The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-11
ONE "WIF[" HEARD
AND MADISON HELD
Bigamist COnfesses Guilt ia
Court and Is Ready for
Penitentiary
Especial Diseateh 10 The Call

Especial Dispatch 10 The Call
SAN JOSE, July 10-Christian C.
Johnson, 1.-The professional bridegroom"
alias John Madison, was given his pre-
liminary examination today upon
charge of bigamy. He will plead guilty
in the superior court Monday, and by
Tuesday probably will be en- route to
San Quentin prison. He is choosing
this course. He wants to be sentenced
quickly and seek refuge behind prison
bars, and thus stop the investigation
that il exposing so much of his past
life.
Johnson had an uncomfortable hour
in Justice Browns court, He had
planned to make his statement admit
ting that he had gone through a mar
riage ceremony with Mrs. Josephine
Amelia Tretheway of Stockton while
he was the legal husband of RS. Hen
rietta Leopold of San Fray SEQ and
then get away quickly, but the prose-
cutting witness and ner attorney up
set his plans and subjected him to
many humiliations
Mrs. Tretheway. attired in charm
ing gray travelling suit and a chic
peach basket hat, entered the court
room Unexpectedly.
Johnson was led into the courtroom.
where he was married to Mrs. Trethe
way April 81, and the complaint was
read to him by Justice srown, who per-
formed the ceremony upon the occa-
sion of the wedding.
READY TO PLEAD GUILTY
Johnson was informed as TO his
rights, and asked as to whether or not
he wished to go upon the stand and
make a statement. He seemed to be
ignorant TO the procedure and asked
why he could not plead guilty to the
facts set forth in the complaint. He
was told that he was not upon trial in
the justice court and that he could
plead guilty in the superior court
When he learned that the shortest way
to San Quentin was via the witness
/ stand he agreed to answer all questions
relating to his marriages to Mrs. Leo
pold and Mrs. Tretheway.
He denied that he was married to
any other women besides Mrs. Leopold
said was his legal wife ''All of these
stories about me are lies, lies he af-
flrmed. Il never married any other
women besides these two
Il was married to- Mrs. Leopold upon
the 18th of February. Five days later
met Mrs. Tretheway. l married her
April 81 in this courtroom in this city
l. ~, &c ir,cf II 49,.
ceremony
Il deserted Mrs. Leopold two hours
after the wedding ceremony"
At this moment Mrs. Tretheway was
led into the courtroom by her attor-
ney The scene was most dramatic
Her black eyes fairly snapped as she
shot a scornful glance through her
veil at the unfortunate defendant. He
paused in the middle of a sentence met
her glance fleeting second and then
paused awkwardly and gazed at the
floor
Mrs. Tretheway took the stand A
few questions started her and then the
story came forth in a torrent. Mrs.
Tretheway was amused at some of her
recollections and her laughter was
Joined with that of the audience. At
times she was angry.
Just give that man to us women"
she pleaded, turning to the justice.
| Just put him into a room with all of
us women and he won't need any
trial" Johnson shivered and squirmed
in his seat.
1--WE were married right here in this
courtroom" she said. we stayed in
San Jose that night Saturday | went
to Santa Cruz to raise money and
we met again Sunday in Stockton
Monday l found that letter in his
pocket addressed to Mrs. Ida Mitchell
of San Francisco and in which he re-
ferred to her as my dear little Wife
QUICKLY PUT HIM OUT
Il faced him with it. It's hard to
tell just what was said and done He
cried, begged and swore that he was
never married to any one but me. He
wished to kiss me goodby, but l put
him out, bag and baggage. He had
only $3.50, but as he had bought me
! a pair of shoes once / gave him s5, so
that he would not have to walk to
San Francisco. l let him kiss my
hand.
II married him for his wealth He
told me that he was wealthy, that he
had palaces in Poughkeepsie. jewels,
diamonds. stations, blooded dogs,
Chinese servants, and that l would just
have to fold my hands and enjoy life"
The evidence was deemed sufficient
to hold the prisoner to answer for trial
in the superior court and his bail was
fixed at $4,000 AS he was leaving the
courtroom he was served with a sum-
mons and a copy of complaint by
Attorney French, who has brought an
action in behalf of Mrs. Tretheway to
annul the marriage.
Mrs. Tretheway is the divorced wife
of II. A. Tretheway of Stockton, and
it is said that there is question as to
whether or not her marriage to john
son deprives her of the alimony that
she had been receiving regularly up
to the time of her wedding.