Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-09

The cases of Joseph Youst and his
! wife, On the charge OF bigamy, as pre-
/ ferred by Benjamin Crowley, who
claims to be one of Mrs Youst's hus-
bands, came up for hearing in Squire
Henry Riddles court at Benwood yes
terday morning at nine o'clock. A
crowd of spectators, ali of whom were
more or less interested in the case,
were present, and the testimony OF the
various witnesses was of a sensation
al nature. Those giving evidence
for the complainant were Mrs. Mary
Crowley and Mrs. Lida Richardson,
mother and sister of Ben Crowley and
Mrs. Dole, who is one of their neigh
bors.
On hearing the charge of having
been unlawfully married to another
man, read to her, Mrs. Youst declared
| that she had no recollection of having
been welded to Crowley. She also
oCdICV w LILO CnOCI LudL II IuCy WOAC
married she was not conscious of what
she was doing at the time.
The compliments mother, Mrs. Mary
Crowley, testified that her son was mar
ried to the woman in the case and that
they lived together for some time, af-
ter which she left him and took a trip
to Littleton, Wetzel county, where she
met her cousin, Joseph Youst, to whom
she was married later.
The next witness was Mrs Ida
Richardson, who spoke of correspon-
dence between the woman and herself,
in RECORD to the marriage of Mrs. Yust
and Ben Crowley, and stated that the
defendant said she married Crowley in
order to get back from Michigan among
her relatives in Wheeling and also for
the reason that he threatened to kill
himself if she rejected him. At this
juncture there was a warm controversy
between Mrs. Richardson and Mrs.
| Youst, the latter declaring that at the
time she is supposed to have married
! Crowley he had wife living and has
never been divorced from her. On
hearing this statement Crowley only
| laughed.
The witness then called to the stand
was Mrs. Dole, who claimed that one
day last summer she was called to the
home of the Crowley's and read the
certificate of marriage in which Ben
Crowley and Mrs Youst were the prin-
cipals. She also said that the husband
and wife were present at the home
when the certificate was read. After
Mrs Dole had been dismissed both
prisoners claimed they had never heard
the certificate read.
The charge of adultery was then en-
tered against William Youst, who is
alleged to be the woman's third hus-
band, and who has been working at the
Riverside coke plant. Youst pleaded
not guilty but was fined $40 and costs.
While he claimed to be ignorant of
,, the alleged marriage Of Mrs. Youst
and Crowley, he said he was informed
of her marriage to a Mr.. Lapp in Mich
igan some years ago, but thought that
her first husband was dead.
No action was taken in Mrs. Youst's
case but the Squire was of the opin-
ion that the evidence was sufficiently
strong to send her to Wetzel county,
where she formerly lived.
In default of his fine Youst was sent
to Jail for sixty days. 1t is said tht
Crowley left yesterday for the defend
ants old home near Littleton. where
she was married last, to further inves-
tigate the case, with a view of getting
warrant for her arrest by the Wetzel
county authorities on the same charge.
The woman, who, it is climed, has
three husbands living, a Mr.. Lapp, of
Michigan, and Ben Crowley and Joseph
Youst. of Benwood, seem to have little
consideration for the serious nature of
the charge against her. Her maiden
name was Sarah Hines and her mther
is living at Lansing, Mich. She had
three children by her first husband,
one of whom is. at Lansing, while the
other two are cared for at benevolent
institution here, having been handed
over to State Humane Officer Echols
after the woman's arrest last Saturday
According 10 her story, she was mar
ried to Lapp at Lansing twelve years
ago and afterwards deserted him and
became acquainted with Crowley to
whom she was not lawfully married
She accompanied Crowley from Michi-
gan to Benwood and later left him and
went to her former home near Little
ton where she was married to Joseph
Youst last September. She and Youst
came to Benwood about six weeks ago.
She claims to have left Lapp and
Crowley because they were unable to
support her and the children.