Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-06-01
WIFE SEARCHING.
Contractor Mace and Miss Gallagher
in Augusta for That Purpose.
He is Ordered to Furnish 5000 Bonds Ia
Appear Before September Court.

The sensation created, Thursday night,
by the arrest of Contractor W. H. Mace of
Boston. has aroused considerable in
terest. A Journal man, yesterday, In
looking into the case, called upon Mrs
Mace at the Riverside hotel. She was
willing to talk and answer all questions
asked. Mrs. Mace said that her husband
has been an inveterate drinker and many
times she has sat up nights and rocked
the baby until very late, waiting for him
to return home, and when he did he was
intoxicated
She said in answer to a question, that
they have been married IL years, and
have little girl, aged s years. whom she
pointed out to tho reporter During the
past three years Mr.. and Mrs. Mace have
not lived together, and from what Jour
nal man could learn, neither of them
seemed to care if they never again met,
and it is said would not have done so had
Mace been sober when he reached Au-
gusta.
They were married In Wayne where
Mrs. Mace S people live, and who arc highly
respected in that vicinity. AS soon Us tho
little girl was old enough to caro- for her
self to some extent, Mrs. Mace left her
husband and has been employed at the
Riverside hotel for a long time Mace
has been in Boston most of the time, with
the exception Of when he has boon in
Maine doing contracting work.
1t was at the club that he became
| acquainted with the young woman, who
it seems gave her name at first as Mary
jennings, but later said it was Ella Gal
marry Mace and had come down to Maine
to find out If he had wife and If so
to see If Mace was divorced, rs no
had told Miss Gallagher, she said, that he
had procured divorce from his wife and
later informed her that his wife was dead.
Miss Gallagher said that she was not
deeply in love with Mace, but that he
could probably furnish her good home,
besides he seemed to have a deep admira-
ton for her. She andv-Mace came from
Boston on their "wife search together
and went from Augusta to Wayne to see
Mrs. Mace's people. When there they
were told that Mrs. Mace was at Augusta,
and was the liveliest dead person they
would find on the Kennebec. Receiving
this information, they returned and visited
the Riverside hotel and found Mrs. Mace,
who informed journal reporter that
Mr.. Mace was strongly under tho in
lady friend.
Mrs. Mace would not have troubled
them had they kept away from her, she
said, but their call, he being drunk and
accompanied by the young woman, to see
if she was living, dead or divorced, caused
her both anger and grief.
In regard to Mace and the woman with
him registering as man and wife, she said
that she knows of his having done the
same thing before, elsewhere. One time
In Lewiston, Mrs Mace said that she was
obliged to furnish him with money to buy
his breakfast when she met him upon the
street, as no was "busted," after an all
night carousal.
A reporter was informed from good
authority, yesterday, that Mace has writ
ton to several persons ut Winthrop, ask
ing them to write to him and say that his
wife was dead. This information 1t Is
understood, no intended to use to induce
Miss Gallagher to marry him. Miss Gal
lagher says her people are well-to-do, and
now that she has found that Mace has
proven to be such a fellow, is thoroughly
disgusted with him.
There was a brief hearing before Judge
Andrews, Thursday, and Mace was bound
over to the September term Of court, I'M
der 5000 bonds, which he furnished and
returned to Boston.
Miss Gallagher has also gone to Boston.
1t seems plain that Mace's whole idea was
to make Miss Gallagher believe that no
was free to become her lawful chubby"
A. d. Haskell of Bangor. was in the