The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-03
HAS SEVEN LIVING HUSBANDS.
PATERSON WOMAN ARRESTED FOR
BTGAMY CONFESSES.
Says She Can Remember the Names Of Only
Four OF the Men She Married and Then
DesertedPapers I'm Divorce Pro-
ceetiinEs Bring the Facts to Light.

EOtlT VI tIlc Nlcn DIG VhhTTicu "uu A"s''
Deserted-Papers I'm Divorce Pro-
ceedInEs Bring the Facts to Light
PATERSON, N. j., Sept. 2.-When Mrs.
Florence Forrest OF II Hamburg avenue this
city was arraigned before Justice Abe Co hen
o-night on the charge Of bigamy, preferred
by her husband, James Forrest, OF 70 Ryle
avenue, she admitted that seven OF her
husbands were living, although she could
remember only the names Of four. 1t 10
believed that the woman has twice that
number Of husbands. and her assertion
that she does not remember the names OF
those she has married and deserted is not
believed.
Mrs. Forrest was arrested late this after
noon as she was preparing to leave Patsr-
son. She married Ferresteight months ago.
Neither he nor his wife will tell the name OF
the minister who performed the ceremony,
nor that Of the church in which the cere-
mony took place. Forrest said, however,
that she told him she was unmarried and
wept with 10y when they were made man
and wife.
The fact that the woman had many hus-
bands was brought to light by the fact that
in June last she was served with papers
in divorce proceedings by Under Sheriff
Joseph Bergen. The proceedings were
instituted by her first husband, Michael
Chabbenou, o French Canadian. She was
married to him on Oct. 8, 1885, In st. Mary's
Roman Catholic Church In Lambertville
near Trenton, N. ]. From the woman's
account there resulted from this union,
child that lived for two years.
After living at IAmbertville for five
years she deserted her husband, going to
New Hope, Pa. At New Hope, she ad-
nitted tonight, she married two men.
but nothing would induce her to divulge
the name of either. This part Of her story
is vague, as New Hope is her home. and it is
thought that she is trying to cover up
other marriages that she may have been
party to after she left her Lambertville
husband and appeared in this city early
in 1904.
Here she met Hilton Bames, a silk worker
and after short oourtship married him on
Aug. 7, 1904. This ceremony was performed
at the Clinton Street Dutch Reformed
Church, by the Rev. William Decker. Her
taste and those OF Bames seemed not to
run together After four weeks Of married
life she disappeared and Barnes has not
seen her since. She would give no reason
for her desertion CT him. Whatever the
reason for her dislike Of Bames was. 1t did
not prevent her from marrying again two
months later.
This time she was wed to farmer Of
Preakness named Charles Abner, who
owns the jackson farm. She tired OF
Abner as quickly as she did OF Barnes and
deserted him. Coming to Paterson she
met Forrest, who is so years old and dyer's
helper. Forrest accidentally discovered
the papers in the Chabbenou divorce case
in q bureau drawer few weeks ago. and
without saying anything to his wife he
corresponded with her first husband and
learned her early history. When con-
fronted with the facts of her first husbands
existence, she declared that she was di-
vorced, but Forrest knew better and made
a complaint at once.
Mrs. Forrest Is about 10 years old. She Is
attractive and does not look to be more than
thirty. When arraigned tonight she wore
a gray walking skirt, white lace shirt waist
and a picture hat. Her maiden name was
Florence Murphy and her father is James
Murphy Of New Hope, Pa, an upholsterer
In the employ OF the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Mrs. Forrest was surprised at being COM
mitted to jail in default Of 1000 bail. She
cried bitterly and told Justice Cohen that
she did not believe her actions warranted
such heavy bail. She asked that her father
be informed OF her arrest. Chabbanou,
the first husband is a machinist. working In
New York. At present he is living In Jersey
City. The woman is apparently sane.