The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-30
DUvAL'S BRIDE
A BIGAmIST.
Accusation Is Made BY Rsr
UndlvoTced Husband.
THE FAMILY HOLDS A MEETING.
jsAassn, Who Was Reported Dead, Says
Ho nd His Wife Planned 70 Secure
Ilsuaaes msAsJ.
the FAMILY HOLDS A MEETING.

Fort Smith. Ark. Jan. 1-Aibert G.
johnson who arrived hero yesterday to
claim the bride OF Ben. T. Duvsl, Jr.. as
his own wife. has sworn out warrant
for her arrest on the charge of bignmy.
Johnson also declares that he and Mrs.
johnson Duval were tho principals In q
scheme to defraud the knights OF Mac
cabess 'out OF $1,000 insurance on his life
There will be hearing I'm court tomor-
row on tho bigamy charge.
johnson and Mrs. Johnson-Duval. by
arrangement. mot I'm the Duvsl home
yesterday afternoon. Others present were
Mrs. Adelaide J. Lounsbury, mother OF
Mrs. Johnson -Duvai, Mrs. F1ersnes Ds-
viss, q stsnoGraphss; J. E. Janieson,
city attorney, and a close friend Of Ben
Duvai, Or. Elias Rector. . deputy sheriff:
Dibbsn Duval. Jr., ana Ben DuvaL sr.
unsls Of the bridegroom.
johnson entered tho room with his
head erect Than he wheeled about and
faced the woman whom he claims 10
have been seeking for many months. Mrs
Johnson -Duvai met his eyes squareiy. and
sdaculAtsdt That's the man"
...en she took q seat upon q sofa and
picked Mp . Newspaper ~ IL to read. But
she was visibly nervous.
Ben. puval. yr.. seeing the strain upon
his wife. sat beside her, but Ben Duvsi.
ST., considered that - long as Johnson
was present the two shoulS remain sepa-
rate. Accordingly ut his phclss sugges-
ton, the nephew changed his seat. This
l~fe Inh "a
wife. aad he never removed his eyes from
her face
A long silsnee, In which everybody
present was visibly embarrassed, follow
ed. Col Ben Duvai. Jr.. was the FIRST TO
speak. He rose and said: II suppose ev-
erybody present knsws the object OF this
meeting. This lady (pointing to Mrs.John-
son-DuvaD was married on Jan. II to
my nephsw. anl this man, who has come
from St. Louis tpointing 30 Johnson).
claims that she In his wife"
she In my wife" interrupted Johnson.
This In q serious situation" continued
Col Duvai, ignerfng Johnson. and it
must come to Gn end- i see no need at
present for = long interview. First. let
(pointing TO Johnson) is her husband. and
then let MY. Johnson state what he de-
sires of her. she is free and can set with
out interference on ehs part OF any mem-
ber of the Duvsi family.
MY dear" continued Col. DuvaL sd-
dressing Mrs. Johnson-Duval. "is that
man the Mr.. Johnson whom you mar
riedY"
He is the man married I'm Orleans.
Mich..' was the instant reply.
Then Johnson arose, Yes" he said,
you married me on Jan. II. 1885, In Mich
isan. and I now claim you ~ my wife.
have every regard for the young man
whom you have married. and. think that
when Mr.. Duval and his family know
what know about you, my wife, they
will thank me for coming here I now
request a private interview with you"
with these words johnson stopped.
There was some argument among the
Duvais. who opposed . private interview.
Mrs. Johnson -Duvai settled the matter.
II have no reason TO see you IN private
Nothing could be . secret between my
self and the man 1 married in Fort
Smith,"
"weii. then. remember a. telsgraphed
you" said Johnson. II have svery letter
you ever wrote me. You should know
what that means. You refuse to aocede to
my requests or TO acknowledge me.
have here two letters one from A. w.
Palmer. q general merchant OF Orleans,
Michigan"
III you mention A. w. Palmer" inter
rupted Mrs. Johnson-Duval. why don't
you pay my mother the money you owe
her?"
All recrin,,natien was stopped by Col.
Duvai and tho meeting was over.
Public sympathy is with the DuvaIs.
Johnson Is ut the Hotel TITLES. The loca-
ton OF his room IL a secret and he II said
10 be under heavy guard. as threats of
violence have bean r,ade IN fba .er~at