The Portland daily press., 1898-09-17
HELD FOR BIeAMY.
Frank p. Whitcher Bound Over at NAL
den, Mass.

Frank P. Whitcher, who claims Lisbon,
N. H.. as his home, but was arrested in
Centreville some two weeks ago for
bigamy, was arraigned in the police court
at Maiden, Mass, Thursday morning, be-
fore Judge Pettengill. The court room
was crowded to repletion and there was
great struggle and crash to secure seats,
or even standing room.
Mrs. Whitcher No. l, accompanied by
a number of friends, sat but short
distance from the prisoner and glared at
him most OF the time. In the dock, with
his hand nervously stroking his silky
brown beard, sat the prisoner, who is
| charged with having married two women
Mrs Whitoher No. did not appear IN
court, but was represented by her attor-
ney, Mr.. Wentworth.
Mrs. WhitcheriNo !, looking neat and
trim In blue tailor-made gown, stepped
lightly upon the stand as first witness,
where she briefly related the story that
she had been married to the defendant on
the asd of August, 1893. in Portland; that
| she had lived with him for the space of
seven months. when he suddenly disap-
peared. * ss
''Would you know your husband If you
saw him now?" inquired the court.
"Yes, SIR answered the witness with
considerable spirit. "Do you think l
would be likely to forget him?"
Don't know anything about it replied
the judge. "Point out to me now II you
can find him in the ROOM"
Mrs. Whitcher, who, in the preliminary
testimony, had stated that prior to her
| marriage her named was Miss Isabelle
Odell, turned toward the dock and with
out hesitation pointed directly at
Whitcher, who was Immediately seized
with violent fit of sn eezing.
''That is the mantle brute-Mr.
Judge; he married me and then left me-,
said Mrs. Whitcher No. 1, rs she glared
sayagely at the luckless prisoner.
Herbert S. Hannaford of Portland,
Susie D, Hansoome, William Curley,
Martha Gibbons and Inspector Gresnleaf
gave evidence against the defendant. Mr..
Hannaford claimed that he was witness
of the marriage ceremony in Portland on
| August %, 1898. Mrs. Hanscome claimed
that she was present at the same cere-
mony and knew both Miss Odell and Mr..
Whitoher personally and identified thu
prisoner.
The second marriage recorded was by
Rev. j. j. Lyons Of Maiden. on July IS,
/ 1903 xJho no IN
| Curley. William Curley of Maiden, who
had been witness to his sisters mar
riage with the prisoner, testified. He re-
lated that he had attended his sisters
wedding, and that he had been present
when Whitcher was baptized in the
the marriage to Miss Agnes Curley of
Maiden. William Curley the witness,
stated that after the ceremony Mr.. and
Mrs. Whether had held reception at
their newly furnished home on Centre
street, Maiden. Then came number OF
people who had attended the Whitcher-
CurIey nuptia.s. Each related the same
story.
Upon the evidence given to the court,
Whitoher was found probably guilty and
bound over to the grand jury for the
third Monday in October in $500 bonds.
He was committed, not having the
necessary bond money.
Whitcher was formerly employed at
Fogg's ticket office. Mrs. Whitcher, tho
first wife, is a tailoress at Haskell s.
Jones of this city. They were married III
the chapel of ST. Luke's at the above
mentioned dat. 1t is said that after
Whitcher left Portland he became a
motorman on one of the electric lines
running out of Boston. The CASE will go
before the Suffolk county, Massachusetts,
grand jury in October.