The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-05
RUSSIAN
TAILOR IS
ARRESTED.
Jacob SChireff Charged
With Bigamy.
is ALSO SUED
FOR DIVORCE
Former Wife Turns UP and
Threatens Trouble.
RELIES ON CUSTOM
FOR vlNDlCATIoN
Popular Ladies' Tailor Says Rabbi Dis
solved the First Marriage Before
the Second Took PIace-Crim-
inal Case TO Come Up
in Police Court
To-Day.
Former Wife Turns Up and
Threatens Trouble.
RELIES ON CUSTOM
FOR VINDlCATlON

Jacob shireff, the Russian who has be-
whose establishment and home are at
No. 41s East Grace Street. was arrested
yesterday afternoon On the charge OF
bigamy, upon warrant sworn out by
a former wife, who a few hours before
had instituted suit In the Chancery
Court for an absolute divorce. on the
ground OF abandonment and desertion.
and behind 1t all there is story that
fairly br.stlcs with human interest.
But before going into details 1t should
be stated that the tailor was taken to
the Second Police Station. where he was
promptly bailed In the sum OF 1000 for
his appearance In the Police Court this
morning to answer to the bigamy
charge. Mr. II. NJ, Smith, his counsel.
becoming his surety. Pending the trial
of the divorce suit, Judge Grinnan en-
tered an order restraining and enjoining
Schircn from dsposing OF any of his
property or from checking out any
money he may have in bank.
ALL ARE RUSSIANS
The story is one whose scenes were
laid for the most part In Russia. OF
which country schireff and both Of his
wives are natives He came to this
country and settled In New York about
twelve years ago, and piled his trade in
the metropolis until a little over five
years ago. when he ca me here and es-
tablished ladies' tailoring rooms at No.
4ls East Grace Street. His work is OF
the highest order and 1t has become the
ambition Of many to have one OF his
tailor made suits.
Wife No. ], TO whom Schireff admits
his marriage in Russia many years ago.
arrived here from that country yesterday.
Al
O. Wendenburg, and employed him to
bring the suit. the declaratio in which
he filed later on in the Chancery Court.
She subsequently swore out a warrant
for Schlreff, charging him with bigamy.
and he vas arrested and bailed, as indl-
Gated above,
schireff was seen at his home last
night. but he perslstently declined to
make any detailed statement concerning
lis case. He was being conforted in
his troubles ny Mr. Sam Stern and sew,
eral other friends, who did not seem
to view the matter with any great de-
gree OF seriousness.
RELY ON LOCAL CUSTOM.
They declared their confidence In the
ability of the tailor to prove his inno-
3cence. and they raised point in his de-
Tense which may go long way toward
exonerating him 1t Is their contention
IfiI DOln tHF lNalIltS'S lIlhNlii5 L5hcI,
place in Russia Schireff Is not amena-
Bile to the laws of this country with ref
erence to them, on the ground that in
Russia the powers OF the rabbi are as
broad in the matter OF dissolving mar
rage contracts as those of the courts
of this country. They say. too, and to
this the tailor nodded his assent. for he
speaks English very badly, that both
marriages were performed in the same
city: that the former was regularly dis
solved by the rabbi before the latter took
place, and that the former wife made no
move for prosecution or for further di
vorce during the seven years Schiroft
lived there after his second marriage.
WIFE No. /,
The woman who claims TO be the FIRST
wife of Schiref is a native Russian and
can scarcely speak any English. She
gives her name as G. Zorow, and It is
said that Jacob Schireff" in English Is
.Jankel Zorow' in the Russian Ian
guage.
It has been twenty years since the
tailor left his first wife In Russia. BY
this marriage there We're five children.
nv the second there are two daughters,
The second wife was with the tailor
when The Times Dispatch man called
last night, and she seemed to think that
the regulations OF their Church and
country with relation to marriages
would vindicate her husband Schreff
is man OF perhaps sixty years OF age,
and is a typical Russian In appearance,
He wears spectacles and his hair and
beard are OF an iron gray cast, He is
disposed to be rather quiet, and gives
every appearance Of a man who looks
strictly after his own affairs,
The first brush In the case will come
in the Police Court this morning. When
the case will be called for trial there.
It will possibly go over for some days,
as the defence will likely not be ready
to proceed, In which event the tailor
will almost certainly be again bailed.