Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-18
A YOUNG BIGAMIsT.
A Bellaire Youth With Two Wives to
His Record.

Roy Romick, resident OF the Fourth
ward of Bellaire, is just now enjoying
an unenviable reputation as bigamist.
On last Christmas day he married Miss
Kate Haler, of Bellaire, and on July
10Th he married Bertha Flanders, OF
Washington county. The story is told
in this way by the Bellaire Tribune:
The couple commenced housekeeping
in April on Guernsey street opposite
the public square,; the house being fur
nished with everything of the latest
and most elegant design, and the young
couple were apparently happy. This
did not last very long, however, and
there was early disagreement, and
from the best information we could
gather the disagreement originated
from the interference of others; be this
as it may, the difficulty grew, and when
the crisis came the young wife went
back to the home of her parents and
Roy took a trip down the river, his
parents taking charge of the handsome
furniture and setting up the claim that
the boy was not OF age.
If the young man was not OF age aud
he had not the permission OF his parent,
nor the permission OF Miss Haler's
parents, it was mystery as to how he
secured his license, and when asked
about the matter he told his father-in-
law that he did not have to swear TO his
age or that Of his intended wife; where
upon Mr.. Jacob F. Haler addressed a
letter 10 Probate Judge Tallman and re-
ceived a reply to the effect that the
proper affidavits had been made.
About the last of June or the first OF
July young Romick went down the
river and was gone about three weeks,
as near as we are able to learn, and In
that time met and formed the acquaint-
ance of a handsome young lady bearing
the name of Miss Bertha Flanders, the
daughter of highly respectable parents
residing in little town named Whip
pie, on the Duck Creek railroad, four
teen miles from Marietta. 1t must
have been love at first sight, for on the
18th of July we find him in Parkers-
burg again swearing that he is OF age.
After marrying Miss Bertha Elan
ders he started with her on a wedding
trip through Ohio and got as far as
Canton where, IL is said, he abandoned
wife No. ., among strangers. lie came
home and II was but few days until
parties were making inquiry In regard
TO the young mans whereabouts, but nc
had got wind Of the approaching storm
and went over to Virginia, and from
there to Pittsburg, Pa. Here he
learned that his first wife knew OF. his
unlawful action and he wrote her the
following letter:
PITTsDURG, PA, August 4, 1891.
Mrs. KATE RoMIcK-Dedr WUe-l have
to sit down and write you few lines:
feel so bad; am awful sorry that die
wrong. ] don't want TO go away, but
have the money to go so I'll take the trip
II might be best for me. Don't 20 home
Kate. but stay around up here and watcf
the peoples actions and see If 1t is SAT,
for me TO come back. ] hate TO leave.
will address your letters to Smith
NJ. Wilson, 100 Fourth avenue. B'
a good girl Katie. I'll write agaiI
aud let you know how ] am, and, dear, yol
must answer 1t and tell me 10 IL is safe FOL
me to be around. Don't worry; I'll either
be back or send for you. II get nice iot
I'll send for you, and II don't get a lot
and it is safe for me TO come back to Pitts
| I'll come back. Now Katie, dear, dom
get mad, for I'll be true this time; have
had a lesson now. Katie I'll have TO clos,
this time, so goodbye, dear, from your hus
| band. LEROY.
| am going to leave on the 30 train to
night, Tuesday, and hoping I'll be will
YOU soon. / wish was with you now.
didn't see any one l knew only Smith
Goodbye, dear, love for you Goodbye, II
write soon. write the address TO Smith
and give nv new name inside. The fare
is 1920. Kisses for you my darling, good
bye, God bless you.
Romick was In Bellaire Sunday night.