The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-06-08

''JOer Silva Kidaaps HIS Divorced Wife.
overhasSed BY the Sheriff.


Joseph Silva. an ITALIAN. who has be
come notorious throughout the count,
on account OF mis- domestic infelicity
created more or less of a sensation Mon
Gay raorning when he went 70 the homt
OF Mrs. Uriah Trent, just north OF town
and kidnapped his divorced wife, who
had been stopping al the Trent residence
Silva broaght the woman TO town and
sent the local Constable 10 the Office o,
Register and Recorder Cover for mar.
riage license. The Register was told
that the couple wished 10 marry them
selves without going through the nsnal
formally at the hands Of Clergyman
| Mr.. Cover declined 70 issue license
until after he had consulted with his at.
tornev.
All OF this took place before ! o'clock in
the morning and meanwhile Silva had
secured team at livery stable. Upon
learning that the Register would not is
sue license 10 him aud his former wife
he started in a carriage to Cssselman evil
deutly proposing 10 take train at that
place, On account Of there being no teie-
graph Office at Cssselman. and thus re-
duc.ng the danger of being intercepted
by an officer.
At o'clock warrant for the arrest Of
Silva was placed IN the hands OF sheriff
Hartzell. an Information alleging kidnep-
ping having been filed against him 10y a
relative OF Mr.. SilvA's, aud that officer
started in pursuit. Toe Sheriff drove
one Of his speediest horses, and although
the liveryman had a full hall. hours start
on him, he succeeded in overtaking the
Aeeing couple ten miles south Of town,
having covered the distance in exactly
forty-one minutes. The Sheriff placed
Mrs. Silva in the buggy with him, while
Joe" was permitted TO remain in the
livery carriage, when the party returned
10 Somerset. Silva was allowed his free
dom on his own recDgnizance until 3
O'Clock in the afternoon, the hour set for
the hearing, the prosecutor hoping that
he would dec FROM the county before the
hour for the hearing arrived. Joe did not
lake This view of affairs. however. and
continued 70 loaf about town until later
in the day when charge OF rape was
entered against him he then suddenly
disappeared aud has not since been heard
Of
Mrs. Silva says that on Sunday even
ing boy came 10 the house and told her
that her former husband was in the
woods back of the Trent home and de-
sired 20 have an interview with her.
Upon learning that Silva was lurking
about her home Mrs. Trent brought Mrs.
Silva 10 town and sent her son-in-law
out to guard the house during the night
Silva did not turn up during the night,
but shortly after the return OF Mrs Trent
and his former wife the following morn
ing, aud while the former was Temporal
rily absent from the building he sudden
ly made his appearance and compelled
his wife TO leave with him. ON the road
70 town they passed number OF teams.
The woman was bareheaded and Silva had
his arm around her urging her forw ard.
Word was left at the home of Jacob
Lichty, a brother Of Mrs. Silva's, and he
hurried to town and lodged the informa-
tion charging kidnapping mentioned
above.
Mrs. Silva says that Joe pleaded with
her on account of their four children that
she should accompany him, declaring
that he had money and would treat her
as a husband should in the future. She
reluctantly consented to 60 with him.
Silva and his wife, who is daughter of
George c. Lichty, were married some ten
or twelve years ago. Following their
marriage they removed to California,
where they resided for four or FIVE years
before returning to Somerset county.
Silva treated his wife with such brutal
cruelty, on one occasion breaking her
arm, that heT father took her to his home.
and aboat = year ago Mrs. Silva secared
a divorce from her husband. Since then
Silva has been tormenting his wife and
her relatives in various ways.