Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-28
AFTER THE FLACK STYLE.
A New Haven Woman Finds Herself
Divorced without Knowing It.

A New Haven special to the Baltimore Amer
tcon says: A strange story IL told BY Mrs. SAM
E. Harper, who has been for some time past
living with her sister, Mrs. Emma Weaver
of No. lis Union avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. She
insists that her husband, Samuel e. Harper Of
No. 2Sl York street, in this city, il still her law
full husband and has been ever since 1868.
On the part Of Harper, the husband, it il
claimed that the whole thing il in the natur,
Of blackmail. In proof OF his assertion there
are on the superior court files of New Haver
county . record which shows that on October
IS, 1888, he was granted, by Judge E. I. Sand
ford, q divorce from his wife, Mary E. Harper
on the statutory grounds. In the books OF
Register Carr there Is recorded the marriage
of Samuel E. Harper and Alice Carney, Novem.
Der II, 1888, by Rev. George E. Reed, then the
pastor Of Trinity Methodist Episcopal church
OF this city. 1t is stated that he is q divorced
man.
1t is certain that the thing was done as openly
| as matters Of that nature ever are done, and he
has since resided in this city as if he did not
fear molestation.
Yesterday morning Mrs. Harper and her sis.
ter, Mrs. Weaver, came up from New York and
as soon as the lawyers Offices we're open. went
to Assistant City Attorney E. C. Dow, and said
to him in substance: I" was married to Sam
uel E. Harper in Tarrytown in the year 1868.
"Some time after that We went to New York
and he worked at the Grand Central station,
but he had to leave. Seven years ago he got q
JOB IN Tarrytown carrying and delivering
groceries for one Morgan, and while in the
latter's employ he became acquainted with a
girl named Alice Carney, who was working for
family not far from the store. He used to
meet her frequently, and finally ran away with
her. The pair went to Danbury, Conn, but
they left there and came to New Haven some
time ago.
about two years ago found out his where
abouts, and came to New Haven and had him
arrested on the ground of non-support He
had in the meantime been living with the Car
ney woman, and Icould easily have had him ar
rested on more serious charge. At that time the
city court sentenced him to pay me 50 week
for six months but he only paid me for por-
ton OF that time. Afterward we arranged be-
tween us that he should pay me $500 and was
to sign papers which would separate us for
ever. He has paid me Of that amount $685.,
but have never signed any such papers.
have never seen the other S235, and am going
to have him punished for bigamy or some
thing"
Mrs. Harper said that her husband kept put
ting her off with one excuse and another.
Lawyer Dow declined to act until his indig-
nant visitors had searched the records to as
certain if Harper had really been divorced.
Mrs. Harper thereupon went to the superior
court Of records, and in giving the name the
searcher misunderstood her and looked for the
mime Hopper" When they were informed
that no MIR. Hopper" had been divorced the
woman was overjoyed, and said that she would
telegraph to her lawyer and have him
come on and make it extremely
unpleasant for Mr.. Harper. But later in the
day. when she learned that Mr.. Haper was
actually divorced and again married to the
Carney woman, she was somewhat disconnected
and very wrathful.
She denies absolutely that she ever heard Of
or knew Of any divorce and insisted that she
would br ng her husband to justice.
1t is quite possible that a divorce may be thus
obtained and the parties defendant be served
by publication, and yet the latter might not
know anything about it.