The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-06-01
MARRIED TWICE IN A WEEK
a North Carolina BeIIe WEEDS an Old Man
and a Young One.

CHARLOTTE, n. c., May 90-Miss Florence
Little, beautiful and just 10, was arrested
Yesterday on the charge of bigamy. She was
yerv much in love with Augustus Mlntz, who
is also prominently connected in the county
and is about her age. DR.. d. G. Atkinson,
prominent physician of somewhat ripper age,
also loved Miss Little, and both called on the
young lady and tried to win her heart and
hand She became engaged to Mintz, and
the day was set for the marriage, but 1t had
been agreed to keep the marriage profound
secret for two years, and as no license or
public record is required there, this couid
have been easily done.
Shortly after the young lady became be-
trothed to MINT she also consented to marry
DR.. Atkinson, and the day was set for their
marriage also. For some cause or other the
date for the event was postponed several
times. but at last Dr. Atkinson, suspecting
that something was wrong. resolved not TO put
off the marriage any longer, and then an early
date was fixed, but Just three days before 1t
he received a telegram from one oil MISS
Little's relatives saying that the young lady
was sick and could not marry at the appointed
time. DR.. Atkinson replied that he was sorry
she was i'll, but that he would be on hand
promptly at the appointed time at Gaifney
City, where the young ladys parents reside.
According TO promise he arrived on the
afternoon before the marriage ceremony was
to be performed and was shocked to learn
that his intended bride was at that hour out
driving with Mintz, her other lover. DR..
Atkinson knew Miss Little loved Mintz, but
was unaware of her betrothal to him and
thought that she would be as good as her
promise After satisfying himself that he had
been deceived the doctor boarded the hrst
train and left town. Next day he received
IT faFta Arnpn Ice Mt
in which she begged him to renew his
love for her and said he had treated ner
shamefully by going away, and that she could
explain all to him satisfactorily, and that II
he had remained in Gaffney City until next
day she would have become his wife, Friends
and relatives interceded in the girls behalf
and finally, after only eight days, he con
eluded to forgive and forget all and accord
ingly met Miss Little at her home and they
were united in marriage.
They had lived together few days when
the fact leaked out that Miss Little was Mintz'
wife, she having married him on the alter
noon they we're out driving, eight days before
she married DR.. Atkinson. When these tales
were told to the doctor he raved and declared
that the slanderer should be punished DIS
wife denied the charge most emphstically, and
Dr.. Atkinson at once went to work to lnyes
NENtG. Uut MS iuNtSAlGtlloN uAtl hAS"SNN i''-N
sorrow, rs he found that the charges were
only too true.
His wife then confessed her guilt, telling
him how she was married to Mintz on the
evening that she went out driving with HIM.
She said Rev. j. G.. Garter performed the
ceremony and was pledged to keep the matter
secret two years After the confession Mintz
came forward and claimed her as his wife on
the ground that she had married him first
DR.. Atkinson absolutely refused to surrender
the young woman, saying she had lawfully
married him and was his wife In order to
avert trouble friends and relatives of Mintz
persuaded him to allow the woman to live
with Dr. Atkinson. Mintz agreed to this,
but has since met her on several occasions.
DR.. Atkinson and Mintz have since the
occurrence gone heavily armed at all times,
aud II is asserted by intimate friends on both
sides that nothing short of a tragedy can re