The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-03
SEE MARRIED BOTH suTToRs.
Her UnwiIlinRness TO Displesse Either
Causes Her arrest for Bigamy.
~ orIH

COLUMBIA, 5. C., June 4.-At the ap
preaching term Of the court of general ses
sions for York county, which opens on
July /. there Will lie tried one Of the most
sensational cases ever heard in this state
aud one which viii cause the greatest inter
est. not only because of the prominent char
acUer Of the persons implicated, but from
the peculiar character Of tbs evidence
which Will be given. Mrs. DR.. d. G. At
kinson. who is generally called Miss Flor
ence Little, and sometimes Ms. Angus;
Mintz will be tried for bigamy. Mrs. At
kiuson is an exceedingly hand ,ome and rs
fined Young lady IF IL. aad Is membsr Of
one Of the most respected families OF York
county.
Two years ago, after her education was
completed, Miss Little, which was en- her
name, whatever 1t may now be, went 70
live with an aunt in the town OF Blocks.
She is an orphan. She very soon became
the belle of that little place, aAd the fame
Of her beauty quickly spread to other
towns the vicinity. One Of her most de-
voted admirers, and the one to whom she
seemed most fav rably disposed, was Au-
gustus Mintz, a youth about her own age.
he fell IN love with her and they became
secretly engaged. In the meantime, how
ever, Dr.. D. c. Atkinson, a prominent and
good-looking young man Of co siderable
means from Chester, s. c., had met Miss
Little, and it had proved with BIN case
OF love at first sight. He soon felt himself
sufficiently encouraged TO ask for her hand,
ami he, also, was promptly accepted.
After several postponements the mar
ria with Dr. Atkinson vas definitely fixed
for april l, 1855 On the evening of March
81, the day before she was TO be married to
DR.. Atkinson, Mss Little went 10 drive
with you z MIMI, who knew nothing of
his etrothed's second engagement. T4ey
remained out for several hours, aud dark
ness overlook them on the way home.
W hen passing the house Of a country
preacher Mintz begged Miss Little TO marry
him then and there. She finally con
scented TO be married on condition that the
contract would be kept a secret for three
years, and that he did not claim her as a
wife during that time. Mintz agreed TO
these terms. The Rev. J. G. Carter was
thereupon called out of his house, and by
the light of the rising moon married the
lovers while they we're seated Ia the buggy.
The couple Immediately returned to town
and the young lady parted from her hus-
band at the door Of her aunt's house.
But during the absence Of Mrs. Mintz an
accident had happened. DR.. Atkinson had
come to be married, and finding his in-
tended wife absent after dark with a man
came exceedingly angry and declared the
marriage aud engagement ended, and re-
| turned to his home without seeing Miss
Little When the young lady heard of this
she Immediately wrote to DR.. Atkinson,
begging him to return and receive an ex-
PLANTATION. She also succeeded in getting
| some Of the doctors relatives to intercede
for her, aud they finally pc. suaded DR.. At
kinsOn that he had acted harshly toward
. L.. l.
returned to Blocks and they were imme'
| diately married.
As soon as the ceremony had been per-
formed August Miutz told his father of his
| own marriage, and claimed Mrs. Atkinson
| as his lawful wife. The young lady re-
fused to 90 to him, and stoutly denied his
story. DR.. Atkinson was persuaded that
his bride had never married any one but
| himself, and took her homo with him
where tCey lived together for two weeks in
happiness But at the end Of that time
| Florence made a fearful ackno wledgment
to tde doctor that she was not his wife. aud
that Mintzs story was only too true. Dr.,
| Atkinson Immediately seat the unfortu ate
v ung woman to her relatives.
The unfortunate young lady was now in
a very embarrassing position. Her la wful
husband would not have any hing to dc
with her. DR.. Atkinson would not taKe her
ana unfortunately IL was lmposSl Ole Tor ANY
of the parties to obtain a divorce in this
state. The young lady finally returned tc
| DR.. Atkinson, and they lived together in
Chester until five months ago, when the
moved TO the town Of Yorkville, and have
been living there ever since. A month age
| Mrs. Atkinson was arrested Oh a charge OF
| bigamy, but was released on bail The
| prosecution is bel & pressed by J. c. Mint
the father of Augustus. He has engaged
| able alto neys to assist the states solicitor
| The crime of igamy is punished in tuis
state by Imprisonment in the penltentary
| at hard labor, a there is 10 alternative.
Marriage IS not held to lie legal here,
! however, unless the couple have lived to-
| gether, and as this was not the case with
Mr.. Mintz and his wife it is proba le tha
| the defense will endeavor to prove thai
| their marriage was not a legal one and tha
| consequently Mrs Atkinson is not guilty o.
| bigamy. All her trouble seems to have
! been caused by the thoughtlessness of &
| young school girl. Since her marriage tc
| Or. A kinsDn SIZE has conducted herself in
such an exemplary manner toat she ha
gained the respect and esteem of all with
whom she has co he in contact, and she i
| pitied very generally. The reason for tn,
harsh measures reported by Mr.. Mlntz can
| not be understood, unless it is to have hi
son freedfrom the,bonds which now encum
Der him. 1t is thought pretty certain tina
no South Carolina jury will condemn
| young and eauttul girl TO the 1enitentar
for crime caused by indiscretlon, and.
| it did, is more certain that the governo
would not let her stay there.