Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-04-03
LOVE AND VILLAINY
A New Jersey Girl Betrayed a:
the Altar.
MARRIED TO THE WRONG PERSON

Her Perfidious Lover Having Conspired
With His Cousin to Fool His Victim-A
Dastardly Plot Well Executed. but the
Chief PlOtter Under $1,000 Bail
Drugged Liquor Used to Garry Out the
Infamous Design.
PATERSON, \. j., Apri! 3-John Martin.
well-to-do contractor of this city, met
Annie Van Dorm of Passaic in 1892, and in
less than a month they were engaged.
Martin betrayed the young womans con
| fidence and put Off the marriage until the
birth OF tn. child. when he promised to
right the W. ,ng he had DONE When they
| talked of the wedding Martin said he
would have his cousin, John Duncan of
Brooklyn, act as best man. The next night
| he visited the home of Rev. George NJ.
| Dorwart, rector OF the church of HOLY
Communion, and arranged for the we'd
| ding to take place on the following night.
| This was on Sept. 4, 1892 and the next day
| brought Duncan from Brooklyn The
| cousins resemble each other in neicht and
| features. When they got together there
| Is reason to believe, Martin told Duncan
of his love episode and said it was his de-
sire to get lid of the woman, but now
| should he do it? Duncan said ne would
marry her himself. sure, sne'l ii not know
the difference, as we look so much alike"
| he added, ''and ! can assume any name but
| my own
| 1t was agreed that Duncan should be
the groom aud that they should drug the
bride; at least, that is an apparently we'll
| founded presumption. That night they
set out from this city for Passaic in a
| coach, and got Miss Van Dorm. On the
| way back Martin stopped the carriage ut
| Il hotel and brought out drinks for all.
When they reached the parsonage Miss
Van Dorm complained of feeling ILL., She
| says she felt las If her senses had left
| her She cannot recollect even to this
| day, she says, what was said and done at
| the minister's home. She knows she
was married, and that is all. Martin re-
| turned home with her after the ceremony.
and they lived together for several
| months. One day he had a quarrel with
her and told her he was not her husband
| and had never married her He added
| that the marriage certificate which she
had not looked at since it was given to
| her by the officiating clergyman, would
| disclose who her husband was. She hasti-
| ly searched for the certificate, and to her
| astonshment, found she was married To
| n man named John Powers and that Mar
| tin WAS only witness. Martin ;old her
| that during the ceremony Duncan. his
cousin, had taken his place at her side and
| given his name to the rector as John
| Powers. 1T was done quick that no
one knew the difference" Martin then
deserted her.
| A few days ago a Miss Van Dorm re-
tained counsel, and on Saturday had Mar
| tod al 10
Senior on charge of conspiracy. He was
released under 81 600 bail Rev. Mr.. Dor
wart remembers the wedding, and says he
| noticed nothing unusual i'll the action of
the participants. He was not aware that
the two men had changed places The
| records Of the registrar of vital Statistics
show the entry of the marriage rs follows:
John Powers, aged - years, of Brook
| lyn, y. y, to Miss Annie Van Dorm aged
20 yenrs, of PasSac, y. j.. by Rev. George
| NJ. Dorwart. John Martin, witness"