The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-11
HILER IS NOW in JAIL
THE SONG WRITER, WITH A TRAIN
OF EX-WIVES, Is WANTED.
Cincinnati Requests His Arrest
Talks in Careless Fashion of
His Numerous Marriages.

John T. Hitler, the oft-marrfed man, is in
Jail at last. He talked himself there. He
would probably have been arrested sooner
or later. for there is a warrant at Cincin-
natl charging him with bigamy; but he
might have remained In this city and fin
ished the business which brought him here
had he kept his mouth shut. But his first
move was to advertise his presence and
take steps to prevent his arrest The steps
failed, and he is now locked up in a cell in
UNITED States row. at the county Jail.
The arrest was made yesterday afternoon
by Detective Splann on a telegram from
Cincinnati. Superintendent Colbert received
a message early in the afternoon from Chief
Deitsch, of Cincinnati, saying that Hitler
was wanted there, and asking that he be
detained until an officer could get a requi-
sition and come for him. Hitler had been a
frequent visitor at the police station for
two days and was well known. He bobbed
in at the office of Superintendent Colbert
about every two hours Thursday to ask if
any word had been received from Cincinnati
1t was through him that the police here
first learned that the Cincinnati authori-
ties would probably ask that he be arrested
Captain Splann went first to the Occidental
Hotel, where EIiler claimed he was staying
His name did not appear on the register
and the clerk said he was not staying
there. The clerk knew the man, however
as did everybody else who came at all in
contact with him. Hiler had been in there
to write a letter and to read a paper, and
had made himself known, together with his
troubles, to the clerk The Grand Hotel
the Sherman House, the Spencer, the
oneida, and, in fact, all the hotels were
visited, but Hitler could not be found He
was stopping at none Of them. Finally De-
tectlve Splann found "a place to sit down
where he could observe every one that
passed up and down Illinois street. Here
he waited, and after a while his man came
along.
The two shook hands and Hitler began to
tell the officer of his troubles. THE idea
OF them wanting me at Cincinnati for big
the Governor is my friend, and they cannot
take me out of this State" He then asked
Splann If any communication had been re-
celved at the police station from Cincin-
natl Splann told him that Superintendent
Colbert warted to see him.
r.. Wen, he'll have to wait" declared Hitler.
Il nave just come from the Governors Of
flee, and have some important matters to
look after. I'll come down the first thing
afrer supper"
oh, but you viii have to go now," in
sisted the officer. 1.-THE superintendent
must see you before supper"
And poor Hiler, the song writer was
taken to Jail. He is charged with being a
fugitive. He was seen last night in his cell
and talked with his customary freedom
about himself.
TALKS GLIBLY OF HIS MARRIAGES.
Il cannot really understand it," he said
II don't know of any woman now to whom
they could say am married, except Miss
Henley and certainly a man is allowed to
marry as many times as he pleases, pro-
vided the courts annul former marriages.
My fist marriage was to Jennie Graham.
We were married in November 1890, and di-
vorced April IA, 1893. Feb. "a, 1894. / mar
ried Grace WaShburne, and we were di-
vorced Oct. u, 1895. Then On Dec. IL, 1895,
married Alice McClelland, at Cedar Rapids,
Ia, and the decree of divorce entered
at Marion, Ia, Jan. 8, 1897. Those are all
my marriages up to that with Miss Henley,
recently. There are a number of women
who have claimed that had married them
or for whom other people made the claim.
There was Nellie Wilkinson, of West To-
Then there was Carrie Sacks. Of 1911 West
Twenty-fourth street, Toledo she was mar
rled six months ago and had swell we'd
ding That affair with Lizzie Meyers, at
Bloomington, ILL.,, was settled by the Su-
preme Court She made a case of bigamy
against me on the grounds of common
husband of Grace Washburne; but the Su-
pTeme Court reversed the case and set me
free. There was another woman by the
name of Retta Scott, of Peoria, ILL.,, who
tried to claim marriage with me; there
was nothing in her claim, and it was cas-
lily shown. Josephine Anderson, of Hunt
ington, and l talked of marriage once, but
there was never any ceremony and no mar
riage between us. The affair gained some
publicity, and there may be people who
think l am bigamist on her account, but
ii is not true.
II cannot imagine what sort Of a case will
be made against me If they ever take me
back to Cincinnati for trial. l thought at
first that it might be another Lizzie Meyers
case but l know of no woman with whom
| have had relations that would justify her
to claim a common law marriage.
1.-The certified copies of the DEGREES In two
Of the divorce proceedings of my three for
mer marriages are already on file in the