The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-26
Mayor Pendleton Of Gentryyille
Proves a Bigamist.
Married Miss Grace Obley Of
EmpOria in June.
HAD A WIFE AND CHILD
Burial Of a Chunk Of Ice in
Oklahoma Explained.

EmpOr1a, Aug. Z6.@Jam0S PenQleIOn,
mayor of Gentryville, NO.. husband
and father there. alias Coda s. Morris,
of Emporia, married last June to Miss
Grace Obey, of Emporia: alias John
Cox. of Gentryville. Mo-. who buried
his friend, coda S. Norris" at Orlando.
o. T., August Is, made a full confession
here.
Pendleton is bigamist. and it was to
deceive his second wife. whom he mar
ried at Emporia under the name of Nor
ris. that he went through the fake bur-
ial performance at Orlando. He said
today he had been under physicians
care for year because of brain trou-
BILE, and that at times he was little
off" To this fact he attributed both
his marriage here, June II. to Miss OBJ
ley. and his burial of a chunk of Ice at
Orlando under representation that the
coffin contained the body of Coda s.
Morris. 1t has not developed that there
was any attempt at insurance swindle
on connection with the fake burial. as
was suspected of the time.
When John Cox" bought coffin and
200 pounds of ice at Perry, o. T.. for
shipment to Orlando. August Is. he also
bought crate of peaches, which he or
dered sent to Mrs James Pendleton.
Gentryville. Mo. This afforded the clue
fake burial at Orlando. 1t was learned
that Pendleton returned to his home at
Gentryville, August 16. after an alb
sence of eight months. Sheriff O'Connor,
of this county, teiegrapned the Guy
hold Pendleton, but that official refused
to act because the man to be arrested
was mayor of the town. Sheriff O'Con-
nor then telegraphed Sheriff Barkley,
of Gentry county. who went from AL
bany and tedPendleton on charge
Of bigamy.
The bigamy charge was sworn to by
Grace Obey, whom Pendleton married
at E,mporia, June IT, Grace Obey &C
companied Sheriff OConnor to Albany
and identified Pendleton as the man TO
whom she had been married at En-
poria. He wilted when he saw her at
Albany, but refused to make a confes-
sion until brought to EmpOria. He said
he would plead guilty, but it is believed
here he will make plea of insanity
He says he was somewhat off when
in Oklahoma, but remembers the cir
cumstances of the burial of the chunk
of ice with last sad rites over the re
mains of Morris He admits he was
Cox, who buried him. and says his
purpose was to elude his Emporia wife.
He has a wife and five children at Cen
tryville. and today talked freely con-
corning his family, but he was evidently
still somewhat off" He said he was
SO years old, while in fact he is 55. and
that he had been married twelve years,
while he has a daughter at Gentryville
Grace Obey, the girl whom Pendle--
ton married here under the name OF
Morris, is of good family and well
thought of. It was because of her in
quiries regarding the alleged death and
burial of coda S. Morris at Orlando
Okla, that the officers there exhumed
| the coffin and found it contained only
| a small piece of ice-what was left of
| the O-pound chunk intended to repre-
| sent all that was mortal OF Morris.
The preliminary hearing of Pendleton
| was held this afternoon before Justice
| Mccain. Pendleton refused to put up
any defense, and waived his preliminary
hearing. He was held to the district
court on a bond of $1,000 which he will
not be able to put up. He will be tried
| in the district court next October, and
it might be judged from a CONVERSE
| ton had with him today that he will
| plead insanity.
Pendleton acknowledges that he is
| 'up against it," and says he will put up
| no defense at his trial. AS yet he has
refused to obtain the services Of an
| attorney.
l. From the first Pendleton has express
| ed fears that the Emporia people would
| lynch him. and has told of such fears
| to the sheriff, and asked If the En-
poria Jail would keep out mob. At his
request. his preliminary hearing was