Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-05-07
THE PUTNEY COLUMN,
An Alleged Bigamist Arrested.

s,phrn Packard Said 60 Have Several
U,,,s--Mrs, Packard No. . Objected--
packard Denies the Charge and S.vs
lie Has Divorce Papers.
The kaleidoscope of sensational arrests
in ,own has turned again and has this time
t,oucht into view an entirely new scene
gbic6 has been the sensation of the week
" was brought about Saturday by the ar.
-,s by Deputy Sheriff A. w. j. wilkins
n stephen Packard, who is charged with
having multiplicity of wives. Mr. viii
yns received word from Deputy Sheriff
$ Stearns of Rutland one dav last
week stating that one Stephen Packard
rbo was thought to be residing in Putnev
Vas wanted in Rutland for alleged bigamy
description Of Packard was furnished
and Mr.. wilkins began looking for the
man. He remembered passing Mrs. Lau-
"A Eagers on the Brattleboro road two
weeks ago and of seeing a man there who
eyed him SO sharply as to attract more
than the usual attention, and as the mans
appearance, as Mr. wilkins remembered.
tailed with the description furnished by
Mr. Stearns, Mr.. wilkins went to the post
ting mail there, and where he lived. Mr..
wilkins wired Mr.. Stearns that he had 10.
Gated his man. Mr.. Stearns came to Put
ney Saturday and was met at the depot by
Mr. wilkins. They took the lower road
for the house. When nearly opposite the
house Mr. Stearns got out of the carriage
and approached across lots from the rear
and Mr. wilkins drove around in front.
where he found Packard and arrested him.
Packard asked what was the cause of
his arrest and when told that il was for
bcamy he strenuously denied the charge.
He was taken to Rutland on the evening
train and lodged in the county jail
The charge against Packard, as set forth
in the information of the states attorney.
is that in November 1896, he married EN-
lily Benson of Fair Haven, and at the same
time he had wife living whose maiden
name was Jennie NJ. Potter, and whom he
married at Whitehall, n. Y, Feb. 9, 1893.
1t is claimed that he lived in Chester at
the time of both marriages. A woman
who lives at Tinmouth claims to be Mrs.
Packard No. 3, and it is understood that
Packard's arrest was made upon her COM
plant.
MIS- hNhdlu W. L hloO SDOht W Cldlt
Attorney Rowland about the matter two
weeks ago, but no complaint has been
made by Mrs Packard No. =. Packard
has lived in Rutland for the past II years,
coming to Putney to board with Mrs.
Eager about a month ago. When seen at
the house of correction Sunday Packard
said he was II years old, was farmer by
trade and was a veteran of the 10th Yer
mont regiment. He admitted that he was
married to Jennie NJ. Potter in 1895 and
Emily Benson in 1896. He said, however,
in justification of his second marriage that
he obtained divorce from the Potter
woman at Sandy Hill, N. Y, in April,
1896, and that he had divorce papers in his
trunk at Putney. He also said that he was
told that his wife had obtained a divorce
from MIN at Whitehall, n. Y, in June,
1896.
In regard to his marriage with the Fair
Haven woman, Packard said he knew her
about week before the knot was tied by
a justice of the peace, and that lis "never
lived with her a minute, as we did not
agree Packard said that his first wife
died about Is years ago and that he had
one son living at Dandy.