The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-26
Welded BUT NO WIFE
Sad Plight in Which Boards
Second Wife Is Left.
DIVORCE GRANTED THE FIRST.
Dramatic Scene Presented by the Rival
spouses Observation-Disclosures"
Wins a Damage Case.

"My decision is that I will live with
him." half shrleked and half sobbed Mrs.
Lottie Beard yesterday, when Judge Lich.
tenberg regretfully pronounced the decree
that made her an unwedded wife vester
day in the divorce suit OF Beard vs. Beard.
Two women sat in the courtroom claim
ing the same husband. One, Mrs. Minnie
Beard claiming to be the lawful wife of
Charles +. Beard, and seeking to have the
tie severed, was defiant. nursing her wrath
over real or fancied INJURIES. The other.
Mrs. Lottie Beard, having ignorantly mar
red the man when he already had an ac-
knowledged wife, was fearful and helpless.
hoping for q decree which would save her
from added sorrow. But the defendant
made such admissions that his first wife's
story was believed and the judge granted
the divorce and also decreed that Beard
should remain apart from his second wife
for six months. Mrs. Beard, the second.
then asked to be heard.
II cannot hear you now" said his honor.
kindly, "come into my chambers and there
| will speak with vou."
II am helpless, sick with rheumatism.
am penniess. Can there not be some
special dispensation in my case" pleaded
the woman. Il have done no wrong:
why should justice make me suffer-"
Madame, my powers are great" said
the Judge. "but / can do nothing for YOU"
At these words the poor woman sank
into her seat and sobbcd aloud. while the
defendant Beard sat by her side, looking
the very picture of misery
The testimony showed that the parties
to the suit-Minnie Beard and Charles F..
l,t,,,,
Wis, in the year 1883. The man went to
ST. Paul shortly after and the woman fol-
lowed him. 1t was given in evidence that
here the defendant allowed the woman's
relatives to believe that they were man
and wife. The woman claimed, but the
defendant denied, that Justice of the
peace married them in st. Paul
Beard admitted on the stand that he
then came to Seattle and that in a mo-
ment of foolishness he wrote requesting
the plaintiff to join him. Letters were pro-
drcei which he wrote to her in which he
gave glowing description of this country
and the grand home which he had in
readiness for her. She came and they
lived together here. Five persons testi-
fed that the defendant introduced the
plaintiff rs his wife and that he gave out
the impression that she was his lawful wife.
The defendant admitted that on Deem
Der 81 1890, he had married Mrs Lottie
Blackman. He then made an effort to get
rid of wife No. l.
After the attorneys were through with
the defendant. Beard. the Judge took him
in hand and kept him on the rack for half
an hour. The result of the sharp probing
Of Judge Lichtenberg was that the man
practically confessed what the woman had
alleged in all essential points. He told a.
story of pitiful poverty and helplessness,
but continued to pirate about the preserva-
ton of his good name. He said that all
that he could call his was a pension of 81
per month which he received from the
United States
The decree found that the parties had
been husband and wife, that the defen-
dant was without property or visible
means. and that, though a divorce was
granted, the plaintiff would not be en-
titled 10 alimony. IS the defendant had al
ready given to the wife all he possessed.
His honor said that he deemed it best for
al! that Beard and the woman he had mar
ned last should live apart for six months
and az that time he could repair the wrong
he had done to her.
The defendant left the court room, al
most carrying the trembling form of his
second wife. The woman who secured the
divorce was collected throughout the
trial, and at the close seemed thoroughly
to enjoy the spectacle of grief presented by
her later rival.