The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-22

HWY - Wiich
Miller. an influential citizen of the
Parlor city had L. l.. Downes a young
Traction company motorman arrested
for alternating the affections of his wife.
The story is one of the most remark
able of its kind that has come to light
in this city. Miller is a man about SO
years of age, a member of one Of the
leading families of Binghamton, and
holding a remunerative position as
superintendent of the big cigar factor
les of that place. His wife is an unus-
ually handsome woman, 1t might be
said beautiful, well educated and to
all outward appearances a woman of
exceptional grace and refinement. She
is so years of age but looks several
years younger. She has been married
ten years and is the mother of two
children. She is also the prospective
heir of very handsome estate owned
by her grandmother.
The man, or rather the boy. for he Is
only 81, for whom she sacrifices her
comfortable home, attentive husband,
two bright children and possibly her
prospective fortune is fat, stumpy
little fellow. with appearances decided
ly against him in the matter of intel
lectuality and with scarcely anything
about him to recommend him to any
woman of taste.
LIVED AT BINGHAMTON.
Downes was, up till about a year ago,
employed as an errand boy at the Bing-
hamton Insane asylum. In some way
or another he became acquainted with
Mrs. Miller, and was admitted to her
home as a friend. He appeared to be
a nice, quiet, young fellow and Miller
raised no objection to his being received
as a friend of the family. After a while,
however, when he took to visiting in the
morning and afternoon, while Miller
was at his office, his conduct was
deemed somewhat questionable by the
husband and he spoke to his wife about
it. She became highly incensed at the
mild insinuation, and declared that as
long as she knew she was not doing
anything wrong she didn't care what
any body else thought.
After a time friends cautioned Miller
that he had better order young Downes
to cease coming to the house as his
wife was liable to get herself talked
dDOut. ne lOOk lilS duNlCe anu save
Downes to understand that he was no
longer accorded the privilege of his
home. Downes, however, did not heed
the notice, but kept up his clandestine
calls, and occasionally was seen in Mrs.
Miller's company on the streets. Learn
ing of this. Miller called his wife to
account and warned Downes that If he
ever entered the house again he would
have to take severe consequences.
Downes still persisted in his visits and
one day when the husband unexpected
ly returned from a hunting trip he
found his wife's young friend again at
his house. A personal encounter en-
sued and scandal was the result. This
seemed to make his wife reckless and
for about Il month afterwards their
home was, according to the husbands
own statement, "a veritable hell"
WENT TO DOWNES' HOME.
Last December she left him and when
her husband next heard of her, which
was about week after her departure,
she was living at the home of Downes'
parents in Burlington, Bradford coun-
ty, this state, Downes also going there.
He decided not to bother them and for
ten months they lived together under
the same roof, Downes' parents offer
ing no objection although they knew
who Mrs. Miller was and all about her.
About the middle of last month Mrs.
Miller had a falling out with Downes'
sister and had to leave. She and
Downes then came to this city and took
up quarters on Wyoming avenue. Mil
1pr hp that fhov 1iuaI
here as man and wife. but Mrs. Miller
holds that he can prove nothing of the
kind, that both were known under their
true names and that Downes merely
boarded with her. The proprietress of
the boarding house at which they We're
quartered will be the principal witness
in establishing which of these state-
ments is the corerct one. The hearing
will take place at 10 o'clock this morn
ing.
Downes was arrested at S.45 D. m..
when the Washburn car, which he was
running, reached the Adams avenue
terminal. Constable j. A. Seamans got
him just in time, as Mrs. Miller, who
| came face to face with her husband dur
ing the early evening, was there to
inform him, no doubt. Of the impending
trouble. When Downes was taken
into the alderman's Office Mrs. Miller
followed him, and when he was commit
| ted for hearing in the morning, she
| frantically appealed for a little delay
that she might secure bail. The alder
man had no sympathy for either her or
the prisoner and told her so. Downes
went to the station house and after
futile search for bail, Mrs. Miller
went there also to keep him company.
In the alderman's office both Downes
and the woman cast uneasy glances
! about the room, expecting to see Miller
He was not there. the alderman having
| taken the nrecautiOn to get him away