The evening times., 1898-09-21
MAKES REPLY TO MR.. FIELDS.
Defendants Answer In the Suit to
AnnuI Marriage.

The defendant in the Fields-Von Olsen
alias Roberts case yesterday through her
attorney, Henry B. Mouton, filed her
answer 20 the charges preferred against
her In the original proceedings Thomas
NJ. Fields, the complainant, brought suit
against Wilhelmina A E. Won Olsen alias
Minnie Roberts for the purpose of having
a marriage certificate held by the defend
ant annulled and declared void on the
ground of its illegality. He stated that
by means of this certificate the defend
ant was representing herself throughout
the country as his wife, which he denied
to be true. On account of her not an
swering to the charge decree pro con-
fesso was entered, but her sister Miss
Lulu Roberts. filed an affidavit asking
that she be given more time 10 answer,
because of the fact that the defendant
who was absent from the city, was not
aware of the suit. This appeal was grant
ed, Mr.. Fields interposinS no objection.
In her answer, the defendant. alleging
herself TO be Mrs. Fielus, says that she
was legally married to Thomas NJ. Fields
in the city of Baltimore on the 5th day
of October, 1857. by the Rev Henry s
Clogg, and that on that occasion the com
plainant presented her with a marriage
certificate, handsomely Illuminated in
confirmation of the legality of the cere-
mony, and that the same marriage license
was obtained by the complainant from the
clerk of the court in Baltimore. and that
the return of the minister performing the
marriage ceremony is entered thereon and
filed in the clerks office in that city.
She states that from and after the
said ceremony she lived with the COM
plainant his wife, and was introduc-
ed by him TO his friends as his wife.
and that he also notified her parents of
the fact that she was his wife and that
they could no longer exercise any control
over her; that she was known for sew
eral years, while they coha bited as hus-
band and wife, as Mrs. Thomas NJ
Fields. and executed deeds or deeds OF
trust as the wife of the complainant of
property located in the District of Co.
lumbia, and performed and discharged
every other act, function and duty that
a lawful wife could perform. For furth-
er answer to the bill of complaint the
respondent says that she is advised that
on the 9Th day of July. 1895, the COM
plainant did commit bigamy by entering
into a marriage contract with one The
resa Agnes Burke.
With regard to the charge that the
marriage certificate in the respondents
possession Is Wnolly 1aiSe, Forged, coun-
terfeited and fictitious the defendant
maintains that if there is any forgery
in the case the complainant must be
guilty of it, for he obtained and deliv-
cred the certificate to the respondent.
The respondent further states in her
answer that the complainant never pre-
tended, suggested, or in the remotest
manner intimated that they were not
lawfully married and legally husband and
90 af+ tna Gra of +hn
warehouse, in which fire he knew that
all Of their property was destroyed, in
Guiding, as he supposed, all of the papers
relating to the marriage, but fortunately
respondent had the papers in her posses
sion. and they were not destroyed.