The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-27
MET THE WRONG WOMAN
j. A. KINNEY. A SEYMOUR CONTRAC-
TOR, WAS NOT SEEKING HIS WIFE.
Mrs. Kinney Claims He Was to Meet
Fair Neighbor Instead
His Arrest.

On warrant sworn out by his wife John
A. Kinney. of Seymour, Ind, was returned
to his home yesterday afternoon in hand
cuffs. 1t is said he is wanted there for lar
ceny, but the warrant on which Detectives
Splann and Page arrested him was for wife
desertion
Kinney has been a well-known and sue
cessful contractor and builder Of Seymour
for many years, but according to the story
told by his wife yesterday at the police
station he became dissatisfied with the
town about eight months ago. After he
had shown in many ways that he was rest
less he finally told his wife he was going
to leave. and converted what real estate
ne owned into cash, amounting to almost
$1,000. Mrs Kinney says he gave her about
$500 of the amount and then left for Den
Yer, Col, from which city she received sew
eral letters telling of his success. In one
of them he told her he never intended to
return to Indiana, but did not ask her to
come to him. Then the letters were of less
frequency, and finally stopped altogether
For three months she never heard a word
from him, but several days ago a woman
with whom Kinney, during his residence in
Seymour, was well acquainted showed Mrs.
Kinney letter from the tardy husband.
in which he made an engagement to meet
the woman in this city Wednesday night.
1t was a complete surprise to Mrs. Kinney.
She says she never dreamed of her husband
being this side of Denver, but she deter
mined to act.
The woman who had the letter readily
consented to the wife taking her place and
coming on to Indianapolis to meet Kinney.
Ihls programme was carried out and Kin
ney was trapped, but not entirely dscon-
certed. He had gone to the Belt road to
meet the incoming train which he expected
would carry the Seymour woman, and be-
gan systematic search from one end of
the train TO the other. His surprise may
Dc imagined when he saw his wife in the
place of the woman he was expecting. The
recognition was mutual, and there was no
way OF his getting away from what was
before him. He stepped forward and greet
ed the woman whom he had sworn to love
ana protect, and expressed his surprise at
nnulng her so Unexpectedly. Mrs. Kinney
says he pretended he was here on his Way
nome out she soon gave him to understand
Sne was aware of his having written tc the
Seymour neighbor and demanded explana-
tons He asked for time, and proposed that
MS boarding house. To this she consented
ana 1t seems that during their Stay together
ne persuaded her that everything was right
ana she returned to Seymour on the follow
ing morning.
Mrs. Kinney says when she reached home
ana ana was away from his persuasive influence
the force of all the evidence against him
was Impressed upon her again, and she at
once sWore out warrant for his arrest
for wife desertion. Kinney's address, with
the information that he was wanted in Sey-
mour, was telegraphed to the police here
ana Detectives Splann and Page went to
his room and found him. The Seymour au-
thorities were notified and the marshal
game yesterday and took him back to his
former home. Mrs Kinney also made her
appearance again yesterday, but in the aft
ernoon returned to her home, where she
says, she will prosecute her husband and
bring suit for support.