New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-01
MARRIED. TO HER BROTHEB
THE REMARKABLE STORY TOrn ~
COURT BY y CONVICTED B1GAM1sT
HIS FIRST WIFE NOT MARRIED TO HIM AT AL.
SHE WENT THROUGH THE CEREMONY
WITH HER BROTHER-TIE PRISONER
SAYS THAT HE PLEADED GUILTY
IN ORDER TO SAVE HER
REPUTATION

REPUTATION
A remarkable story was told yesterday beforo
Judge Dugro holding Special Term of the Superior
Court by Robert II. Archbold, now serving ono
years term in the penitentiary upon plea Of
guilty of bigamy lie says he pleaded guilty 70
save the reputation of the woman whom he is al
legged TO have married fifteen years ago. He denied
point blank having married the woman. but saws
that the woman married her brother who i'm
pcrsonated him. while he stood by. calm witness.
+ the marriage ceremony.
Archbold sent TO the penitentiary on October
II last. Two marriage certificates. showing
that Archhold in 1873 married Mary c. Prior at the
Church Of the Sacred Heart. and the other that on
April p 1893. he married Josephine ID. Mead at ST
Gabriels Church. were the mute but convincing
testimony in the case.
Archbold brought into court yesterday in
voluntarily. having been summoned a witness
in a suit brought by the second wife for the an
nulment of her marriage. II wanted to say"
Archbold said. when H. was put on the stand. be
fore any testimony given but you compelled
me to keep silent. that l not prepared to be
here to-day. as l have no counsel"
You don't want counsel" replied the Judge
you are here as a witness, and to answer any
questions put to you. unless they incrmnate you
l want to know in the first place II you married
Josephine D. Mead as set forth in the certifcate?"
Il did" the prompt reply.
Did YOU marry Mary c. Prior at the time and
place set forth in the cerihcate?" The witness de-
clned TO answer
Were you ever married TO Mss Pror?'
mo. but | her married"
Whom did YOU see her marry"
"W-e-l-l." and Archboll began his reply slowly as
If he had hardly vet made UP his mind to tell the
story, II Will explain it: ! was at that time
boarding with Miss Prior's family. | was much
younger than she was. l got her into trouble.
told l must marry her. ! did not know what
TO do
impatiently
marry her brother"
Was the arrangement carried out?"
1T was. The father who married them, struck
by their resemblance. asked II they were not rela-
tves. They both answered No and the marriage
ceremony went on without further interruption or
suspicion. l was very young. and wished to
save the girls reputation ana spare her family, and
was told could DO II in this way"
You lived with the woman afterward as
your wife,
Il did; for nearly years. got 20 liking her"
You introduced her to your friends and others as
your Wife,
Il did
You need no lawyer, and you have no defence -
said the Judge. sharply. You can step down
Then, turning Louis J. Grant. counsel for The
Mead woman. he added You can take your de-
cree
This ended the court proceeding The convicted
higamst afterward said that the father OF his
first wife James Prior. a coachman.
Where are the father and brother now"
Both dead"
At the Office OF Friend & House IL said that
they advised a plea Of guilty by Archbold The
story recited before Judge DugrO was entirely new
to them. and they took no stock In H.