The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-23
BANKER T. W. KILEY RESIGNS.
HIS WHEREABOUTS NOT DEFT-
NITELY KNOWN AS YET.

Always Concealed HIS First Marriage.
Thomas W. Kiley, president Of the North
Side Bank and rich hardware merchant,
whose confession on Wednesday that he had
two wives living within a couple Of blocks
Of each other in Brooklyn was followed
by his disappearance, did not turn up yes
terday either at the bank or his hardware
store in Williamsburg. or 30 far as could
be learned, either at the homo OF his first
wife, at 2ol jefferson avenue, or at that OF
his eecond, known at Mrs. Flora A.. Colt, at
2le Brooklyn avenue.
There were many conjeotures as to what
had become of him, some Of his friends
believing that, driven to despair through
the exposure Of his bigamous life, he had
committed suicide, while others were OF the
impression that he had either fed the
country, so as to escape prosecution, or
was in hiding.
District Attorney Clarke, who was long a
personal friend Of the missing banker and
than whom no one was more surprised
at the story of his matrimonial oomplioa-
tons, took cognizanoe yesterday Of the case
by asking Deputy Police Commissioner
O'Keeffe to have the matter investigated.
at is a debatable question in my mind
said Mr.. Clarke, "as to whether Kiley can
be indicted, and one that l will have to look
closely into before giving an official opinion
whet her a man can be indicted in New York
for a bigamy which he committed in Indiana.
L have no knowledge OF the case outside
Of what | have read in the papers. IL seemed
proper to put the matter in the hands OF
the local detective bureau, and this has
been done. Whether or not the case comes
within the jurisdiction of this office, how
ever, | cannot say iust yet shall look
into the Law very carefully"
1t now seems that in spite OF the fact
that Mr.. Kiley had two wives living almost
IN view of each other he was genera lily
supposed to be a bachelor. It is now said
that Thomas W; Kiley and T; William Kiley,
his nephews, who have lived with him and
their mother since the death o their father,
who. was Mr.. KiIey's brother, fifteen years
ago, hadallalong been in complete Ignorance
Of the fact that their uncle and mother
were husband and wife.
1t is also alleged that Mr.. Kiley had de-
oeived Mrs: Colt, his second wife, by con-
cealing the fact that he had married his
brothers widow, Lawyer William F. Scott.
who has been acting as Mr.. Kiley's counsel,
made this admission yesterday: -,
We nave learned to-day, MIR. Scott said,
shat Mr.. Kiley always concealed his first
marriage. He concealed it from us and
every one. We want it stated that Mrs.
Colt did not know that Mr.. Kiley was already
q ma rried man at the time she married him.
We want that made plain" 1t is owing.
It is said, to Mrs. Colts discovery five or six
months ago that Mr.. Kiley had married his
sister-in-law in 1893 that she brought a suit
against him for s250,OO0. According to John
$. Grifiths, who acted as Mrs. Colts lawyer.
afterward raising the sum to $4,000.
which, Mr.. Griffith said, Mrs. Colt accepted
without his knowledge. Mr.. Griffith is now
suing Mr.. Kiley and Mrs. Colt for $s7, 500,
claiming that he had a contract with the
latter by which she was TO pay him IS per
cent. Of what she received from Mr.. Kiley.
II was announced last night that Mr..
Kiley had rendered his resignation as preei-
ent of the North Side Bank and that the
directors would hold a special meeting
the resignation. The announcement Of
Mr.. Kiley's resignation as head of the Will
iamshurg banking institution, with which
he had been identified since its establish
. ment. was made by Paul Z. Bonner. the
cashier, at his home, f15 Grand avenue.
Mr.. Bonner said:
Il received a letter from Mr.. Kiley to-
day rendering his resignation as president
of the bank. In regard. to the manner
in which the letter was delivered l have
the executive committee OF the directors
will \take on the resignation will be an
nounced at the bank on Saturday forenoon.
nave not seen Mr.. Riley since his de-
parture from the bank on Wednesday after
moor and have no knowledge.of his present
wherea bouts" E.
1t ts thought that Mr.. Bonner. upon whom
the chief m n cement of the bank has
devolved for two or three years. may be
chosen as Mr.. Kiley's successor.
There was a strong impression yesterday
that Mr.. Kiley went direct from the bank
on Wednesday to the home OF Mrs. Colt, at
ai8 brooklyn avenue, and that he has since
secreted himself there. Wilson Colt, Mrs:
Colts nineteen-year-old son, was quoted
in some Of the ~ opens lest evening as adj
hitting that Mr., Kiley was in the house.
Nhen seen at a late hour last night young
Cclt said
sMr, Hiley is not here at the present
time. won't say whether | know or
whether don't know where he is, Only
an oh'Cer with the proper papers can get
him. Further than this | won discuss
the cas-
Police Sergeant Lindsay. who was in
= charge Of the detective bureau in Brooklyn
; last night. said that the men who were
Z, Investigating the case had lea rned nothing
new in reference tc Mr.. kiley's move
mentS.
Mrs. Colt in early life was regarded as
one of the most beautiful young women in
Williamsburg. She was a daughter of
Guy r. Brown. a hardware merchant.
Previous to her bigamous marriage to Mr.,
hiley she Ia two husbands, the first George
Tourey and the second a son of DR.. Colt,
a leading Johannesburg physician twenty
wears ago. Her son by her second marriage
is now in his nineteenth year. He has
always lived with his mother and yesterday
he declared that his mother was blameless
and,had been deceived into marrying kiley.
The boyhood of the missing banker anC
merchant was passed in an orphan asylum
in New York. He was about 10 years ole
when an uncle, who acted as his guardian
took him out of the institution and ap
prentioed him to Mr., Brown, the father o
Mrs. Colt.
CHICAGO. H., March 22.-Positive proof
that Thomas W. Kiley was married to Flort
Brown Colt, October o, 1908, in Hammond
Ind, was obtained to-day when the return
OF the marriage was found in the archives
Of the Lake county, Ind, court. The wed
ding was performed by the Rev. Aaron W
Wood, who is now pastor of the Methods
Episcopal Church in Delphi, Ind. TIT
return reads as follows:
CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE.
State OF Indiana.
County OF Lake.
This ~certiaes that ] have Joined in maria e
az husband and wife Thomas W. Kiley an,
Flora Brown Colt, on the 9th day Of October
1903. The Rev. AARON W. Woop,
Pastor Methodist Episcopal Church o
Hammond, Ind.