The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-27
His Two Sweethearts Make Life
Very Interesting.
REAL FOLLOWS MOCK MARRIAGE
4. W. Mudgett's Attempt to Keep Two
Loves Proves Disastrous Failure
They Both Want Vengeance.

at the same time and afterward married
one, deserving her when the honeymoon
was scarcely over Now the two women
have made each others acquaintance and
threaten Mudgett with revenge.
The story of Mudgett's dual life would
make good plot for a sensational novel.
He came to Seattle several years ago, and
has resided here ever since. He became
acquainted with Mrs. Emma Debble. a
widow and as they both came from the
same Eastern town they became great
friends, and MIDGET went to lodge at
Mrs. Debble's house, 1,S19 West street,
where her daughter by former husband,
Gertie Hurd, also lived with her. He
courted the widow and year ago won her
promise of marriage. The wedding was to
have taken place during the present
month.
About this time MIDGET became ac-
quainted with Miss Mary Groves, a very
pretty and lively young woman of %, who
lives with her mother at 10i High street,
Queen Anne. He made love to her at an
astounding rate, but Mrs. Groves, having
satisfied herself as to his character by
quiet inquiries, countenanced the suit and
an engagement soon followed. Though he
neglected his business to be near his sweet
heart, he carefully continued to make love
as ardently as ever To Miss Debble.
On May 10 Mudgett proposed to Miss
Groves that they hasten their marriage a
little, and induced her to accompany him
10 Victoria and there get married quietly
without her mothers knowledge. The
girl consented. They went to Victoria,
a ceremony was performed, and after an
absence of twenty-fOur hours they re-
turned home. Mrs. Groves thought her
daughter had spent the night with a
friend, and asked no questions.
About ten days ago MIDGET, who had
for over a week been firing of the girl,
finally became so cold that she chided him
for it. He shrugged his shoulders and re-
piled:
"You needn't complain. You may not
have such strong claim on me as you
imagine"
The remark aroused the girls suspicious,
and the same evening she tracked Mudgett
to l,s19 West street, and saw him accept
the embraces of Mrs Debble Almost
broken-hearted she returned home and
tearfully told her mother the whole story
The latter then discovered that her daugh-
ter was not married at all; that Mudgett
had deceived her by having mock cere-
mony performed.
The following day, which was Saturday
week ago, Mrs. Groves and her daughter
took out marriage license at the county
auditors office for Mary Groves and A. w.
Mudgett. Then Justice Won Tobel was
summoned and, arriving at 10i High street
at O'Clock in the evening, was astonished
to find a constable and a deputy sheriff
In an adjoining room the girl and the man
who had wronged her were talking ear
q Al
he would never marry her could be heard
Suddenly there was commotion and the
two officers burst into the room Just in
time to prevent the girl from shooting her
false lover. At the sight of the officers
Mudgett weakened. and few minutes
later the couple were married by Justice
Won Tobel.
Mrs. Mudgett began making inquiries
as TO The identity of the woman on West
street. In the meantime Mrs Debble had
seen a short notice in the PosT-INTELLI-
eENcER of her lovers marriage and ques-
toned him about it. but he replied that it
was another Mudgett altogether. She.
however, made inquiries and on Thursday
openly accused him of being untrue He
said that this other Mudgett, who had
married Miss Groves. had started for Cal
ifornia. and vowed his fidelity with many
caresses
The following note which was that
evening handed into the PosT-INTELLI-
GENcER business office for publication, is
apparently part of the scheme:
A. W. Mudgett and wife left last night for
Oakland, Cal, on their wedding tour. They
will go Ia Chicago, and stay until after the
Worlds fair.
1t seems TO have been his intention to
point out the above announcement to
Mrs. Debble 10 convince her that the man
who had been married was another
Mudgett. but the item was not published,
and on Friday evening Mrs. Debble
learned the address of Miss Groves, and
Immediately called.
An exchange of explanations followed,
and the two women joined in mingled
anger and grief. Mrs. Debble explained
Il love him better than my life, and Will
have him or kill him?'
While the women We're talking they saw
Mudgetts car shoot past, three blocks dis
tant. Each glanced mcaning!y mt the
other. Mrs. Mudgett ran upstairs and re-
turned with something resembling re-
volver, Mrs. Debble clutchei what seemed
to be dagger in her BOSOM. and they
set out together.
As the car turned into Temperance
street the women stopped il and the gay
conductor stopped forward 10 help them
on He suddenly started back, his face
pale as death, his eyes staring fixedly and
his knees shaking. The two women swept
scornfuily past him into the car while he
stood trembling on the platform and
looked vainly for way OF escape. An &C
ouaintance, who boarded the car. re-
marked his appearance and, connecting
Il with the two women's presence, asked:
(which one of those two ladies is your
vife9'
"The little one" stammered Mudgett.
~ got in with the other one and now |
have 'em both on my hands. / don't
know what the devil TO do"
The women remained on the car trim
after trip until il returned Ia the barn AZ
1920 in the morning the conductor not
daring 10 approach them, much less col
lect fare from them. Al one time an en-
counter seemed likely 10 occur between
the widow and Mudgett. but a policeman
ouelled the rising storm.
Mrs Debble threatens dire vengeance
and will probably sue MIDGET for breach
Of promise. Mrs. Mudgett will take other
and equally effective measures 10 punish
him.