The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-05
DEAD CAME TO LIFE.
SENSATIONAL SCENE I'm THE PRO-
BATE COURT ROOM YEsTER-
DAY AFTERNOON.
MRS. HARTMAN SURPRISED.
SHE HAD TOLD ABOUT HER HUs-
BANDS DEATH AND HER SUB
sEQUENT MARRIAGE.
ALL THE SAD DETAILS GIVEN.
When Nod Brought Forth the
Husband From an Adjoin-
ing Room.
MRS. HARTMAN SURPRISED.
ALL THE SAD DETAILS GIVEN.

The dead practically came to life in
the probate court yesterday afternoon,
when Joseph Hartman confronted his
wife just as she concluded recital of
his death and her subsequent marriage
to man named Smith. Hartman's
presence proved not only that the
woman had perjured herself, but if
she told the truth about Smith was also
a bigamist. The appearance of her
first husband completely disconnected
Mrs. Hartman, or Smith, which
ever she may be, and she was allowed
to leave the witness stand without
further questioning. The denouement
was the result of well laid plan, and
so wholly unexpected by all concerned
with the case, except Attorney Daniel
w. Doty, that it produced a scene I'M
usually dramatic. For Mrs. Hartman,
1t was a case OF "Laze rus, come forth,
but unlike the Biblical character, the
resurrected husband was not swathed
in grave clothes. On the other hand,
he was attired in natty garments Of
late cut, which gave him an altogether
alive and up-to-date appearance as
he rehearsed his story to the court.
The preliminary proceedings which
led to the startling finale came about
through the efforts of E. P. Savage,
secretary of the Children's home, to Sc
cure the guardianship of a three-year-
old girl. belonging to the Hartman
woman. Application for papers in the
matter were made to the probate court
a week ago, when Mrs. Hartman asked
for continuance until yesterday. In
support of the request Mrs. Hartman,
claiming to be Mrs. Smith, told the
court at that time that her first hus-
band had died at Montevideo, Mimi,
last July, detailing the circumstances
of his death and burial with the exact
ness of an eye witness. The place Of
burial was named and the circum-
stances Of the husbands last illness
reviewed with a pathos which moved
even the feelings of those used to the
sad tales. After. the grief over the
loss Of her first husband, Mrs. Smith
told how she had subsequently mar
ried Smith at Hudson, Wis, and dis
played marriage license which she
claimed was the document of legal
sanction to the union. Mr.. Smith, she
said, was a travelling man at that
time in another part of the state and
continuance wa; desired until yes
terday when he would be home to aid
the mother in securing possession Of
her child, for which she declared she
was perfectly able and anxious to care.
The case went over, but in the mean
time Mr. Doty, in the capacity of coun-
sci for the childrens home ascertained
that Joseph Hartman, father of the
child and the woman's first husband
was alive and residing in St. Paul
Some investigation located him in the
employ Oh. the Ohio Coal company, and
when the case came up in the probate
court yesterday, Mr.. Hartman was IN
a side room to listen to the testimony
of his wife and ready to confront her
at the proper moment.
The woman had reiterated her story
OF week ago concerning her husbands
death, when Mr.. Doty beckoned Hart
man forth. DiSmay, surprise and an
ger plainly showed themselves in Mrs.
| Smiths features as they worked con-
| vulslvely for few moments and then
she threw up the sponge" She adj
| mitted that Hartman was her hus-
band, but claimed that the story Of
! his death as related to the court had
been told her by brother-in-Iaw who
was now in Wisconsin The interests
| of the parties connected with the chill
| dren'S home had been served and Mrs
Hartman was not further Intercepted
as to her history. Judge Willrich then
delivered a severe lecture to Hartman
regarding his duty to the child in ques-
ton, and upon the latter promising to
support the baby, constituted Mr.. Saw
age its guardian.
Smith did not appear in the proceed
fngs yesterday as the woman stated
he was at Anoka experimenting the
work of a construction crew. Mrs.
Hartman is only twenty years old.