The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-19
THE jury.
Parker Put His Pedal Extreme
ties In Evidence.
A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
Remarkable Trial That Aroused Wide.
spread Interest I'm 1so4--Joseph Parker
and Thomas Hoag Were Exactly Alike
In Every Particular but One.

spread Interest In 1SO4-Joseph Parker
and Thomas Hoag We're Exactly Alike
In Every Particular but One.
At the beginning Of the present century
there lived in Brooklyn handsome, lusty
young follow who went by the name Of
Joseph Parker. He was ship rigger, who
worked steadily at his trade in the day
time and at night did duty as member Of
the city watch. Parker was married, had
children and was looked upon by his
friends and acquaintance as good oiti.
zen.
1t was therefore matter of great sur
prise when, in the month of October in the
year 1903, woman appeared and claimed
that Parker, calling himself Thomas Hoag,
had married her at Haverstraw, Rockland
county, on Christmas day, 1900 This
woman was Catherine Canklin, formerly
Catherine Secor.
Parker protested that he had never seen
the woman before, but she produced o
large number OF witnesses who were posi-
two that no was tho very man who had
been known to them as Thomas Hong in
Hayerstraw in 1900 and 1901. He WINS mr.
rested for desertion and put on trial twice
In the justices courts of New York. In
one trial nonsuit stopped the proceed
ings; in tho other the court decided that
he was not tho person supposed.
But the Haverstraw people were not to
be gainsaid. They went after him again
and hailed him to the court of oyer and
terminer, where no was tried for bigamy
beginning on June 22. 1904.
The first witness called by the prosecu-
ton was Judge Benjamin Coo of tho court
OF common pleas, Rookland county.
Do you know the prisoner?" he was
asked.
II know him we'll. He worked for me
for month in Rookland and atc ut nv
table every day. 1 am as much satisfied
That he Is the man who was known in
Rockland county as Thomas Hoag as 1 nm
that myself am Benjamin Coo. He came
to Rookland first about the beginning of
September in the year 1900. There was
another imam with him who passed for his
brother, but did not resemble him in tho
least. On Christmas day, 1900, married
him to Catherine Secor l am positive
about the date, because one of my children
was christened on tho same day.
Following Judge Coo camo Judge
Knapp OH the witness stand He also was
very positive
eyes, know the prisoner" he said.
Il was with him constantly in Rockland
county for five months during 1900 and
1901. He called himself Thomas Hong
then. was at his wedding when he mar
ricd Catherine Secor. Ho has great scar
under his foot. know that because wo
were leaping together and I outleaped
him, and he said he used to jump farther
before no cut himself in the foot by tread
ing on drawing knife. Then he pulled
OIL his shoe and showed me the scar I
am positive that tho prisoner at the bar is
Thomas Hoag.'
Catharine Conklin then took the wit
ness stand. She sworo positively that
Parker was the man who, under the name
OF Hong, had married her in Rockland
county on Christmas day, 1900. She also
volunteered tho opinion that the prisoner
was the handsomcst man she had ever
seen.
"He was q kind, attentive and affec.
tomato husband,' she said. 81 don't
think he would have deserted mo but for
the man whom he called his brother On
the morning when he went away, in
March, 1901, he seemed to have something
of Importance that he wanted to say to me,
but tho man he called his brother got in
the way and prevented him from speak
ing"
The prosecution rested here, and joseph
Chadwick was put on the stand by counsel
for the prisoner.
Know tho prisoner ut the BAR" he
declared. "Hc is rigger by trade, and
he worked for mo from September, 1900.
till the spring of 1901. During that time
l. saw him constantly
Isaac Ryckman testified that he had
known Parker for years. Coward tho
latter end of 1900 he was with mo work
ing every day loading vessel for Captain
Trcadwcll We began work on Dec. 90,
1900, and worked steadily till near the
end of January, 1901. On Christmas day,
1900, l and Parker were together. We
were working on board the vessel know
1t well, because l never worked on a
Christmas day before or since. We bor-
rowed screw TINT day to help us pack the
cotton in the hold.'
The screw was borrowed from Elizabeth
Mitchell, ana she remembered 1t well, be-
cause tho men returned it broken.
81 remember that it was Christmas day.
1900, when Parker borrowed that screw
she said II offered him some spirits TO
drink but he preferred glass OF wine,
which got for him. have known Parker
for years and knew his family Intimately
He could not have been absent from the
city without my knowing it,"
Counsel for the defense put on the wit
ness stand the captain of tho city watch
who testified that Parker was doing duty
In New York under him Mt the very time
that Hong was counting and marrying In
NockIhno county. some or Parker s COM
rades on the watch were also called on TO
testify, including the man who shared his
post with him. These were all positive
that Parker was with them during tho
time Catherine Conklin and her witnesses
said he was in Rookland county.
But tho prosecution was not beaten yet
1t had further means of identifying
Parker as Hoag. This was by marks and
peouliarities. 1t got its second innings
and put Moses Anderson, his wife, La.