Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-28
BIGAMY AND A BOOK.
Annie Swinde, or Simon, Tears 0uta
Leaf and Plays Innocence.
THE EVIDENCE OF TWO HUSBANDS
Is so Overwhelming She Admits II, Claim
ing an Ocean Divorce.
WAS SHE PERSUADED TO DOUBLE UP9

An unusual and interesting case came
up before Alderman Doughty last night in
the trial of Annie Swinde, alias Simon, on
the charge of bigamy. and the 'squire's Of
fee, together with the pavement in front Of
it, was crowded with miscellaneous mass
of men and women. The defendant in the
case is a pretty little German woman of
about q, and judging from her innocent
face and manner, we would not at all sus-
pect her of polygamous propensities. The
accusation had been made by her step-son,
Albert V. Simon, and rested on the follow
ing story:
About three years ago Annie Rentinger
was married to Carl Swinde, in Freiburg,
Germany. Last year separation took
place, and the wife came to this country,
where she made the acquaintance of Vincent
Simon. On the 9th of last January the two
were married in Philadelphia, Simon being
in ignorance of his wife's former relations.
They moved to Pittsburg, and on last Fri
day the husband, through prayer book in his
wife's possession, discovered the facts in the
case, and his son Immediately entered suit.
The first witness called was Joseph Mueller,
who had crossed the ocean on the same ship
with the defendant. After some preliminary
questioning the query was asked which de-
veloped the fact that he knew both Annie
Simon and her German husband.
THE SILENT CoRRoBoRATIoN.
The attorney then produced prayer book
and asked:
Ibid you ever see this prayer bookf'
"Yes."
'In whose possession was it at the timer
"That woman had it" (pointing to the de-
fendant).
"Where was she when you saw her with it?'
ION board ship. coming from Germany"
"Was this page torn out then?" (pointing to
where page had been abstracted).
'sNo"
"That will do"
The next witness called was Chris Bigelow
He had also crossed the ocean, on the same
boat with the defendant, and had known her
and her first husband. He had allowed her to
remain with him short time after arriving in
Pittsburg; but, on account of her conduct, had
ordered her out of his house.
Mrs. Selma Fritz was next sworn and pro-
ceeded to testify. She had befriended the de-
fendant, who lived at her house four months
Identifying the prayer book before mentioned
as belonging to Annie Swinde, and being
asked in regard to the missing leaf, she said:
"Yes, that leaf was there when last saw the
book"
"Was there ANYTHING on it?"
SIT contained the uate of the marriage Of
Annie Swinde to Carl Swinde."
do you know how it is that the leaf is miss
fannie told me that she would tear it out. as
she didn't care to have anyone know of her
German relations"
JUST LIKE LICENSE COURT.
At this point the Court became very angry
and excited at the conduct of some people in
the audience, and one man was put out, thus
restoring the Courts peace and dignity.
Vincent Simon, the present husband of the
defendant, was called for the purpose of iden-
tifying his certificate of marriage with the de-
fendant. He was followed by the latter, who
told the following story:
About three years ago she married Carl
Swinde, in Freiburg, Germany About nine
months ago she discovered her husband to be
unfaithfu1 TO her, and Immediately informed
the Mayor and her relatives. By these she was
advised to come to America, If she could not
also corroborated the other testimony given in
a manner so simple that an oRlooker would be
convinced she was doing what she thought per-
fectly right. This closed the case, and the
Court. wishing to be lenient with her, placed
her under $500 bail. She was unable to procure
this and was committed to Jail to await court
trial
Alderman Doughty in speaking to THE
DISPATCH reporter, said: 81 don't believe that
she intended to do wrong. In fact it appears
to me as If she thought that crossing the ocean
and coming into this country severed all her
relations with her German husband This no
tion was probably drummed into her head by
those instrumental in securing her departure"