Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-21
A DOUBLE LIFE.
A LOS ANGELES MERCHANT WITH
TWO ESTABLISHMENTS.
How Well-Known Citizen Had Two
Wives without Either Knowing of the
Existence of the Other.

Los Angeles, it appears, although very
far from being metropolis in the true
meaning OF the word, is not too small
for the man who is not satisfied with
one domestic establishment, and who is
clever enough to run two without his
right hand knowing what his left is do
ing. Such an instance has recently
cropped up in Los Angeles, and the
whole story will doubtless soon be di-
vulged and become public property
through the institution OF divorce pro-
ceedings by one of the wives.
The facts are about as follows: There
is at present residing in this city whole
sale merchant, or rather agent for an
eastern wholesale house, who for the past
three years has been at the head of two
families, one in this city and one in
neighboring small town of something
like 5000 inhabitants, which is conven-
iently too far from Los Angeles to per-
nit of the merchant being able to get
home to the bosom of his family after
Office hours.
The local establishment, which is pre-
sided over by the legal wife, occupies
handsome house in the southern part of
the city, and is graced by two handsome
daughters, just budding into woman
hood. The family is one of the most
respected in the city, and moves in the
very best circles.
Business calls the head of this
hitherto peaceful household away from
home for about two days of every week,
when he is supposed to be making tour
of the small towns OF Southern California
in the interests OF his house. AS
matter of fact the man of two lives is
compelled to take such trips frequently,
and it was when ne was upon one of
these, about three years ago, that he
met the charming young woman who
was afterward wooed and won by him.
and who until recently imagined that
she was the sole possessor of his heart
The merchant has since the second
marriage managed to spend about two
davs week in the country, when he
was supposed to be on his regular busi-
ness trips, and is now the father of an
eight-months' old baby as result of
his relations with the woman he has
most cruelty wronged.
The young wife has often complained
bitterly since her marriage at che hus-
bands long absence from her side every
week, and has begged him to bring her
to the city to reside, in order that he
might be near her. This request he
has invariably refused, and as he could
offer no valid excuse for his refusal, sus-
picion, as light as the fleecy clouds on
sunshiny day at first, took possession of
the country wife's mind. Early last
week she followed the man whom she
supposed to be her husband to the city
without his knowledge, and on making
a call at the Office in his absence, was
directed to his city residence.
The knowledge that she had been de-
ceived nearly shattered the young
woman's reason. Being of weak ma
ture, no thought of exposure or revenge
entered her mind, and her only thought
was to get back home with her child as
soon as possible and there, alone, to
give vent to her grief in solitude.
She kept her knowledge to herself for
several days, but her family, noticing
that something was wrong, demanded
the source of her trouble. Reluctantly
she told her tale, and subsequent inves-
legations by the poor woman's brother
developed the whole horrible truth.
The city establishment has not yet
been made aware of the existence of the
rival house. The husband has been
doing all he can to suppress the matter,
and negotiations are now in progress by
which be is to turn over large part of
his property to his country wife and
send her away. So many people have
learned of the matter, however, that it
is not probable these attempts to keep
the story quiet will prove effectual.