The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-18
1 BIGAAsY's SENTENCE.

- {
General Sessions Court this morning,
heard the case OF bigamy against Francis
II. Ryan, colored, Deputy Attorney
General Cooper conducted the prosecution
and In presenting the case before the jury
said he would prove that the prisoner had
married Sadie Pilgrim at Philadelphia on
January %, 1s98~snd that ON q day pre-
vious to August 81 Of The present year he
married Annie Bailey here.
Mr.. Cooper then called Miss Fannie
Ryan, wife No. l." She is middle aged
woman, q good locker and well dresser
She began telling OF her marriage, whom
Chief Justice Lore informed the prosecutor
that Mrs. Ryan could not testify against
her husband. Mr.. Cooper said he was
familiar with the Delaware law Oh the
matter, but considered the case in question
an exception. The court held that the
particular law made no exceptions. where
upon Mr.. Cooper relented and withdrew
the witness substituting State Detective
Walter WitsiI. who testified to arresting
Ryan in Chester on October 20.
Before n magistrate and III tie presence
of the detective, he'acknowledged to having
the two wives. he marrying vito No,
Deputy Clerk Of the Peace Janvier testifi-
cd 10 issuing u marriage license to Ryan
On August %, and Rev. W. H. Gray swore
to marrying Ryan and AMMO Bailey two
days later. This was oil the testimony
the state offered.
Then Ryan went on the stand and
testified to having married his first wife
believing her to BIO single woman. 1t
TRANSFERRED that she had been divorced and
had several grown children who were dis
posed to make his life miserable.
He told of trouble bordering on lnfdelity
against his wife and upon several occasions
being ordered out OF his home. This was
in Philadelphia Ryan swore that on
several occasions Mrs. Ryan had remarked
that lie was not her husband and that Nlr,
Pingree would thrash him II he knew of
Ryan's action.
MIR. Cooper then made another effort to
get Mrs. Ryan's testimony, holding that
The law admitted vito to testify to fact
which she only knsw of. Attorney Gen.
cral White assisted his colleague in tho
effort.
At tho same time Mr.. Cooper remarked
that Mis-. Ryan No. /, was one of the most
respectable colored women no ever met.
He was in possession OF tho information
that Mrs. Ryan had been divorced in tho
Washington Court through the efforts of
prcsideat William Mckinley who was
then practicing law and by whom the W.
man was employed
Judge Spruance held that the law was
such that Mrs. Ryan could not testify in
ouCu LuubbtISi WHcEbupuu 1hi. SuupeC ~
marked that it seemed an injustice to al
| low Ryan to malign his wife md she not
| b allowed to deny the statements.
| Chief Justice Lore then stated that 1t
was the opinion OF tho majority Of tho
co lrtQbat Ryan could only testify us to
whether or not she was married ut the
time she married Ryan. This was tho
only question, and testimony other than
| 1t could not be offered by the wife. This
satisfied Mr.. Cooper to II degree and he
called Mrs. Ryan, who swors that she was
| divorced when she::.marricd Ryan. She
| wanted to contradict other statements
made by Ryan, Notwithstanding the
courts ruling on the point, but she was
| prevented, Both sides closed and the case
went to the jury after Chief Justice Lore
had charged the body.
| The jury found Ryan guilty and tho
court sent need him to pay u iinc of 800,
and serve three months Imprisonment
The Court will not sit on Saturday and
tho leserlion cases which were to DO tried
on that day were continued until tho fol-
lowing Sa nrday.
Attorney General White entered a Dolle
pruseqni In the larceny case against Fran
W!ddoes.
A jury was drawn TO try tho charge of
larceny against Harry: Hnttenfellow, who
was indicted with Frank Widdoes for bur.
glari2ing the store OF the Stanton store
company, but us tho only testimony otler.
cd by the State WAS that Louis Wild docs. Il
boy too young to be sworn, tho jury WAS
dra Hn and anollc prUSequi entered by
Attorney General White
Tho charge of larceny against Edward
ID nyton was continued until the ne1t
r!n upon the application of MIR. White.
| Another jury was drawn TO try tho
charge Of muderouS assault against Sainl.
Hunter. Frank Duncau, tho p'nSs at
ing wiLncas testified to being shot by tho
prisoner ut Cedar and Brown streets On
Tho night Of OGtober 10 aitot fight in y
saloon nearby Tho case WAS III progress
ut tho hour of recess.
! THOMAS INDICTMENT QUASllED. He
IT, i.>n % NV. ','.''""''.~
money. goods and chnttcls under fnlse pre-.
tcnces, was quashed upon motion of Hugh
G. Browne. Attorney General White ai-
mtted that tho Indictment hal been i'm
properly drawn not specifically showing
nature of the oifonse charged aud mnde
No objection TO Mr. Brownies motion, but
announced that now Information would be
presented at the February term.