The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-22
BANKER OWNS UP TO BIGAMY.
r. ". KILEY or BROOKLIN Al
MITS he HAS TWO WIVES.
Took Mrs. Colt to San francisco In 1908
Expecting That His VIE Would Die,
He Married Mrs. Colt-Has supported
Both Women. since and Has Confessed.

Both Women. Since and Has Confessed
There was much surprise in Brooklyn
yesterday when it became known that
Thomas W. Kiley, president of the North
Side Bank and head Of the hardware firm
of Thomas W. Kiley & Co., had acknowl-
edged that he was a bigamist. About
twelve years ago, Mr.. Kiley, who was then
in his ffty-third year, married the widow
of his brother, James Kiley, and she is. now
living at his home, 5Ol Jefferson avenue,
Brooklyn, while not many blocks distant
his second wife, who is known as Mrs,
Flora A. Colt. and whom he married in
October, 1903, is established in a fine house
at 2I6 Brooklyn avenue.
The second wife was a daughter OF the
late Guy r.. Brown, in whose hardware
store in Williamsburg Mr., Kiley was en-
ployed when a boy. Flora and | were
little children together is how Mr.. Kiley
put it in his astounding statement yester-
day. Miss Brown married a Mr.. Colt, who
died about nine years ago.
Mr.. Kiley, according TO his admission
contributed to the support of Mrs. Colt,
but solely through his strong friendship for
her. His relations with Mrs. Colt were 20
close thai In October, 1908, she accom-
panied him on his trip to San Francisco to
attend a bankers convention. The couple
stopped of at Hammond, Ind and were
married there. This is Mr.. Kiley's ex-
PLANTATION Of the matrimonial tangle IN
which he enmeshed himself
when we left Brooklyn my wife wa ex-
tremely i'll at my home. She was not ex-
pected to live. On the way out West
talked over the matter with Mrs. Colt. l
told her / wanted to marry her. She was
willing to become my wife. We both
thought my first wife would be dead before
our return to Brooklyn. My only excuse
is that l was overweight and suffering
from a general breakdown. had never any
improper relations with Mrs. Colt.
when we arrived at Hammond we got
a marriage certificate at the court house
and a Methodist preacher performed the
ceremony. We we're married under our
true names. The marriage cannot be de-
MED. In a month we returned TO Brook
Ign. l bought the house in Brooklyn ave
nue., furnished it in the best style and made
it over to Mrs. Colt in her own legal name.
I had made an agreement with her that
we should live publicly as mar and wife
as soon as my wife died. We did not e1-
pect to come East until after her death.
my wife grew better, so there was moth
ing for us to do except TO keep everything
secret. | have maintained Mrs. Colt and
have given her everything in the world
she could want. | rave confessed every
thing to my first wife and she understands
tho situation fully.
This scandal will be more than I can
bear. | never did anything that was not
honest ard b ,norable until | married Mrs.
Colt. | know hat was wrong. a violation
of the law, and | am ashamed Of it, but it
is done now and there is no escape from
the terrible fact. | made the mistake
and am willing to pay for it. i am sup
porting my first wife in the best possible
way and am giving my second wife every
thing she wants and have arranged ample
provisions for her future"
In September last Mrs. Colt employed
Lawyer John s, Griffith to bring a suit
against Mr.. Kiley for s25O,O0o, but it never
reached the trial stage, Mr.. Kiley, it is
alleged, settling il for a substantial amount.
Lawyer Griffith has an action pending
against Mr.. Kiley for Ss7 500. contending
that he had lost his fee as Mrs. Colts lawyer.
Mr.. Kiley had his to say in regard to the
$3.50 900 suit:
Mrs. Colt did not bring this suit against
me because OF any unpleasant relations.
Our relations have always been very pleas
ant. was seized with a severe illness in
September and Mrs. Colt instituted the suit
to protect her interests In case OF my death.
She has dropped the suit, but ] have not
paid one cent in settlement. | have prom
ised to take care OF her in tho most liberal
way. In fact, at the time the suit was
brought my will was made bequeathing
her $50. 900. Lawyer Griffith Isl suit is against
me and Mrs. Colt jointly. Griffith has no
Just claim on me-
Mr.. Kiley's first wife had fouT children
by her first husband, two o n and two
daughters. The latter died soon after their
mothers marriage to their uncle, but the
sons, T. W. Kiley, Jr., and William A. Kiley,
are still alive. Both were taken into their
stepfather's hardware business. 1t is prob
able that District Attorney Clarke may
take some action in the case.
All efforts to locate Mr.. Kiley last night
failed, and both at his own home in Jeffer-
son avenue and at that Of Mrs. Colt In
Brooklyn avenue no information as 10
his whereabouts could be obtained. Later
in the afternoon he was at his hardware
establishment at 81 Grand street, Williams
burg, and before leaving read the story Of
his bigamy in a Brooklyn paper.
Mr.. Kiley was much disturbed over the
publication and hurriedly putting on his hat
and coat took his departure without saying
a word to his business associates. His
stepsons said last night hat he had not
communicated with any member Of his
family and that they did not know what
had become Of him. There was some
apprehension that his mind had possibly
become unbalanced over the disclosures
and that he might do away with himself,
Both wives are said to be Frustrated.
Up till a late hour last night the police had
not been asked to make any search for Mr.
WA