The Washington times., 1894-11-24
OLIVER'S CONQUEST
JUDGE Miller to UnraYel Much
tangled Matrimonial Skein.
DEATH, DIVORCE, AND BIGAMY
Thomas J. sweeny, the Beer Man, Charges
His Wife with Bigamy-History of the
Case Reads Like a Romance-one Hus-
band in Washington, Another in Indiana

There is said to be an interesting story De-
hind a warrant which was sworn out last even
ing by Thomas j. Sweeny. the Washington
representative of Everhard's beer establish
ment. against his wife, Annie G. Sweeny. OF
No. 49 C street southeast, charging her with
bigamy. The particulars, as related by Mr..
Syepny TO Assistant District Attorney Null
lowney and a TIMES reporter, illustrate
genuine romance in real life.
EThe woman who is charged with the crime
of bigamy was, according to Sweeny, first
married in 1859 to DR.. H. T. Oliver, at Camp
bellsburg, Ky. The doctor had as employees
on his extensive bluegrass farm two broth
ers. James and Luntz Ferguson, stalwart and
handsome young men; so it was but natural
when Dr. Oliver died a year or two later
that the Fergusons should aspire for the
hand and real estate of the widow. The
brothers each paid their attentions to Mrs.
Oliver, and the green-eyed demon of jealousy
finally, so it is said, induced James Ferguson
to rid himself of his brother and rival by
killing him.
The widow Oliver was the only witness Of
the murder Of Luntz Ferguson by his brother
James, and, as proceedings were about to be
taken against the latter, she was induced by
James to marry him so she could not be used
l.
for a wife TO testify either for or against her
husband.
After living with Ferguson for awhile Mrs.
Ferguson deserted him. so Sweeny says, and
came to Washington. She became acquainted
with Sweeny, and after short courtship,
they were married on July Z, 1880, he believ-
ing the woman TO be widow, and she being
under the impression that he was a widower.
A few days after the wedding an additional
complication presented itself. Another Mrs.
Sweeny appeared on the scene. She claimed
10 be Sweeny's wife, and said her suit for a
divorce from him was then pending in the
District courts. Mrs. Sweeny No. l there
upon procured a warrant for her husband S
arrest and he was sent to jail 10 await the
action of the grand jury on the charge of
bgamy. Six DAYS after Sweeny's incarcera-
ton his first wife was granted divorce.
1t then occurred to Mrs. Ohver-Ferguson-
Sweeny that she could save her premature
husband from q term in the penitentiary so
/ on the seventh day after the divorce had been
granted to Mrs. Sweeny No. !, the second
lady went to the jail and in the presence OF
several guards had the marriage ceremony
! performed again in Sweeny's cell. When his
case was called for trial counsel for the de-
| fense stated the circumstances 10 the judge
and jury, and Sweeny was acquitted.
He then lived with Mrs. Ferguson-Sweeny
as man and wife for several years, until be
heard that her second husband, ferguson
was alive, undivorced, and residing in Indi-
ana. Dir. Sweeny paid visit to that State
/ and found the report was true. He there
| upon charged her with having living hus-
| band. She did not deny this, but stated that
| her marriage 10 Ferguson was ''simply for
mality'' to save him from the charge of mur-
| der
Dir. Sweeny thereupon left her and they
have since lived apart. The warrant charg-
| ing bigamy was sworn out yesterday. more
! particularly TO have his marriage with Mrs
! Ferguson nullified by the law.
There is a wide disparity between the ages
! Of the couple. M Sweeny being but twenty
nine years OF age. while she is said to have
| weAthered ffty-four summers. She has four
| children living, of whom Ferguson is the
| father. One Of these. Cleo. who bears Oil
vers name is the young woman who was
with youth named White when he killed
! Dominic Shea by poking an umbrella ferule
1 in his eye last summer, because Shea made
/ some remark while White and Cleo were
! passing along Four-and-a-half street south.
west
Mrs. SWeeny was arrested on the warrant
! last night and gave bail for her appearance
/ in the police court to-day, when Judge Miller
will be called uDon to unravel this very
much tangled matrimonial skein.