The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-11-15

Ceremony which, as They Supposed
Made Them Man and Wife was Null and
void-A Former Marriage to which thu
Wife had Been a Party. had Never Beer
Set Aside--Sfrange but True story.
Wichita will have sensational suit
IN court next week. One that Is OF
more interest than the ordinary suit
tried before that tribunal, and upon
the triad evidence will doubtlessly be
introduced causing a profound sensa-
ton It is said the evidence will dis
close the fact that well known family
have innocently been living in bigamy
and were not legally married.
II will be remembered that the Eagle
gave the account of the filing Of suit
in the district court by Myrtle Terrell
by her next friend Lucy Ferren against
the Frisco railroad for permanent
damages sustained.
Yesterday the petition of the plant
If was amended to read Myrtle Ham,
mond, instead of Myrtle Ferrill. The
suit and the efforts of the attorneys in
securing evidence has brought to light
a strange condition Of facts, which are
as surprising to the parties to the suit,
as it Will be to many readers of the
Eagle this morning.
The K'okoGno 0nd) Independent has
the following to say concerning the
strange condition Of the family of o. o.
Ferrill, vino reside at 522 Sherman ave-
nue. Of this city:
"Ten years ago John z. Hammond
and Lucy Adams of Sullivan were mar
I'd Ia L.
ed, the young wife and infant daugh-
ter going % Wichita, Kan, to reside
Later, Mrs. Hammond, hearing that
her husband had obtained a divorce
and remarked, was welded to o. o.
Terrell, barber in Wichita The re-
port that Hammond had secured d.
vorce was mistake, but he, on learn
ing Of his wife's remarriage, took II for
granted that she had procured a d.
cree in Kansas and also remarked
few mo1tgs later, taking for a second
wife another Sullivan girl. That was
nearly seven years ago, and both have
been the owners of two legal spouses
since that time, in blissful ignorance of
their bigamous life MIR. Hammond
discovered the mistake a short time ago
and Mrs. Terrell learned the facts
only yesterday. A week ago Mr. and
Mrs. Terrell came here from Wichita
on a visit. bringing with them the hat
ter's daughter, Myrtle, now years old.
They are guests of the family of Fer
rell's uncle, DR.. Lewis Kern. Ham
mond who is still resident of Sulli-
van, learned Of their presence here and
put in aa appearance Wednesday and
demanded possession of the little girl,
emphasizing his purposes by institut-
ing hahPaG r1rOpha7inOc Tho
parties all appeared before Judge Kirk
patrick and after a short hearing he di-
rected that the child remain temper
arily with dts mother, she giving $500
bond TO have her charge in court next
term for final hearing.
''T'he marriage without divorce is not
the only unusual feature in this case
Another circumstance adds interest
and explains why there is such a heat
ed contest in the courts for possession
Of the little girl. Two years ago Myrtle
met with a railroad accident on the
Frisco line, being permanently injured
by pice Of gas pipe falling on her
head from the rack above. In the name
Of Myrtle Terrell, her mother sued the
railway company for $4,000 damages.
the child's real father,
learned of the damage suit and began
means to obtain the custody of the child
and the prospective $4,000 an interest
in the girl he had never before mani
Tested. Last March, unlonwn to Mrs.
Terrell, Hammond secured a divorce
from her in the Sullivan circuit court,
also being given the custody of the
child. This proceeding was also a reve-
lation to the woman, she knowing moth
Ing of 1t until Hammond appeared here
Wednesday. She viii at once take ac-
ton to have the courts order annulled.
Both litigants are in the fight to a fin
Ish, having hired the best legal talent
to represent them in the
courts. The damage suit against the
railroad comes up at Wichita next
week, the complaint having been
by the substituting the name
Of the plaintiff (Hammond) instead OF
Terrell. a change made necessary by
the matrimonial and other complica-
tons. The little girl and the prospect
I've $4,000 will be a central figure in the
courts for some time to come. Since
earning that they are not legally mar
RED Mr.. and Mrs. Terrell have been liv-
ing apart and they will remain so until |
bhe lawyers can figure "ut the proper |
action 10 take TO make them lawful nus |
bend and wife.
H'iAS- It e Eeil InaheS the following !
statement concerning the case:
John +. Hammond and l were mar /
ried ten years ago in Sullivan, Ind. I
Myrtle was born 10 us q year later and /
Hammond turned out TO be a worthless
fellow, and when my babe was /
months old we separated and have new
er lived together since that time.
Hammond is worthless and drinks 4
ma never did one thing TO support 4
Myrtle and never showed any interest /
n her until this damage suit was COM I
nenced. / have the evidence that the
abroad company hunted him UP and /
he is being used by them TO defeat my
,sse.
Hammond TOW claims that he did
lot know where Myrtle was after we
separated; that had kept her secretei
rom him from the time she was
months Old until she was years old.
She is new years old and goes to
'ohool when her health will permit She
5 at times nearly blind. That claim is
alse He was here in Wichita and saw
dyrtle a year ago. and / visited his
'arentS three years ago and had her
long. There has never been a time
ince Myrtle was born that he could
,ot have found her If ne had desired TO
10 so.
After Hammond and separated he
erved a notice on ME OF a proceeding
o obtain divorce. l made no answer
'ecause l wanted him 10 set a divorce.
snort time after he was married