lying on. what at
that time, was supposed to be
her dying beo. The ceremony was per-
formed by the Rev. Father Sullivan of st,
Michaels Church, and was witnessed by
her father and mother and lady wit
ness.
The mother and the lady witness are now
dead. She is twenty three years old and
had one young child which she brought
into the court DR.. AcI Ian ghlip. Of Jer=
sey avenue, was attending her during her
illness at the time the marriage ceremony
was performed. She did not care to state
the nature of her Illness.
She recovered, and for some time after
ward Smith was dutiful husband. Dur
ing her rel cital Smith hung his head.
THE SECOND MARRIAGE.
1t seems that Smith, who is stout,
smooth faced, light complexioned man
of about twenty five wears, subsequently
young woman by the name of Sarah
Smith, who works in one of the silk mills
in West Hoboken. She is said to be
rather giddy. but induced Smith to marry
her. The ceremony was performed by
the Rev. j. B. Taylor, of the Palisade NJ
E. Church.
When the first wife heard OF the second
marriage she Immediately reported the
matter to the police and Detectives Clos
and Dalton were put upon his tracks.
He was not living regularly with Mrs.
Smith No 2, and having entirely deserted
Mrs Smith No. l, the detectives had con-
siderable trouble in locating him, but got
hnlf NJ n oA11r.a IA
in court this morning. They are now
looking for Mrs. Smith No. 2.
THE CERTIFICATES.
Copies of both marriage certificates
were produced in evidence. They read as
follows:-
James Smith and Mary A Farrell, and Isabella
Conerty. daughter of Francis and Catharine
Feeley, were lawfully married in St. hIchaels
Church, by Rev. A. Sullivan, on July ls, 1887.
Mgr. j. D. CoScILIo, Rector
Per j. j. BoYLAN, Asst Rector.
December 4, 1889
This is TO certify that l married James Smith,
OF Jersey City, and Sarah Smith, of West Hobo
ken, on December 4, 1888, at my house and in the
presence of members of my family, and before
announcing the marriage ceremony asked the
either had ever been married before or had com
panions living. J. Z. TAYLoR,
Pastor of Palisade IL. E. Church
SMITHS STORY.
found him locked in cell with another
prisoner. He was not sullen. but ap-
peared to be dazed. When Sergeant
McGinness informed him that l wished
to talk with him ON the subject of his
arrest, he replied quietly: II don't
want to talk about the matter. l have
nothing TO say to reporter or anybody
about it,
Told him had heard the charges made
against him and would like his version
of the case. He preserved a uogged
silence. and at my request he was put In
another cell, away from his fellow priso-
ner.
then asked him if he had anything to
say about the first marriage. He replied
"No." Said I:-"Your wife testifies that
you were married to her when she lay
upon what she thought was her death
bed"
After pause he said:-"She is right !"
In response to other questions, he said
eve lived together at her mothers until
year ago last September. We got along
together well enough most of the time,
but often had quarrels."
What have you to say as to the mar
riage with Miss Smith by the Rev. Mr..
Taylor?" | asked.
''Well, that is true" he replied. 81 was
half crazy and did not know what I was
about. She didn't know that l had an
other wife,
He said he had been acquainted with
Miss Smith ABOUT a year before he married
her, and that she boarded with u private
family at the time.
Excepting that he was ignorant of her
present home | could get nothing more
from him, except the remark that when
he married her he was half crazed.
A CALL UPON WIFE NO. l.
Immediately after leaving the court
room Mrs. Smith No. proceeded to the
house of her sister, married lady. who
occupies the top floor of the tenement
house, No. 469 Henderson street.
She refused to speak word con-
cerning her domestic difficulties; but
from the conversation which fol-
lowed, the reporter CLEANED that Mrs.
Smith, nee Miss Co nerty's relations
with Smith had not been sanctioned by
the Church, hence the marriage cere-
mony at the supposed death bed. Smith,
w&o is well connected, but whose parents
are both dead is first-cousin of promi-
nent Catholic Clergyman of this city.
A year or more ago Mr. Smith deserted
Mrs. Smith No. l. while she was suffering
with infiammatory rheumatism. She was
taken to ST. Francis Hospital, where she
was tenderly cared for by the Sisters of
st. Francis.
1t was during her confinement in st.
Francis Hospital that Smith, who was
tending bar in eX-Freeholder Andy
Cullom's saloon. in Ferry street. Hobo
ken, became infatuated with and married
Mrs. Smith No. Q.
THE TWO WIVES MEET.
Mrs. Smith No. l was notified by Mrs.
Smith No. 2 OF the second marriage OF her
husband, who claimed she had not heard
of Smiths first marriage till after her
own marriage ceremony had been per.
formed. Mrs. Smith No. l discredits this
part of Mrs. Smith No. 2's story. She de-
clares that the latter knew of her hus-
bands marriage.