The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-30
FROM WIFE TO JAIL
WAITER III. THOMPSON CHARGED
WITH BIGAMY.
BOSTON WIFE SAYS SHE'S NO. |
THOMPSON TAKEN FROM THE ARMS
OF NUMBER TWO.

She Was with Him at His Place of
business when Officers Served
Bench Warrant - Thompson Pro-
tested His Innocence and Savan-
nah Wife Believes housekeeping
and Locked in Each Others Arms
the Deputies Separated Them-AI-
legged Bigamist Led to Prison
Cell and Wife Went Home.
Thompson From Boston and wife
No. L Claims He Married Her There
over Three Years Ago - Welded
Miss Annie Leach in Christ Church
Last October.
William H. Thompson was arrested late
yesterday afternoon by Deputy Sheriff
Sweeny on a bench warrant, charging him
with bigamy. Thompson has been en-
ployed by Mr.. c. H. Medlock and was
arrested in his place of business at Con-
gress and Montgomery streets. The
young man was indicted by the grand
jury for bigamy and his arrest followed
Immediately.
Mrs. Thompson. No. 2, If the charge is
true, was with her husband when the war
rant was served, and the scene was
most pathetic one. The young man pro-
tested his innocence and his wife chung
to him, as If TO prevent the officers serv-
ing the mandate of the law. His. denial
was sufficient TO prove to hen his limo
cence of the offense for which he had
been indicted. At a moment when he
required friend to help bear his burden,
she refused to desert him, and announced
between sobs that she believed him guilt
less.
Only his own words of confession would
ever cause her to change her mind, and,
as she had promised TO do at the altar,
she would remain true to him until he
had been proven unworthy of her trust
and affection. Thompson himself broke
down completely. He was taken from the
arms of the young woman and removed
to the county jail. where he was placed
in a cell. Had she been permitted to have
her way, the young woman would have
probably been only too glad to share her
husbands sorrows by spending the night
with him in the cell.
Thompson came to Savannah about
three years ago as a piano tuner and
made many friends. He was nice look
He met Miss Annie Leach, very pretty
ty young woman, and they became
enamored. On October 81 last they were
married in Christ Church and since that
time have led a life Of happiness and
contentment. 1t appeared to be a happy
union, and the arrest yesterday came like
a thunderbolt out of clear sky
Solicitor General Osborne received
letter from the woman who claims to be
wife No. /, and upon this document the
indictment was returned She resides in
Boston and inclosed a splendid photo
graph OF the man whom she claims de-
serted her and remarked without the for
mality of obtaining a divorce. The let
ter was read to the grand jury and other
evidence was produced 90 show that
Thompson had married the complainant
in Boston on Oct. %, 1897. She had been
with him in this city and knew that he
resided here, but had only recently learn
ed of his alleged second marriage.
Thompson seemed surprised when told
on what charge he had been arrested,
snd if he is a guilty man he did not .ook
it. He acted the part of the innocent to
perfection and declared with tears in
his eyes, that there must have been some
horrible mistake made when such an &C
cusation was lodged against him. He
did not recall having even coured my
young woman in his native city, and was
quite certain that he had never led one
40 the altar. He did not attempt to ex-
plain why anyone should maliciously and
falsely accuse him with a view of wreck
ing his lfe's happiness.
Detective Frank Wall of the police de-
partment recalls that quite a while ago
Maj. Screven received letter from some
one in Boston, asking that Thompson be
watched. The writer at chat time Said
that she understood that the man had en-
gagged himself to a young woman in this
city and that he was already the lawful
husband of another. She had not been in
formed that Thompson had already we'd
ded Miss Leach.
Mrs Thompson, No l, will have to come
10 this city to prosecute the man whom
she claims deserted her for another, and
the meeting will no doubt be an inter-
esting one. In the meantime the Savan-
nah wife is az her home on York street,
grief-stricken and almost broken-hearted
---s-o-s--