The San Francisco call., 1898-12-05
SOLD WIFE FOR JAcKKN1FE.
The True Story as Related by the Man Who Purchased the Wife.


 A visitor here who had been fishing in the lower waters of Cheat River in West Virginia told the following story, which, II It be without merit in every other par ticular, has the merit of being true, says Sun.
 "A party of four, two visitors and two into the wilds of West Virginia on Cheat River to fish for bass. We met with one old man over 70 years who had never seen railroad train, although he had lived within few miles of the Baltimore and Ohio ever since it had been con- structed: Another queer character we met while we were encamped in the wild- to be Constable or some other sort of peace officer. He told us of two men living in the neighborhood who had some years. previously traded wives, one giv- ing the other jackknife to boot We mently declared his story was true, and
 After two days hard fishing in the toughest stream I have ever tried to wade. with poor success. we started across the mountains on our return We a man apparently 55 years of age. We stopped to make some inquiry in refer ence to. the roads, and, recalling the Constable's story, asked the stranger If he had ever heard of two men in that neighborhood who had ex- changed wives, one giving the other a tackknfe to boot lie replied pile, that la sd'e he he knew all about the Jackknife trade, as it was called, but that the story was often told incorrectly. We asked him if he would give us the true version of the affair, and, remarking that we were strangers, he agreed to tell us what we were anxious to know. This is the story he told us, and I think 1t lays the Strange Scheme of Randolph Mason in the shade. . But to the story.
 Christian Masln and Eliza J. Dodson,' said the stranger, were married in the year 1870, in Fayette County, Pa, by one Isaac Justice. Inc young people settled down and began housekeeping in Pennsyl- vania, where they lived together about pated. and in consequence things did not go smoothly with the couple. After two years of married life in Fayette County, separated, the young wife returning to her fathers home. The husband settled down to farming. or what they call farming in this country. Maslin hired as his house. keeper a sprightly young woman named Louisa A. Grimes, who remained at the head of his cabin establishment for about three years. At the end of that time Mas lin was desperately in love with the housekeeper, and wished to marry her. but Maslin's wife, who was living in the same neighborhood, was in the way.
 "'At this time Maslin met me, Samuel M. Williams, and told me he wished to get rid of his wife. I asked him why he did not sell her. Maslin replied that he would sell her quick enough IT fte could get any one to buy, and asked me what l. would give. I happened to have at that time an old rusty jackknife, and told him I would give him the knife for his wife. He said he would take it, and the deal was made right there. The next day Maslin and went to the County Clerk and l got a H. cense to marry Mrs. Maslin whom I had purchased, and he got a license to marry his housekeeper Grimes.
 At this time Mrs. Maslin was was 1874, and were married by Preacher Sam uels. Masin and his housekeeper, wife No. 2, still live together, and have a large family. Mrs. Maslin and l lived very hap oily together for two years. At the end of that time she returned home and staid there two years, and then returned to me- We lived happily until February, 1898, when she again left me and went to live with her brother.
 About two years ago there was a great revival in the German Baptist Church in our neighborhood. and I be- came a member of that church. Some of the officers of the church heard of my strange story, and the matter was in vestigated by the church authorities, who decided that I must get divorce or leave the church, as our marriage was case of living in adultery. I am now on my way to consult lawyer to get me out of this scrape. 1 don't know what is to become of Maslin.'
 From the simple way in which this man told his story it seems never to have occurred to him that any law had been violated or that any wrong had been done Maslin is still living with wife No. 2, and seems to have no fear of punishment for