Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-03
CAUSES ARREST
ON B|GANY CHARGE
Innocent Publication of a Secret
Marriage Leads to Arrest
of Husband
IRA JOHNSTON MUCH MARRIED
Has Wife Living Near Melbourne, and
Was Married Again to Miss Margar-
ct Espersen, of This City, at Musca-
tine-Formery Lived at oskaloosa-
Divorce Scandal Recalled.

news story by the T.-R. on the even
ing of January 81 has brought griei
to Ira Johnston of Muscatine, - young
man formerly living mt Oskaloosa, VINO
recently married Miss Margaret Es-
persen, OF this city, at Muscatine. IL
is claimed that Johnston's legal wife
is Mrs. Mabel a. Johnston. living near
Melbourne who, prior to her marslage.
was Mabel Gowdy, daughter of the late
j. r. Gowdy. Johnston, charged Win
bigamy, was placed under arrest at
Muscatine Thursday night.
The publication in the T.-R. of last
Tuesday that started the action a.
gainst young Johnston, headed. Keep
Marriage u Secret" was as follows:
Thru the visit OF Mrs. Ira john
ston. who was formerly Miss Margaret
Espersen, to her parents, MI ana Mrs.
j. p. Espersen, 500 South Sixth street
was made public the fact of her mar
rage to Mr.. Johnston, in Muscatine on
January 4. Mrs. Johnston arrived IN
the city Saturday, and surprised her
parents by the news OF her marriage.
Mr.. Johnston came Sunday, and lett
for his home this morning, but Mrs.
Johnston will remain for II longer Wis
it. Prior to her marriage Mrs. john
ston had been clerking in dry goods
store in Muscatine for four or nve
months Her husband is cigar ma
kerr"
While the above was read with IN
terest by the friends of Miss Espersen
In this city, the news at Melbourne, or
at least in q certain Melbourne fam
lily, was of more interest. 1T did not
take the Gowdy household long to de-
termine upon Il course OF action, ana
Thursday morning c. S. Gowdy, broth
err of Mrs. Mabel A. Johnston, filed IN
Justice w. NJ Clark's court, an tnfor-
nation charging Ira Johnston with
bigamy. Sheriff Hutson wired the
sheriff of Muscatine county, informing
him that he had warrant for John-
ston's arrest, and at Z o'clock Ihurs-
day evening received telegram from
Muscatine announcing Johnston's ar
rest. Sheriff Hutson left for Musca-
tine at 1880, to take his prisoner In
charge.
Johnston's First Marriage.
The marriage Of Ira A. Johnston ana
MdDel "A. 1OWpy looh pAS'SS VIZ " eAAS ~
1900, and they lived together until Jan.
4, 1901. At the time of Mrs. Johnston's
marriage she was 10 years of age. Mrs.
Johnston has one son, Jesse II. john
ston, who was born May S, 1901, Mrs.
Johnston filed petition for divorce
in the district court, charging cruel
and inhuman treatment, and specify
ing a most serious variety of cruelty
which, the defendant, in his answer,
denied. The case was heard at the
spring term, and on April 30. 1902,
the petition was dismissed at the
PLAINTIFFS costs, to which the plaintiff
excepted.
The Second Marriage.
On January 4, 1906, justsa month ago
tomorrow, Johnston took as his bride
Margaret Esperson. of this city, daugh-
ter Of Mr.. and Mrs. John P. Esperson.
Miss Esperson has been making her
home in Muscatine during recent
months, and upon her marriage wanted
to let her parents know Immediately.
1t is claimed she was persuaded by
Johnston to keep the wedding a secret
for a time, and complied with the re-
quest. The marriage was not made
public, therefore, until the visit Of
the young people here few days ago.
| The members of Miss Esperson's fam
/ ily did not attempt to keep the fact
Of the wedding a secret, and made
their friends acquainted with the news
of the wedding, when they were them
selves informed Johnston left this
city for Oskaloosa, where relatives re-
side. last Tuesday morning, and his
wife Joined him in Oskaloosa the fol-
lowing day, leaving here Wednesday
morning. Johnston and his young
wife had arrived in Muscatine only a
short time before the formers ar
rest was accomplished.
Sheriff Hutson is expected to arrive
in the city this evening from Musca-
tine, with Johnston in custody.