The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-02-09

Lima.
The disappearance of Richard S.
Gulin, formerly an employe of the
Morning News, has at last been ex-
planned His wife, who lives in Lima,
has been trying to locate him for sew
eral days past, the claim being made
that he had deserted her and her little
boy about two weeks ago, stating that
he was coming to Canton to work on
the Repository.
1t has been learned that instead of
coming to this city, Mr.. Gufiin went to
Orrville, where he was married on
Thursday of last week to Miss Ida
Mccormick, the daughter of j. A. Nc
Cormick, carriage painter of that
place. This was verified by Mr.. Cuff
fin himself, who talked to the Morning
News over the long distance tele-
phone last night; by Mr.. Mccormick,
the father of the bride, and by ]. M.
Fiscus, ex-mayor of Orrville.
CLAIMS A DIVORCE.
Mr.. Guffin stated that he had been
divorced from his Lima wife by Judge
Cunningham in the Lima courts about
4 weeks ago and that he had right
to marry the Orrville woman. you
know me well enough to know that
would not be fool enough to marry
another woman unless l had been di-
vorced from my first wife" said Cuff
fin over the phone.
The Office of the Lima Gazette was
called up. Mr. Guffln had worked in
that Office and his first wife had been
there on Tuesday evening asking for
information about her husband. The
story of the Orrville marriage was
communicated to the Gazette and they
were asked to ascertain whether or
not the records showed any divorce
granted The information was re-
ceived from that Office that they had
secured the clerk of courts and the
records had been carefully searched.
NO DIVORCE
had been granted, the Lima Gazette
man stated, and no action had ever
been begun by the husband.
He further stated that Mrs. Gufiln
was an estimable lady and that when
the word came that her husbands
brother had died. she was almost fran
tic with grief because she could not
communicate with her husband, and
she feared that he had met with foul
play somewhere. Despairing of find-
ing him, she took her little boy and
went to Morrison. H., to attend the
funeral and she stated before leaving
that she would remain there until
something definite was ascertained
about her husband.
THE BRIDES FATHER.
After hearing from Lima, Mr.. Nc
Cormick, the father of the second
wife, was again called up by tele-
phone and given the result Of the Lima
interview He said that Gufin had
first told him that he thought his
first wife was dead, but later admitted
that he had been divorced from her.
He could not understand the situation.
Guflln insisted that he had been d.
vorced, and when asked as to why he
did not tell where he was going, stated
that his destination was his own busi-
mass, and he did not feel called upon to
reveal 1t.
The situation is mystlfying one. II
Mr. GulIln married the second woman
knowing that his first wife was living
and had not been divorced, he would
be guilty of bigamy, and he was con-
yersant with the fact when he stated
he would not be fool enough to do such
a thing. He had heard from some
source that the fact of his disappear
ance had been published in Canton and
he
VOLUNTARILY CALLED
up the Morning News and gave an ac-
count of his marriage. At the time he
called nm, the Office here was trying to
set the mayor OF that city to ascertain
the fact, tip having been given that
the wedding had taken place.
Mr.. Mccormick further stated in
discussing the case, that Mr.. Guffin
told him that he had secured the di-
vorce through the agency of his wife's
brother That his brother-in-law had
told him that the decree could be Sc
cured for 1890 and that he had paid
that amount in order to secure separa-
tion from wife No. /.
Mr.. Quinn came to Canton to work
rs q linotype operator In the Morning
News once on Nov. 7. He had a lot
Of Recommendations, among them a
strong letter from the pastor of the
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
at Lima, OF which church hc and his
wife were members. He remained In
the employ of the Morning News until
Dec "a. whom without any notice he
left tho city and returned to Lima,
whore hs went to work for the Ga
Eette
At that ofIice 1t Is claimed he worked
until two weeks ago. when he, stated
LAT he was coming to Canton to ac-