Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-06
Thomas J. Strupper, Aged y,
Sioux City, to Wed a Love
Of His Youth
MATRIMONIAL AND JAIL RECORD
strupper Not Particular Regarding Di-
voroo FormaIities and Has Twice
Been Charged With Bisamy-other-
wiss Good citixen-Was Veteran
and Pensioner.
Special to Times Republican.

Strupper, of Sioux City, according to
an announcement from Blencoe, Iowa,
is about to approach the marriage al
tar for the sixth time, on this occasion
with Mrs. Julia Comstock, Of Warren,
o. widow, aged 70 years, who. away
back before the war, was engaged to
Strupper, who is now 70 years old.
Will this sixth matrimonial epter-
prise land tho aged lover in Jail for
bigamy as two Of his other ventures
did? is a question which seems most
natural.
When last August Strupper, known
here as John A. Kelley, brought his
19-year- BRIDE Eva Scott, whom he
married July 2, 1906, at Sidney. Iowa,
back to his son Ira's home here, ac-
companied by Mrs. Mary Kelley, his
legal spouse and mother OF his son
Ira Kelley. there was trouble immedi-
ately.
Angered because she did not know
whether her own husbands name was
Kelley, as he was known, or Stuppler
as his father was now called, Mrs. Ira
Kelley, then bride, complained to
County Attorney Whitney OF Strupper
and the latter was arrested for big
amy.
Kelley took his Incarceration calmly
buoyed by the daily visits OF his
youthful bride. While he was locked up
the real wife, Mary Kelley, aged IS, Sc
cured a divorce. Kelley was then
turned loose on his own recognizance
and forthwith took his young bride TO
a justices office and was remarked to
her. in order to cover up the apparent
deficiency in the former ceremony,
which was performed by P. II. Hoop,
justice OF the peace at Sidney, Iowa,
the name of Mary q. Kelley. the real
wife, appearing as q witness to the
marriage certificate.
It was thought that Kelley was
mated this time for life, but few
weeks ago his young wife left him ana
he went to Blencoe, where according
to the Herald Of that place he is en-
gagged on the section by the Northwest
ern railroad and has rented mousse
from A. o. Gray in West Blencoe,
where he will soon begin housekeeping
with his new bride from Ohio.
The records here do not show that
any divorce has been granted to kel-
ley or his young wife. But this for
mality has never bothered Kelley or
strupper in the past and will hardly
do so now.
Kelleys marrying projects have al
ways Tapped curiously. His first wife
was Mandy wymer, whom he married
In Circleville, O., in 1866. She died in
1887, but without waiting for her de-
mise Kelley, who had now returned
from the war, in which he enlisted as
Thomas J. Strupper, married Mary
Dewitt in Rockford, ILL.,, in 1872. He
lived with the Dewitt woman until
1898. when he suddenly turned up with
a. new wife-the third--who was Miss
Alzora Carter, of Nebraska City, Neb.
1t was here that the second Mrs.
Kelley showed some spirit, which was
afterward apparently conquered. She
had Kelley. prosecuted for bigamy and
he was sent to the penitentiary at An
amosa, where he spent two years
without marrying anyone. When he
was released he returned to his second
wife, Mary Dewitt Kelley, and she APP
parently received him with open arms,
for they lived together part of the time
in Sioux City until about a year ago
now. He then went to Hamburg. Ia,
and later sent for his wife. While
there she was taken i'll and Eva Scott,
dark complexioned, rather attractive
girl, was hired by Kelley to nurse her.
After the woman's recovery she be-
came a party to perhaps the queerest
transaction that wife ever lent her.
self to. She not only permitted her
husband to marry her nurse, but actu-
ally accompanied him to the clerk Of
courts and signed her name as a wit
ness to the marriage contract. The
T.-R. has previously printed a fac sim
lie Of the wedding certificate showing
the names as mentioned herewith.
Then the discarded wife, still, however,
Kelley's legal spouse, accompanied the
aged man and his young bride on their
honeymoon to Sioux City. where they
went to the home OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Kelley's son, Ira Kelley, 1903 Washing
ton street.
The much married father-in-law did
not appeal to young Kelley's bride and
she had him thrown into jail.
Kelley, who enlisted in the Seventy
third Ohio regiment under the name Of
Thomas j. Strupper, now draws $12 a
month pension.
The new bride-elect is said to have
lost her husband about a year ago and
will come to Blencoe the middle OF this
month to wed Strupper, who is stur-
dy, hard working man, despite his
years and experience.