The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1896-07-04
MUCHLY MARRIED.
John Jones. With -Four wives,
Has Trouble in WetzeI,

last Saturday which exceeds in SEN
sationalism anything that has ever
taken place before in that section of
country. In fact, it struck every
body dumb. 1t was a meeting before
Squire Selby of a recreant husband
and father, and his three living wives,
one of his sons by wife No. l, his
brother-in-law, being brother of
wife No. l, and his little daughter
by wife No. 3, child four or five
years old; wife No. 2 having died, of
course wss not present. This meet
ing was brought about principally
through the instrumentality of one
of the victims, a young and innocent
girl of New Martinsville, who occu-
pies the unfortunate position of wife
No. A. Squire Selby, before whom
the case was tried, is an exceedingly
pious and Christian gentleman, and
who has had extensive experience in
unraveling knotty cases, said it Ger,
tainly was the most complicated af-
fair that had ever come before his
court. The history, so far as it can
be obtained, of this complicated af-
fair, is about as follows:
John Jones, the husband and
father, man about sixty years of
age, although he does not look SO
old, is an old soldier, and black
smith by trade. He received a pen
sion of one dollar a day for disabili
ty incurred during the war of the re-
bellion. Less than two years ago,
Jones, in his peregrinations. landed
at Newdale, Wetzel county, and was
engaged to work at his trade for a
man by the name of Palmer He had
been at Newdale but a short
time until he was arrested and in
generated in the Wetzel county Jail
charged with an assault upon a
woman who resided at Newdale at
this time. After being in Jail quite
while, Jones was tried in the Cir
cult Court for this alleged offense
and acquitted
This was Jones introduction into
Wetzel, and there was much sympa-
thy for him at the trial, because
many thought it case where Bark
is was willin' but the husband
happening to come in on the scene
at a very interesting period, there
was no other way out of the difficult
ty except for the woman to have
Jones arrested for assault. The keep
err of the Wetzel county Jail has a
granddaughter, who is a very pretty
woman and respectable girl, tall,
graceful and willowy, now about
twenty years old. The granddaugh-
ter, whose parents reside in New
Martinsville, was making her home
with her grand parents during the
time Jones was incarcerated in Jail
there. The Jail and jail residence
adjoining each other, offering every
opportunity, courtship sprang up
between Jones and the jailer's grand
daughter, which terminated in their
marriage Immediately after Jones'
acquittal and release. After short
honeymoon the couple went to live
atsome point down theOhio river be.
low here, and lived together as man
and wife for several months. Three
or four months ago Jones made some
excuse. for his absence and went
away, but failing to return at the
appointed time, bis wife made in
quiries of the railroad agent, who in
formed her that she would probably
never see him again, as he had gone
away with another woman. Wheth-
er or not Jones married this last
woman is not known.
The wife, obtaining this informa-
ton, returned to her parents home
at New Martinsville. After CON
sultation with her friends and the
prosecuting attorney and from clues
obtained while living with him, she
began an Investigation that disclosed
a startling state of affairs. 1t was
found that Jones had been married
no less than four times, three of his
wives now living. A warrant was
then obtained for Jones on a charge
of bigamy. The wife, in some man
ner learned Jones postoffice address,
wrote him kind and affectionate
letter, begging him to come and see
her. The gay lothario, unsuspecting
ly and in response to the letter, re-
turned here about two weeks ago,
when he was arrested and placed in
all. The meeting here last Satur-
day of Jones' victims was for the
purpose of giving testimony against
1im at the trial. However, when
Jones saw the situation, he waived
examination, and in default of bail
was remanded to Jail to await the
action of the grand Jury, which
meets in September next. His limo
cent victims are determined to pros
ecute him to the full extent of the
aw, and he richly deserves all he
will get and more. The wives and
who are acting in concert
n the prosecution of this man, ap-
have deep sympathy and |
kindly feelings for each other, and |
all had their photographs taken in a |
group. When the trial was over
and after comparing notes, they de-
parted on the evening trains for
heir respective homes, and thus
ended the first meeting of the unfor-
,unate victims, hitherto unknown to
each other. The facts are that Jones
deserted his wife, now about sixty |
years of age, and seven children, |
who reside in Gilmer county, and |
,he wife and son, the son being thir-
'y-six years old, have not seen the
husband and father since that time.
'r heard of him, until they saw him
asst Saturday at the trial.
After DESERVING his family be mar
lied wife No. 2, who has since died,
put the children resulting from the
marriage reside in Parkersburg. He
lext married wife No. 3, who resides
somewhere in Ohio, and who was
lere at the trial with her daughter,
child four or five years old, the re-
'ult of her marriage with Jones.
This lady appears to be about fifty
ears old.
Wife No. A, who deserves most of
he credit for exposing the man, is the
alters pretty granddaughter, as be-
ore stated. There is an indictment
against Jones in Ohio for
'igamv, procured by wife No. 3, and
vhen West Virginia is through with
he gay and festive old man, the
'tate of Ohio will take him in
barge. He may have other wives,
8 he has been roaming at large now
or twenty-six years. 1t certainly
a most unfortunate predicament
or these unfortunate ladies' and