The evening times., 1898-10-15
MAXIM NOT 4 BIGAMIST
Helen Leighton's Charge Is
Withdrawn.
PROCEEDINGS In COURT
Past Life of the Woman Who Claim
ed to BE His Wife Disclosed in
The TestimOny-"Nellie MnIcolm's"
Memory Becomes COn7used-Ad-
mits Living In Disorderiy Houses.

Poughkeepsie, N. Y, Oct. 15.-Helen
known here, VINO claims to be the legal
wife of Hiram S. Maxim, inventor of the
famous rapid-fire machine gun, was bonn
barded with questions by Barlow s.
Weeks for two hours in the police court
here yesterday, and at the conclusion Of
her cross-eXamination il was announced
by her lawyer that the charge of bigamy
would not be pressed against the famous
inventor.
MI. Maxim was arrested in New York
aast Saturday. on warrants charging him
with abandonment and bigamy. Inc war
rants were issued by Recorder S. ii.
Brown in this city on August %. The
examination had been set for o'clock
yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Maxim appear
ed Eefore the recorder at the appointed
timei accompanied by his lawyers, Bar
tow &. Weeks and George Gordon Battle,
Of New York, and Frank b. Lown, of
last week detectives had been at work
investigating Nellie Ma!com's" past life
In this city and elsewhere, with results
tnat were made apparent by the cross
examination.
Just before Recorder Brown opened
court summons and complaint were
served upon Mr.. Maxim in an action for
divorce instituted by his alleged wife to
compel him to pay her alimony. Charles
Morschauser, counsel for the complainant
placed the alleged Mrs Maxim on the
stand. She made substantially the same
statement which was published at the
time of MaXim's arrest. She said that at
the various places where she lived with
Maxim he always introduced her as his
wife. Their baby, she said, was born in
April, 1873. and was taken away from her
when it was three or four years oIa.
Under Mr.. Weeks crosS-examina Hn the
woman became much confused. Sne could
remember nothing about the place where
her alleged marriage with Maxim took
place. She could not remember whether
the man who performed the ceremony was
young, old or middle-ag ged. or how he look
ed, except that he had q mustache. She
did not know whether he was magistrate
or a clergyman.
Mr. Weeks drew from the woman the
admission that she had lived in several
disorderly houses, which he mentioned.
ard that at one of them she went by the
nickname of Tug Wilson
Mr.. Weeks attempted to show by several
to cause Hiram Maxim's arrest by his
brother Hudson but Recorder Brown re-
fused to admit the evidence, saying
Even If IL were shown that the brother
had urged her on ii would not add to or
! detract from the merits of the case
Mr.. Weeks then moved for a dismissal
| of the charge. IF the unsupported evil
dence of this woman Is sufficient to war
! rant a continuance Of this case" he said.
there is not married man today who is
| safe from assaults upon his privacy AMI
upon his wife's honor if at any time in
| his younger days he may have been. un-
/ fortunately, so indiscreet as to allow a
woman OF this class to use his name
The motion was denied, and Mr. Weeks
| then took up the affidavit made by Helen
/ Malcolm on August 25. in which she
swore Maxim was married to one Jane
| Budding in Boston prior to his marriage
/ to her.
After much cross-examination the wit
ness admitted that she had since learned
| that he was not legally married. and that
her deposition in that point was therefore
| untrue.
! Thereupon her lawyer stated that he
| had received confirmation of the fact AMI
| announced that the charge of bigamy
/ would not be pressed. The abandonment
proceedings were then adjourned to next
| Friday. when Maxim will present evil
| dence to prove that no form of marriage
| ever took place between Helen Leighton
and himself.