Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-02
HARFELD IS GUILTY.
A NEW YORK JURY DECIDES THE
CASE IN FIFTEEN MINUTES.
Given Five Years In Sing Sing and Fined
sI,oOO-Other Persons to he
Prosecuted.

The following special telegram to the
Dispatch from New York was received last
night:
1t took the jury in the case Of David
Harfeld. the Richmond pawnbroker, Just
fifteen minutes TO and him guilty OF biga-
my to-day.
II is also very likely that prosecutions
for perjury will be instituted against Rabbi
Harfeld the brother who performed the
ceremony between Harfeld and Hiss Sarah
Marks. knowing the groom 20 be mar
ried man.
The case was continued from Wednes-
day. with the introduction of more testi-
mony tending 20 show that the ceremony
was a marriage and not betrothal, "a
claimed by the defence.
HARFELD on TIE STAND.
Harfeld. the defendant. was then called.
He admitted his first marriage 10 Miss
Julia Harlan, but declared that she aban-
donod him. Miss Marks and her parents
knew that he was a married man three
days before the ceremony of the betroinal.
lie expected to set divorce and then
marry her. His object in going through
the ceremony was that be COuld take her
70 RichmoJid to see If his mother and his
betrothed could agree. In the Washington
sleeper he sat OF the side OF her berth all
night. aud at the hotel in Washington they
gazed out on the streets from separate win
dows. II developed that he registered her
as his wife at the hotel IN Washington.
Harfeld said that ne made an eRort TO
get his first wife 90 return to aim IN
March last. he met her IN Alderman Ben
nett's saloon on the BOwerv. Bennett
wa, a relative llo offered her u good
home, but she refused.
Al RICHMOND.
On the arrival Of the betrothed couple
in Richmond Haricld said they were met
by his sister aud mother. He slept with
his brother. Rabbi Harfeld. aud MIS-
Mark. slept with his mother.
"pidn't YOU telegraph your safe arrival,
signing it David llarteld and 3lrs. II. ;''
asked Assistant -Dislrict-Att0rney McDona.
II don't think SO / wanted 70 save
money hy toioGrephing the inltial,' SAID
Harfeld.
Az FXpFar.
The defence called Or Horny Gersoni, a
rabbi and the editor of the J'7risb AdCdnce,
ns an expert on Jewish marriages. lie said
hat the ceremony IN his opWion Was be-
trothal and not a marriage.
Rabbi Harfold was again called and again
declared the ceremony was distinctly stared
TO ho and was heirothal
Moritz kornbum and Ray Marks. very
pretty second edition If bliss sarah. both
swore 10 was % hetrOtnpl.
Lawyer solomon asked permission 20 IN
troduce the medical testimony OF ilr John
Horn at later period be Recorder
granted the request, bus th, Doctors eVi-
dence did not mnforialIe.
RTnUlrAL TESTIMONY.
Miss Fanny Jamson. who was present at
A. d tft~ al lfts flfn
prosecution. She sul u was marriage
unquestionably. She had attended, NUN,
bor of such ceremonies in London aud
New York. and understood the language.
with this ring / thee DO wed were the
words used.
That closed tho ease for both sides, and
LAWYER Anthony. for the defence. began
his closing argument. tie sad ~ would
have been an outrage on the jewish lalth
for Mr.. and Mrs. Marks 90 have permitted
a marriage If they knew llarfeld was mar
ried man. Hcchimed il was simply betro-
thai t. be followed boy marriage whom u
divorce had been obtained.
IH. PROSECUTION.
As.istaut-Distuct.Attorney MacDona fol-
lowed. In his argument for the people ne
said that Harfeld had deserted his wife aud
then had blazeuly come back % this city.
his pockets filled with III gotten gains. II
was daring case ot blgnwy, and had been
amply proven. Iue prisoners whole con-
duct showed be Thought his FIRST wife was
too poor to follow him To- Richmond and
prosecute him. " You, gentlemen of ihe
Jury" said 'lr. MACEDONIA "are business
men of this city. Look ut that mans face.
IT rs the very picture of seusualitv. DO
Won for moment suppose his conduct was
what be- has described on that trip To Rich
m0nd :"
TIE CHARGE.
In hi, charge Recorder Smythe said that
as the first marriage was conceded theJury
had only one thing to consider. II the
ceremony was q marriage and not be-
trothal they must convict the prisoner of
bieamy. If they found that % was be
trothal and tho parties cohablted, u was
a marriage, and they must convict.
oUuTY.
The Jury retired amid tho buzz OF con-
lecture on the part Of the large audience
II Young girls and women who had taken
the most extraordinary interest I'm the
case.
In fifteen minute, the jury returned
" We find the prisoner guilty Of bigamy'' "
said the foreman
Harfeld grew pale and for q moment it
seemed as if hc would sink 70 tho floor IN a
faint
Tho verdict carries penalty or hye
years I'm Sing sing end Fl 600 fine.
The Recorder thanked the jury and dis
charged them.
TIE RABBI.
But the Public Prosecutor was not
through with the case
~ would Ike 10 have the yiows Of the
Court ." said the District Attorney, a. 10
having Rabbi ilarfeld committed for per-
Jury in performing this marriage and then
swearing it was betrothal ceremony"
The recorder said that II the Public
Prosecutor thought proper 10 take tho
steps he conid 20 any time lay the case be-
fore the grand jury.
Then have your Honor's permission
10 do SO az any time r" said Mr.. McDona,
adding That he might proceed also
against Mr.. and Mrs. Marks for allowing
the ceremony 10 take place.
c0.sTfHHAriOs.
This caused constcrnntion.
With IA pallid countenance Rabbi tlar-
field hurried from the courtroom and got
ont OF the building as quickly as he could.
The Markscs were not slow IA following
him.
All who were concerned in the marriage
are liable TO prosecution for blgamy as
principals under the law. Harfeld was re-
manded for sentence.
Property Attached.
When the news Of the conviction was re-
ceived here last night Messrs. 4. VI. Meyer
4 Brother took ont an attachment against
Harfcd's property IN this city The paper
was placed in the hands of Deputy Sheriff
p. Z. Winston, and at II o'clock that officer
took charge Of the koys 10 the pawn
broker store. on Seventeenth street. The
amount Of debt claimed By Meyer Il
Brother is SZ23.5l.
Broke His Leg.
James Smith. "a young colored man nine
teen years old. had one Of bis legs broken
Yesterday afternoon while loading vessel