The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-20

Mistake.
Elmer E. Crawford, who was arrested
Tuesday night under the name of Chas.
Shepherd, was released from custody,
Ind the man johnson. who had caused
the arrest, hied out to the land Of Mis-
touri.
johnson wanted TO take Crawford
back with him, but he could secure no
papers It was also proven by letter
which was written by Mr.. Crilley, pro-
prietor of the Centropolis hotel at Kan
sas City, was not written by Mr.. Grill
lev. but was forgery.
Crawford was seen by an Eagle re-
porter and made the following state
nent, of his side of the case:
'T came to Wichita where 7 had Sc
cured a position as cook at the Carey
MOTEL There was no objection to my
coming in the least and left with the
consent of my bondsmen. and as soon
as was located I applied through a
.aw firm here for a divorce in the dis
lrict court, an account Of the fling Of
which you published in the Eagle at
the time.
81 will now go back and tell you how
[ got into the trouble, and which has
Joe Johnson, who is trying to bleed me:
Johnson is man Of bad reputation, as
ran be ascertained by writing to Judge
Shannon Of Kansas City; before whom
he has frequently been arraigned on the
charge Of bigamy.
IT was born and raised in Kansas,
and the published story that I have
Eerved a term in the Missouri peniten-
tiary, or any other penitentiary, is ma
fa.r1 FOL hrr- in
gust, 1871.
I'm 1892 I met woman in Kansas
City and loved her well, but not wisely.
We were married; but I discovered that
she was a woman that ! could not intro
5uce to my father family as a virtues
woman. When ] was made fully aware
as TO the kind Of a woman I had plight
ed my love 70, and having found her in
compromising conditions, she acznow-
lodged everything and we agreed to
separate. ! gave her everything 1
had at the time and my consent that
her and Joe Johnson might marry If
they so desired.
'I left Kansas City after this and re-
turned TO Kansas where I found work
at my trade, as cook, at Topeka. After
we had been separated about six
months ] received a letter from the wo-
man whom ] had married stating that
her attorney, Joe Johnson, and asked
me to sign the papers enclosed, acknOw-
lodging service. This ] did and had
my signature acknowledged before a
notary public. The grounds alleged in
the petition were desertion. To this
charge 1 had no defense and made none.
! supposed the woman had secured her
divorce and 1 was free man.
IT was in Kansas City frequently,
o+ in,
hotels there. Finally 1 met my present
wife in July. There was nothing Sc
cret about my second marriage. In
fact. It was a swell affair, for 1 had laid
up considerable money and had always
carried myself upright.
1T was rather a strange coincident, |
but l had just been married eight days |
to my first wife when I made the dis |
covery which led to our separation, and |
at about noon on the eighth day after |
my second marriage I received a note |
from this man Joe Johnson asking me |
10 call at his office on very important |
business. / did so and there learned |
for the fret time that my first wife had |
never secured a divorce and, in fact. |
that / was a bigamist in the sight of /
the law. Johnson offered TO have the |
thing fixed up and to see that the wo-
man whom ] had first married would |
of money.
I was in a scrspe and paid him the
money 20 enable the woman 10 secure
her divorce.
II had a good roll Of bills with me at
the time and to this cause is much as |
any other, credit my present trouble.
I Immediately went to my present
wife and told her all about the case. I
had told her before about nv being
m = 81 hrft 60 cd ho+ 7
] told her We could not live together for
the present, and that she had better re-
turn home. She did so and I gave her |
money with which to pay her board l |
receive letters from her every other
day.
In two days after I had met john
son ne came 10 me and demanded more |
This | refused, telling him he
had the woman and I had given him |
money enough to secure her divorce. and
as | had II support my present wife
could not spare the money. He threat
ened 10 have me arrested for bigamy if |
| ala not comply. and true 10 his word
ne mad a warrant sworn out before a
Justice Of the peace and I was arrested. |
I gave bond worth twenty times
the bond required TO appear and ans
Wer Inc complaint in the district court
)r jackson county, Missouri. in Feb
-uary next. When I received the let
ter from Mr.. Ea,on 7 went 10 my bonds
men and received permission to come
70 Wichita and accept the place AT the
MOTEL
As soon as 7 was settled went 10
ny lawyers and commenced proceedings
or divorce from my first Wife as stat
'd- 1 nave been m constant communica-
ION with my hondsmen and also with I
NY wife since l have been here.
ION the evening 1f -Da l,s-,.,.. r /
earned about s o'clock that a reouis,-
ion would be here for ne that night |
stated that I would be ready TO meet
!, as l had nothing To fear. l knew |
nat Johnson was at the bottom OF the
whole thing
This man Johnson. who csna af+or
ne. is lawyer who lives in Kansas
ny he came 10 the Carey N-irr .
warrant Tor my arrest and had no re-
lulsltion from the governor Of this state
ma 81 course could not taxi, me on his
warrant as !
" hen johnson came he did not 81
o me chief Of police TO secure my A.
eSt nut tried n get some OF the a,he-
Iicers 70 serve it. Detective Harry Sll--
on ioio him he would be respousibla
~ me II ne would leave ne alone m
il me banquet was over.
JoAnSon objected and tried 10 raise .
dlSturpance. Re went out On ~ !
'reet ana told Officer 4. NJ Sutton and
e A heinSpear that was in the hoIse
TNlhS 70 XII Detective Harry Sutton
ms O course. excited the officers and ! {
" sutton came running into The ,
u.v,.x,