Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-07-26
A DOUBLE LIFE.

| A Strange Career-The Two Wives
John Sowden OF Long Island-Rmi
CRATES Hero and Dies wealthy.
NEW YORK, July 25.-In 1868 man who
said his name was John Sowden came from
England with woman whom he claimed
was his wife, and two infant children, Mary
and Charles. They settled down on a farm
of fourteen acres near Hicksville, L. l., and
eventually Sowden became wealthy. Two
children, Charlotte and Frederick William,
were born to them. In 1873 Sowden died,
and some time afterward the widow married
w. 81. Duryea. who had been appointed to
manage the farm. Charles and Mary event.
ually married and left the farm.
1t was said at the time that they had quar-
relied with Mrs. Duryea, and Mary vowed
that she would return with facts in her pos
session to break her fathers will. She OBJ
tanned her facts, and tomorrow Surrogate
Weller of Queens county will begin taking
evidence. Mary's story is as follows:
John Sowden's real name was Johann Cas-
per Ruttinger. In 1868 he abandoned his
first wife after placing her in a lunatio asy-
lum in London. Mary and Charles, his
children, were attacked by scarlet fever In a
school they were attending near the English
metropolis and were brought home for treat
ment. Mr.. Ruttinger secured the services Of
Charlotte Mitchell, skilled nurse, under
whose gentle and practised care they rapidly
recovered.
Cecilia, the baby, during the sickness Of
the others was left in the care of friends, and
taking the nurse and his two elder children
Ruttinger started for America. He immedi-
ately changed his name on arriving, and
called himself John Sowden, and though the
formality of marriage ceremony was dis
pensed with Miss Mitchell was introduced as
Mrs. Sowden.
Sowden in his will admitted that his name
was Ruttinger, but that on coming to Ameri-
ca he repudiated it. ALI the property, real
and personal, is left by the viii to Mrs.
Sowden for her life, and at her death 1t is to
be divided between her two children, Char
1otte and Frederick William.
The only contingency by which Mary Skef-
fngton, Charles Ruttinger and Cecilia Ben
nett, his children, born In lawful wedlock,
could be benefited by the will is in the event
OF the death of Charlotte and Frederick Will
liam, when on the demise of Mrs. Sowden
the estate ia to be divided between them.
Mrs. Duryea denies all the allegations.
She says that che met Ruttinger in 1851. She
believed him when he said he was widower
and childless, and believing him she accept.
ed his offer Of marriage, and the ceremony
was performed. Some time afterwards she
discovered, to her modification, that he not
only had wife living but three children.
When she upbraided him with the duplic-
ity he had praotised on her, he said he had
been divorced. He finally resolved to come
to America, and took passage under the name
of John Sowden, saying that he would take a
new name and make fresh start in a new
country.
In concluding, Mrs. Duryea says that Mary,
Cecilia and Charles were unruly, and had to
be sent to reformatories. They finally went
to England and waived all claims on their
father for support.
READS LIKE NOVEL.
Acquitted of Charge of Murder Az
ter a Sensational Trial I'm Turin.
LONDON, July 25.-From Turin, Italy,
comes the news of the acquittal of
Ginyra Dina, the young and beautiful wife
Of the Banker Dina, of that city, whose trial
on the charge of murder has kept the whole
city in fever of excitement for week. The
husband of the accused is we'll known as one
Of the boldest spectators on the italian
Bourse, and when misfortune overlook him
he was one of the wealthiest bankers of Tu-
rim.
Not long since he met with severe losses
on Change and attempted suicide by poison,
but through the efforts of the doctors his
life was saved, though for many weeks he
fingered between life and death.
While in this condition two of his credi-
tors made persistent efforts to get access to
him, which the bankers devoted wife watch-
ing at his bedside denied them, but they,
believing the bankers illness feigned, one
day called at his house and threatened to
break into his room by force if prevented.
The brave wife siezed a revolver and fred
it into the air, but this did not brighten her
assailants, who quickly wrenohed the weapon
from her grasp and proceeded toward the
apartment where che banker lay at the point
of death.
Crazed by fear for her husbands life she
armed herself with sharp dagger and fol
lowed the two men, one of whom, note
broker named Coen Cagli, attempted to wrest
the dagger from her hands.
A desperate struggle ensued, in the course
of which both fell to the floor together and
in the fall as is claimed by the defense, the
dagger entered Coen Cagli's side, causing his
death in few minutes. Before dying, how
ever, the unfortunate broker stated to the
officer, who quickly arrived on the spot, that
the fault was entirely his own, and that the
lady was blameless.
Notwithstanding this the young woman was
arrested on the charge of murder. She was
ably defended and the trial, which attracted
attention all over Europe, finally resulted il
her release. She was sentenced to two months
imprisonment, but the sentence was remitted
by the Judge in view of her long Imprisonment
awaiting trial