The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-12-07
BOTH WIVES IN COURT.
Smith Drops His Eyes as
They Look Upon Him.
MRS. SMITH No. rs STORY
She Says She Married Smitfl limo
Gently and Will Help the First
Wife Prosecute Him.

VIC fIOStCut6 Allls
James Smith. the bigamist, was COM
mitted for trial by Justice Stilsing this
morning The court room was crowded.
Smith, strong, hearty man that he is.
hung his head sullenly as he leaned upon
the prisoners rail. He still refused to
say anything.
He was closely scrutinized by two
women who sat in group of four dag
onally facing the prisoners pen. They
were the pretty and interesting wives OF
the prisoner at the bar. Mrs. smith No.
was accompanied by her young child and
her married sister, Mrs. Smith No. 2 by
young lady who refused to give her
name.
BOTH WOMEN IN TEARS.
The eyelids of Mrs Smith No. l ap-
peared swollen and she bore evidence of
having passed sleepless night. Those
of Smith No. q the pretty factory girl
whom Smith induced to marry him, were
suffused with tears.
The Rev. j. b. Taylor, of the Palisade
NJ E. Church, who performed the latter's
marriage ceremony, was put upon the
stand and asked IL he recognized the
woman who was called to stand before
him..
He could not swear positively that it
was the same woman, but was sure that
the prisoner was the man whom he mar
ried to Sarah Smith about year ago
Mrs. Saith No. 2 brought her marriage
certificate into court.
Mrs. Smith No said the only living
witnesses of her marriage were her father,
now in the Soldiers Home, and the Rev.
Father Sullivan, present pastor of st.
Jehn's Roman Catholic Church, in Pat
erson.
Through the courtesy of Detective Dali
ton, a JERSEY CITY News reporter was
granted a short interview with Mrs,
Smith No. 2 after the court adjourned
MRS. SMITH NO. 2's STORY.
She is a young and pretty woman,
whose beauty, OF the semi-blonde types
has partially faded by dissipation and
too steady application of work amid the
silken looms of Wesu Hoboken MILL
She was neatly attired in black silk
skirt and bronze velyeteen, tight-ftting
coat.
Freeholder Andrew Cullen's saloon on
Ferry street. She was impressed with
his good looks and immediate attentions
to her led to their keeping steady COM
pany for several months.
This was while Smiths lawful wife was
lying Ill Win ulaLOEy Fu6uu1aClSul
in St. Francis Hospitals
THEY HAD A GOOD TIME.
"We went around to parties and balls
frequently" said Mrs. Smith No. g. .and
was introduced to many of his acquaint-
unces. None OF them ever said a word to
me abeutSl1iS ksing married, but always
alluded to him as NICE quiet young
fellow. WAS making good wages Mr..
Smith proposed and l willingly, but
innocently, accepted him. Here is my
marriage certificate We lived together,
keeping house, at No. 66 De Mott street.
West Hoboken, for eight or more
months
my brother, Elmer Smith. came to me
one day and said: There's something
you ought to find out, and if you don't
;sssWhat is its asked
fore he married you, and I have reason to
believe his fret wife is living"
A REVELATION.
81 was horror-struck," J" said Mrs, Smith
No. 2. Il Immediately set about the work
of searching out the first wife I got in
formation that she was living in certain
house on Henderson street, and came all
the way down that night to see her. / saw
Smiths child. The first Mrs. Smith had
gone out to the theatre. l don't know
whom with. had gone back to my work
in the factory several weeks prior to this.
lnc ASXJ Qay tsItef my VlSlb COui(1 UOL
work / left the factory and came down
again to Henderson street. The little
child, who recognized me as the lady who
called the night before, me at the door,
and said:-'Mamma is home now"
THE WIVES MEET.
tWell, met the lady. We talked the
matter over and both of US decided to re-
port Mr.. Smith to the police. Mr.. Smith,
whe, some weeks before, had partially
deserted me-not entirely, mind-had not
showed up for number of days. The
police sent Detectives Dalton and Close
here after him. Where they found him
don't know. That's all / can tell you
about it."
''WiI you both push the charge of
bigamy against him?"
''Wen,' said Mrs. Smith No. 2, hesitat-
ingly and somewhat feelingly, II can't
see how either of us can have any regard
for the man who has so cruelty Sronged
us both. But can't speak for the other
Mrs Smith. l can take care of myself,
thanks to my trade as silk weaver"
Mrs. Smith No. 1 was exceedingly
anxious to secure q private interview
with Smith The Judge granted her the
privilege OF q few words in the court
room in the presence of the officers.
The interview was an affecting scene.
Smith was brought out of the prisoners
room and sheepishly crossed over to
where Mrs. Smith No. sat on velvet
covered lounge III COIlphIly Will ner Hletr-
ried sister. Smiths little girl, sweet
faced child, bounded from its mothers
lap and ran to meet him, crying joyously
''Papa! papar'
Smith caressed the child, but covered
his eyes when he stood before his lawful
ly welded wife, who looked daggers at
him but spoke to him kindly. A brief
whispered Interview took place, in which
Mrs. Smiths married sister participated.
ply uAS TWO WiYEs Tnn