The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-16
Is HE A BIGAMIST?
SENSATIONAL. TURN GIVEN TO A
CASE THE PROBATE
COURT
CHARLES BYRNE is ARRESTED
While Appearing as Witness In
an Inquiry as to the Sanity of
His Wife-A Second Woman Ap-
pears and Claims She Is Also
Married to Him and Has a Ger
tffcate.

While attempting to have the mother
OF his children sent to an insane asy-
Ium, in the probate court yesterday af-
ternoon, Charles Byrne, a stationary
engineer, formerly in the employ of the
Bohn Manufacturing company, living
at ISS Granite street, was arrested and
VIII be held until the authorities can
determine whether or not he is a biga-
mist. The woman with whom he is
said to have been living for the last
TWO years is also under arrest. In the
warrant she is called Annie Smith, but
she says this is not her real name She
claims to be legally married to Byrne
ana says the marriage records in the
clerk or the courts Office viii show
her statement to be true. She says she
has marriage certificate and that If
Byrne has another wife she is unaware
Of the fact. The warrant upon which
the couple was arrested charges i'm
proper relations, but If the claims of
the woman proves true, Byrne will be
charged with bigamy.
Back of Byrne's arrest. If what those
say who claim TO be familiar with the
alleged facts in the case is true, is
story OF desertion through which
wife waited for her husbands return,
until sorrow and suffering finally de-
throned her reason. Two years ago, it
is alleged, Byrne left his wife and went
TO live with the second woman who
claims TO be his wife. Two children
We're left destitute with the mother
alleged in the rear Of s26 York street.
For some time the mother provided for
herself and children until finally OBJ
tanning living became so difficult that
charitably inclined neighbors assumed
the responsibility Of caring for the
family. Throughout all of her suffer
ing Mrs. Byrne, her friends say, lived
in the hope that her husband would
return TO her Then there came
time when Mrs. Byrne began TO act
strangely, and at last her reason gave
way, so her friends say, and yesterday
she was before the probate court for
examination, upon information fled by
Assistant City Physician Leavitt. 1t
is said that Mrs. Byrne's hallucination
leads her TO dress like a sister of char
ity and to believe herself one of this
order
When on the witness stand Byrne
testified that he had sent his fourteen
year-old son $25 q month for some nine
months after leaving his wife. and also
claimed 10 have sent money TO pay in
stallments on a piece Of property he
had purchased. He did not deny living
with the woman under arrest with him,
and when asked If he was married to
her, refused to answer the question.
You can only be excused from an,
swering the question on the ground Of
not wanting 10 incriminate yourself"
said Judge Willrich.
IT refuse to answer for that reason"
replied Byrne.
At this iuncture Secretary Hutchins.
Of the Relief society. and Agent Guth-
ridge. of the Associated Charities. who
We're interested In the case. took coUn-
sci together and called in Deputy Sher-
iff Robert, requesting that Byrne be
arrested for bigamy. Byrne was taken
TO the sheriffs office and held for a
couple OF hours when the Smith wom-
an called TO see him. In the meantime
Agent Guthridee swore out a COM
plant charging the couple with unlaw-
full cohabitation and both were arrest
ed
Byrne refused to make a statement
either affirming or denying his alleged
second marriage, but the woman want
ed deputy sheriff to go with her TO
her home, where she said she could
produce legal marriage certificate.
Both were locked up at the county Jail.
The further examination of Mrs.
Kate Byrne in the probate court win
be continued today.