The herald., 1894-09-27
PR|CKETT HAS TWO WIVES.
One in Los Angeles and One in
Oakland.
Mrs. Prickett No. 1 to File a Bigamy
Charge.
How the Secret of His Second Marriage
Was Discevered-The Los An
gsIen wife Tells Her
Story.

Dand TO the penltentiary. 10 tnls enu
she will today wire the district attorney
at Oakland as to what course she should
pursue in the prosecution, since the
husband is under arrest there. Her
husband is calling himself j. I. Prack-
EFT in that city, to save himself from ex-
posure as bi gsmist.
The readers of the HERALD remember
the dispatch from Oakland to the
effect that one DR.. J. 7. Prsckett had
been arrested on a misdemeanor charge.
and in the trial it was brought out that
stance is as follows:
OAKLAND, Sept. 26.-Mrs. Rebekah
Elizabeth Barnes Prsokett, who says she
is the Mormon wife of DR.. Thomas
Prackett of Fourteenth and Washington
streets. yesterday told the story OF her
life on the witness stand.
THE case before Judge Allen was one
in which Mrs. Prackett had had the doc.
tor arrested for disturbing the peace. AT
this Prackett became angered at the
woman aud denied she was his wife. In
turn Mrs. Prackett became angry and
not only showed copy OF the document
which sealed her to PrRckett in the
Mormon faith. but also stated that
Prackest had confided to her that he had
another vile in Los Angeles. She
showed letters from this other wife to
the doctor and also letter which the
doctor had written to the Los Angeles
wife, but which he had neglected to
mail. Nor was this all. The Mormon
Mrs. Prsckett also stated that the doctor
was not doctor but O painter at the
only time che ever knew him to do any
work, and that he had no diploma nor
had he license to practice medicine.
ION the witness stand Praokett, who
was badly frightened, denied that the
Mormon Mrs. Prackett was his wife,
but when District Attorney Melvin
asked him il he had wife in Los An
gelcs the doctor hesitated. A wordy
war between the attorneys ensued, and
the witness declined to answer the ques-
ton, taking refuge behind that part OF
the law which says witness cannot be
made TO testify against himself. Then
the district attorney asked the doctor if
he was licensed to practice medicine in
the state. Again did the witness seek
refuge behind the law, as with the
above question. Prackett's name does
not appear in the latest list of licensed
physicians.
Then the district attorney turned
loose his batteries on the doctor and
aeked the court to take that worthy into
custody on charge of bigamy but to
the surprise OF the spectators and Mr..
Melvin, this Judge Allen refused to do.
holding that it WAS not proper pro-
ceeding and that q complaint would
communicate with the Los Angeles
wife, who is at 447 Temple street, in the
Angel city, and have her prefer the
charge. This step will be taken by the
Mormon wife, who feels very bitter
towards the man who has deceived her.
and the first and second Mrs. Prsckett
will camp ON the trail OF the hspless
doctor until he is run to earth"
When shown the above last evening
Mrs. Prickett, in referring to her hus-
band, said she would prosecute him at
once. and hoped to send him to states
prison, where he belongs. She is tall,
fine-looking lady of perhaps 40 years Of
age.
"Well. well." she said, she has an
other wife. Oh. the cur; that's just
like him. How many years can he get
for it ?''
Mrs. Prickett explained that since he
went away, over q year ago, and more
especially during the last few months.
he has always asked her to address him
as Prackett, which she did.
She said they we're married In Latsy-
cite, Ind, seven years ago, on the 9th
Of last April. They then resided in
Dsnville, ILL.,, and her maiden name
was Martha Cutler. After coming to
this state, Mrs. Prickett could not get
along with him, and they did not
live together all the time. He
was much addicted to drink and
was otherwise disagreeable.
She says that Prickett finally went to
Pasadena, where he worked es q paint
or. Here he met Miss Barnes. who had
a neat little sum of money. noFhey evi-
IDENTIFY concluded to get married, for
shortly aftsrward Prickett came back tc
this city and bade his wife goodbye,
saying he was going on trip. She PAID
no great attention to his going, and
thought he would soon return, or II he
didn't there would be no love lost.
From appearances, Mrs. Prick kett say 8
1t looks as though he and Miss Barnes
went direct to Utah and were married
The couple finally drifted to Oakland
where Prickett stuck out shingle al
DIR. Priokett. The nature of the mar
was such that he couldn't keep his se-
cret, and he finally told Mr.. Prickett No
that he had another wife in this city
On September 10th. before Prickett'
arrest In Oakland, his second wife wrot
to Mrs. Prickett No. in this city a
follows:
Mrs. PRAcKErr:-I thought / woul'
write you few lines to let you know
about your husband. He has been OF
} big drunk in this city and has caused
himself great deal of trouble. He ha
swindled woman out OF $1,000. ID
, told her that ne had house and lot u
Los Angeles and would pay her, but Bh
found the number of the house on hi
shirt and found letter from you whe
he was on the drunk. He borrowed th
money at different times and said h
would pay me this fall. and | though
he would, but found out he did not te
the truth. | have thought all wee
} about writing to you L thought
would have him arrested. but conclude
to write to you first. You write to m
and will inform you in anything yo
want to know about Mr.. Prackett.
Mrs. Prickett had no hesitaney !
/; showing the letters, and among other
produced one from the bigamous hus
; band. The last one the fellow wrote he
was dated June 2oth, in which he sal
. he had written, had received no answt
and did not expect one. Tbe lettt
: wound up as followa:
II am doing we'll and am myself ont
more, and am happy. Have nice offic'
and good business. and am we'll r
a spected.