Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-25
Alva Udell Surrenders Him.
self for Trial.
He Was Charged With Bigamy
Over a Year Ago.
A DOg-Stealing Case Which Is Prov
ing Interesting.
Compromise Was to Be Effected, But
1t Fell Through and the Defendants
Placed Upon Their Examination.


ing by the voluntary appearance of a
man for whom Constable Clement has
been lying in wait for over eighteen
months past, in the hope of bringing
him to justice. The person whose ap-
pearance created so much commotion,
was Alva Udell, who is charged with
bigamy on complaint of his first wife,
Mrs. Matte Udell, and who had the
honor of being the first person against
whom a complaint was filed in that
court under the present administration.
This document was filed on January
s, 1889, and charged him with having on
October 27, 1888, married his divorced
wife, the complainant, his second wife,
Emma, being still alive. At that
time Udell was in Sacramento,
and Constable Clements at once
telegraphed the warrant, caused his
arrest, and set out to bring
him back to this city. On his arrival at
Sacramento, however, Clements found
that his bird had flown, the prisoner
having secured his release on writ of
habeas corpus, a few hours earlier in the
day. The constable returned and moth
ing was heard of Udell until yesterday
morning at IL o'clock, when he pre-
sented himself before Justice Savage,
and requested that a document to the
following effect be filed:
The defendant, resident of the Dis
trict OF Columbia, not having been
served with legal warrant of his arrest,
comes now from his said place of resi-
dence and appears before this court for
the purpose of demanding an examina-
ton on the charge, information or COM
plant filed in this case, and also for the
purpose OF demurring to, objecting to, or
answering the accusation or complaint
filed herein, but in SO appearing the de-
fendant does not waive any of the rights
by law conferred upon him to have this
cause and all proceedings hereunder,
transferred to. or tried, or reviewed by,
or appealed to the United States courts,
and the defendant hereby expressly re-
serves the right to demur at any time to
the jurisdiction of this or any other
court. (Slgned) ALvA UDELL.
The court being engaged in the trial of
case requested Udell to return an hour
later, when his case would be attended
to, and at II O'Clock promptly he again
appeared. The district attorney and
Col. G. w. Wells, who had been re-
tanned to prosecute the case, were noti-
was arraigned upon the charge and
placed under bonds in the sum Of s., 900
to insure his appearance for examina-
ton on August 4th next. Udell, as his
own attorney, made strong plea for the
reduction of his bail, which he consid-
cred exorbitant, but without avail.
The circumstance pOnnp pcfo6 with tho
affair, as far as known, are stated to be
as follows. On November 19, 1881, Alva
Udell married Miss Matte McCarty, the
daughter of the pastor of the Woodland
Christian church in Yolo county, and bv
her had one child. Their married life
appeared to be harmonious for time,
but on July 1st, 1888, Alva told his wife
that he wanted divorce. After talking
the matter over, it was finally agreed
that they should separate for year
and then institute divorce pro-
ceedings. That night Mrs. Udell
asked her husband whether or not
there was, another woman in the affair,
and he admitted that such was the case,
at the same time exhibiting several let
ters signed with the initial &C." Mrs.
Udell was determined to get to the bot
tom of the mystery, and while her spouse
slept she went through his pockets and
brought to light bundle of letters from
Miss Emma Edwards, of Grayson, Stan
islaus county. These she retained, and
when Udell discovered their loss and de-
manded their return, she refused to part
with them. Her husband, in order to
get even, took away their child, and
refused to allow her to have access to it.,
until she was forced to capitulate, and
the child was exchanged for the letters.
In the meantime, however, she had
caused certified copies of the letters to
be made, and by means of this docu-
mentary evidence she secured her di-
yorce, the decree being signed by Judge
Coffey, OF San Francisco, July II, 1888,
by the terms of which she was to receive
$50 per month alimony Mrs. Matte
Udell came to Los Angeles on August
9th, and Alva wrote to her several times
proposing that they should be remarked.
She finally consented to his importuni-
ties, and on October 9th they were re-
married by DIR. Cantine, in the presence
of G. Wiley Wells and others.
Three days later Udell was suddenly
called to San Francisco, whence he
wrote, asking Mrs. Matte to Join him
there. On November 9th she did so,
but on arrival learned that Udell had
married Miss Emma Edwards by con-
tract at Stockton on October 21st, Six
days before his second marriage to her.
self. She also learned that he had
married Miss Edwards a second time,
someone who was present at DR.. Can
tines during the marriage ceremony
having forwarded copy of a paper an
nouncing the fact to Stockton, and
caused Miss Edwards to insist On an
other wedding at Redwood City Novem-
Der 18th, two days prior to Mrs. Mattie's
arrival at San Francisco. When con-
fronted with these statements Udell de-
clared that he was not married to Mrs.
Matte, whereupon that lady sought to
soothe her ruffied feelings by putting
the machinery of the courts into
motion.
The case will undoubtedly prove in
teresting when ventilated in the courts,
as it is rumored that Udell surrendered
himself in the belief that he could rail.
road the case through and secure his re-
lease for want Of evidence, consumma-
ton which it is the intention of the dis
trict attorney to defeat.
VAUGHAN AND LONG
Charged with Grand Larceny for Taking