The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-15
THOUGHT HE WAS HUBBY.
Eccentric Woman Caused Much Em-
barrassment for Foreigner.

From the Philadelphia Record.
Clearneld, Pa, Oct. SO.-It is not
often that from out the proceedings
of court there comes so strange and
interesting a story as one which de-
veloped here before Judge Allison o.
Smith. If told by a novelist or play
wright the writer would be accredited
with cleverness of Imagination. for the
whole thing is really more like the
yarns one finds between the covers of
books than one from real life.
The chief figure in the tale is &C.
centric Kate Miller, middle-aged and
n1annish in her demeanor, whose home
is a little smoke-begrimed. but along
the Mount job road, in Lawrence,
township. where she has lived alone,
except for a cow. several pigs and
a flock of chickens, for many years.
She was married once, and because
she forgot how her husband looked she
became the plaintiff In this unique case
In court. The role of second import
ance was unwillingly filled by Frank
Marcia, a black-eyed black-moustach-
ed Italian, who is boss of a gang Of
railroad laborers. Mrs. Miller had
Marcia hailed into court that she might
prove that he was the husband who
deserted here fifteen years ago. Tls2t
husband was Andrew Polleshitz,
Hungarian. who. with crowd of fell
low countrymen, came into this section
to work on the Beech Creek Railroad.
ANDY" after his marriage quit the
railroad job and went to live with his
wife on her little farm. The bride ex-,
pected her husband to keep up with her
pace as an all-around farm hand but
that was what Andy couldn't do; so
he fled the country. lie has never been
seen in this section since.
But poor, unsuspectlng Frank Ma
rella fell a victim TO the woman's lido
syncracy, because she became convinc-
ed that he was not Frank Marella, but
Andy Polleshitz, her legal and right
full husband. She tried to convince
him that he was the man she had mar
ried, but Marella wouldn't believe IT.
Then Mrs. Miller tried to clasp him
In her arms, but Marella took to his
heels and went into hiding. Two days
later Marcia was arrested, charged
with desertion, and lodged In jail. But
his friends came to his rescue. employ
ed counsel. and on a writ Of habeas
corpus he was brought before Judge
Smith.
Mrs. Marella declared that the pris-
oner was her husband, but II of Ma
rella's countrymen swore he was not
her husband. The court directed that
'h~ PiuAaAAiiA lilAfouuct HtI evidence OF
Identification, whereupon Mrs. Miller
produced faded photograph of her
self and Andy Polleshitz, taken on
their wedding day. But the picture of
her man" looked no more like Ma
rella than the man in the moon, does.
Then Judge Smith did some interro-
eating. In the fifteen years that have
elapsed Mrs. Miller forgot just how her
husband wore his hair. what sort OF
moustache he had. and about every
thing else that might establish a mans
individuality
When Marella and his witnesses were
called they proved conclusively that
Marella had only been In this country
three years and, therefore. could not
nave married the woman fifteen years
ago. This ended the case. MareIla was
discharged, though Mrs Miller was
still convinced that he was her nus
band and she went away sorrowful,
Tor the court directed her to keep
away from Marella and not mofest
him, else the hand Of the law would
be laid upon her. fet