Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-06
RECEIPT OF LETTER IN oTTuM-
WA BRINGS TO LIGHT FACT
THAT WELL KNOWN LOCAL
TRAVELLER HAS TWO WIVES.
FIRST MARRIAGE HERE
SECONDIN DIES MONS
CAPITAL CITY WoMAN'S INQUIRY
GIVES KNOWLEDGE OF HUs.
BANDS ACT TO REAL SPOUSE
A TANGLED AFFAIR.

1.-TWO women, one of we'll known
and prominent Ottumwa family AMI
the other of as prominent a Des
Moines family, lay claim to being the
legal wife of Frank j. Moriarty, a
was formerly employed by a local
wholesale grocery house. The first
marriage was held in this city four
teen years ago, while the second took
place in the University Place Chris
tian church in Des Moines, where the
Rev. Mr. Medbury pronounced the
words that welded Mrs. Jennie Lind,
a daughter of we'll known Sixth av-
enue family and sister of George HUI
ford, the University Place druggist, 10
the Ottumwa man.
The Ottumwa wife was before her
marriage Miss Mayme A. Mullen, who
now resides with her mother, MIS-.
Anna Mullen. 635 East Main street.
The second marriage in which Mortar
ty figured as one of the principals oc-
Cured in Des Moines upon November
-, 1908.
A letter received by ]. G. Hutchinson
& Co, last week from Mrs. Moriarty
OF Des Moines, which was turned over
to the Ottumwa Mrs Moriarty upon
her visiting the local firm brought to
light the double marriage of Frank
Moriarty In this letter the Des
Moines woman inquired If her hus-
band was still employed by the OF
tumwa firm, and If not if he was in
the city. 1t further stated that the
writer had not heard from her nus
band for several weeks and had not
yet received her allowance of $40 for
the month of February The letter
was signed Mrs. Frank Mority, un
der which name the Ottumwa man
was married Last evening the OF
returned from Des Moines, where
Thursday and a portion of yesterday
was spent in securing information rel
alive to the marriage of November II.
Husband and Wife Confer.
Upon arrival home last evening
Mrs Moriarty and her husband held a
conference in the latter's apartments
in the Washington hotel, but no de-
cision as to what course to pursue III
untangling the marital difficulties was
reached Another conference was
scheduled for o'clock this morning
but the illness of Mrs. Moriarty pre-
vented this meeting. Mr.. Moriarty
when seen today, refused to make any
statement, other than to acknowledge
that he was married in Des Moines
upon November IL to Mrs. Jennie
Lind. Because of the illness of Mrs
Moriarty she was not asked to make
any statement.
Both Wives Well Known.
The principals in the tangled affai
are all well known people. Mrs. Mort
arty has been resident of Ottumw;
for number of years, and numbers
among her friends and acquaintance
almost every resident of the east end
The Des Moines woman comes of
prominent family and is connected
with many we'll known business mel
and old residents. Her brother, Gee
Hufford, who is proprietor of the Uni
versity Place drug store, stated thi
morning that the affair was very re
grettable but that no course Of az
ton has as yet been mapped out b
his sister Frank Morarity is one Q
the best known travelling men in tn
city, having been on the road for tn
Hutchinson house for more than fou
, years. Since February he has bee
employed by a Davenport firm, bu
continues to make his headquarter
in this city.